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Multiple problems, sorry can't summarize in a sentence?

  • 10 ردود
  • 6 have this problem
  • 2 views
  • آخر ردّ كتبه FredMcD

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Hello. I'll do my best to be succinct here.

1. It started with Flash no longer working. Couldn't even load the Flash settings tabs. Worked in other browsers though. Changed some settings as described in these forums. This helped but only briefly. Flash stopped working again.

2. Did the "refresh" thing. This created new problems. Although add-ons weren't displaying in the add-ons tab, they were still there and operating in the background. Flash again worked but only for an hour.

3. I wanted to do a complete delete (using Revo) and re-install of Firefox. Somehow even after doing this, some settings (and incredibly, add-ons) remained.

4. I installed the x64 version, since this would give me a new install and hopefully a fresh start - the previous FF version I was using was the x32 version. This worked for a few days, but again, Flash died completely again.

5. Tried the refresh here too, and oddly, an ad blocking add-on is still operating in the background, even though it doesn't show in the add-ons tab.

6. I tried some other random things I found on these forums and online, such as scanning my hard drive for corrupted files. None were found. Some of the proposed solutions are a bit above my experience level, and/or aren't explained well, so I didn't attempt them.

7. At this time I have Flash working, and still have intermittent ad-blocking. I have no installed any add-ons since doing the refresh on the x64 version. (The x32 version is uninstalled.)

So, (A) what is going on here? (B) Why doesn't Firefox make it easier to do a COMPLETE uninstall and purge of all program-related files, in order to do a true clean install? (C) Any suggestions?

Hello. I'll do my best to be succinct here. 1. It started with Flash no longer working. Couldn't even load the Flash settings tabs. Worked in other browsers though. Changed some settings as described in these forums. This helped but only briefly. Flash stopped working again. 2. Did the "refresh" thing. This created new problems. Although add-ons weren't displaying in the add-ons tab, they were still there and operating in the background. Flash again worked but only for an hour. 3. I wanted to do a complete delete (using Revo) and re-install of Firefox. Somehow even after doing this, some settings (and incredibly, add-ons) remained. 4. I installed the x64 version, since this would give me a new install and hopefully a fresh start - the previous FF version I was using was the x32 version. This worked for a few days, but again, Flash died completely again. 5. Tried the refresh here too, and oddly, an ad blocking add-on is still operating in the background, even though it doesn't show in the add-ons tab. 6. I tried some other random things I found on these forums and online, such as scanning my hard drive for corrupted files. None were found. Some of the proposed solutions are a bit above my experience level, and/or aren't explained well, so I didn't attempt them. 7. At this time I have Flash working, and still have intermittent ad-blocking. I have no installed any add-ons since doing the refresh on the x64 version. (The x32 version is uninstalled.) So, (A) what is going on here? (B) Why doesn't Firefox make it easier to do a COMPLETE uninstall and purge of all program-related files, in order to do a true clean install? (C) Any suggestions?

All Replies (10)

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Let's do this one at a time.

If you have problems with current Shockwave Flash plugin versions then check this:

  • see if there are updates for your graphics drivers

https://support.mozilla.org/kb/upgrade-graphics-drivers-use-hardware-acceleration

  • disable protected mode in the Flash plugin (Flash 11.3+ on Windows Vista and later)

https://forums.adobe.com/message/4468493#TemporaryWorkaround

  • disable hardware acceleration in the Flash plugin

https://forums.adobe.com/thread/891337 See also:

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If you did a refresh/reset of Firefox, the browser would be reset to factory defaults. Meaning add-ons and user settings would be removed.


Firefox comes in two or more folders on all computers. They are;

Maintenance: (Programs Folder) <Windows Only> Firefox itself: (Programs Folder) And one folder in the profile of each user on the computer.

If you remove the Firefox folder, the user folders would not be affected.

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Thank you FredMcD for the suggestion to update graphics drivers. I hadn't done that in awhile. They are supposed to update automatically, but they hadn't. It seems to have fixed the Flash problem ... for now.

