Hi, is something I found hope this helps

One way would be to set all plugin content (like flash which is likely used for those ads) to click-to-play, which means it will only be active once you explicitly enable it on each site. therefore you'd have to enter about:config into the firefox location bar (confirm the info message in case it shows up) & search for the preference named plugins.click_to_play. double-click it and change its value to true.

Or you could use an addon like adbluck or uBlock, they will help blocking adverts which can run without you giving permissions

Try Firefox Safe Mode to see if the problem goes away. Firefox Safe Mode is a troubleshooting mode that temporarily turns off hardware acceleration, resets some settings, and disables add-ons (extensions and themes).

If Firefox is open, you can restart in Firefox Safe Mode from the Help menu:

• Click the menu button , click Help and select Restart with Add-ons Disabled.

If Firefox is not running, you can start Firefox in Safe Mode as follows:

• On Windows: Hold the Shift key when you open the Firefox desktop or Start menu shortcut.
• On Mac: Hold the option key while starting Firefox.
• On Linux: Quit Firefox, go to your Terminal and run firefox -safe-mode
  (you may need to specify the Firefox installation path e.g. /usr/lib/firefox)

When the Firefox Safe Mode window appears, select "Start in Safe Mode".

If the issue is not present in Firefox Safe Mode, your problem is probably caused by an extension, theme, or hardware acceleration. Please follow the steps in the Troubleshoot extensions, themes and hardware acceleration issues to solve common Firefox problems article to find the cause.

To exit Firefox Safe Mode, just close Firefox and wait a few seconds before opening Firefox for normal use again.

When you figure out what's causing your issues, please let us know. It might help others with the same problem.

It is probably not relevant to your immediate problem but you would be better off without your troublesome MindSpark Toolbar Platform Plugin Stub. Google for information and removal advice. Do you know that you have it and what you use it for?

To repeat Wesley Branton's request. When you figure out what's causing your issues, please let us know. It might help others with the same problem.

Hi Hello to all:- I have tried the suggestions given to me above and the problem did not go away. even contacted an IT engineer which I use to work with a year ago or so, and he suggested the following: quote: 'Listen you file association is messed up you need to highlight the file, then right button then select open with and then select VLC' unquote:

firstly, I am not an expert on PC's to begin with, not actually knowing what he means by "file association is messed up" - I thought i will give it a complete miss.

so playing around on the PC, and in the back of my mind I remembered that I downloaded movies from YOUTUBE and that's where the problem started. this actually never happened before as i have downloaded 100's before, anyway I by sure luck found the problem after all.

when you open FIREFOX, it opens with Mozilla Firefox Start Page, in this case another icon with YOUTUBE (RED WITH A WHITE TRIANGLE pointing to the right) is next to FIREFOX ICON (left top corner of screen) Which when click on opens up YOUTUBE itself, once you do that, go to "RESTRICTED MODE" QUOTE: History Restricted Mode

   Restricted Mode hides videos that may contain inappropriate content flagged by users and other signals. No filter is 100% accurate, but it should help you avoid most inappropriate content.
   Your Restricted Mode setting will apply to this browser only.

On Off

You can lock Restricted Mode after you sign in UNQUOTE:

Anyway, Tried it, and it seems to work just fine.

after this, I downloaded a new movie from YOUTUBE just as an test and it seems to be working fine.

One thing, I cant tell you, is how this happen in the first place I have no idea, but after all this trouble, it is working.

Hopefully this can help someone else who might pick up this issue, and i would surely like to know if it works for them as well. (think it should)

Sorry for this long explanation, but thought if i lay out out simple, the better probably to understand.

you all have a great day and thank you for the help and concern. I suppose, as the saying goes, YOU NEVER TOO OLD TO LEARN ! Regards Koos