I understand that the refresh is supposed to restore everything to defaults. However, what I got was no add-ons appearing in the tab, but the ad blocker was still working, and I couldn't shut it off when I wanted to because there was no button in the toolbar. That problem fixed itself when I installed x64. Others have reported the same issue.

Again, I really appreciate your help.

CM

Modified by chuckles+manson

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It could be the blocker was your protection programs.

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FredMcD said

It could be the blocker was your protection programs.

No, it's uBlock Origin. The oddest thing is that it's an intermittent problem. I just experienced the problem again this morning, as it blocked ads (and a video) on a website - and I didn't even install the extension to this version of FF. This is some left over from when I had it running on a previous installation of Firefox.

So, I installed uBlock to this copy of FF, and after cycling the extension on and off, I was able to view ads again. I think I'm going to bring this problem up in a new thread. Thanks again.

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It would be best to contact uBlock support. There's not much we can do for 3rd party programs or add-ons.

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I would like to point out that uBlock is a featured extension in my add-ons tab. One would hope that FF would at least ascertain that featured extensions work properly and that there is support easily available.

I suspect but don't know for sure, yet I'm certain nobody will help me figure out, that the problem I'm experiencing is some sort of Flash/uBlock Origin co-interference.

Now, my Flash problem has returned (yet again), and again, I believe the best solution would be a total purge of all Firefox folders, files, registry entries, etc. I sure wish I knew how to do that. And I wish Firefox had a clear tutorial - or even an executable - that aided this.

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Let’s do a full clean re-install; Download Firefox For All languages And Systems {web link} Save the file. Then Close Firefox.

Using your file browser, open the Programs Folder on your computer.

Windows: C:\Program Files C:\Program Files (x86) Mac: Open the "Applications" folder.
https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/how-download-and-install-firefox-mac Linux: Check your user manual. If you installed Firefox with the distro-based package manager, you should use the same way to uninstall it - see Install Firefox on Linux. If you downloaded and installed the binary package from the Firefox download page, simply remove the folder Firefox in your home directory.

Do Not remove the profiles folder.

Look for, and rename any Mozilla or Firefox program folders by adding .old to them. Do not rename the Mozilla Thunderbird folder if there is one.

After rebooting the computer, run a registry scanner if you have one. Then run the installer. If all goes well, remove the OLD folders when you are done.


If there is a problem, start your Computer in safe mode and try again.

Starting The Computer In Safe Mode;
Free Online Encyclopedia

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Thank you. Pardon the delay in replying; I have only had time to follow up with this today.

Why wouldn't I want to remove the profiles folder? What if the problem is contained there?

Why woudn't I - if the problem is some corruption in the Firefox program or file or folder somewhere on my computer - want to remove every last trace of Firefox from my computer before reinstalling it?

To be clear, before beginning this thread, I:

1. Uninstalled and reinstalled x32 FF (didn't help).

Then, I

2. Installed x64 FF, and as that seemed to be working properly (for awhile anyway), I

3. Uninstalled the existing x32 install.

After that, I experienced problems again, and I

4. Updated graphics drivers.

Then problems with Flash and ads began again as described previously, and I then

5. Reinstalled uBO

in order to regain control over that add-on.

Then a couple days later, the problems with Flash began again, and that's where I'm at now.

To emphasize, the odd problems began occurring on the x64, even though I did not install any extensions. I ended up having to reinstall uBO in order to gain control over that extension - it was running even though it wasn't installed. Is that a profile issue?

Since I don't really know how to characterize the problems I'm experiencing and don't know what is causing it, I have not written to the uBO forums yet. I anticipate a wearying, sort of pass the buck scenario between uBO and FF.

I have no real need to retain any of these folders or files. My installation of Firefox is very simple and straightforward. I never had more than 3 extensions installed. I can back up my bookmarks before uninstalling.

So I'll get started on it now.

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chuckles+manson said

Why wouldn't I want to remove the profiles folder? What if the problem is contained there?

That step would come later, if the problem is nor resolved.

Why woudn't I - if the problem is some corruption in the Firefox program or file or folder somewhere on my computer - want to remove every last trace of Firefox from my computer before reinstalling it?

If the problem is a corrupt file in the programs folder, just doing a reinstall may not remove the problem.