Video's cause screen to go black
When using Firefox 3.6.13 I'm unable to watch videos on netflix or youtube. It started first with netflix about a month ago and now just today I'm unable to watch youtube videos as well. Prior to this I was able to watch videos from either website perfectly.
Once I click on the video I would like to watch my screen goes all black (almost like when switching to full screen mode and you get that split second of black screen) but it stays all black. I also always watch my videos in non-full screen mode. After 10 seconds or so I can hear the audio from the video but the screen stays black. When I try to Ctrl/Alt/Del to launch the task manager to quit Firefox the screen will flicker a little and then return to all black. This forces me to Ctrl/Alt/Del again and choose "Restart" to force Firefox to quit and restart my computer.
Both netflix and youtube work 100% with IE8 but its a real pain to have to open a separate browser just to watch videos, especially when they would work fine with Firefox only a month ago. I have already tried clearing my browsing history and cookies, starting Firefox in safe-mode, starting Firefox in safe-mode with all add-ons disabled and still can not get videos to play normally.
All Replies (6)
Disable the hardware acceleration in the Flash Player.
See Flash videos won't play full screen
Flash "Display settings" window:
This fix or workaround seems to relate to people who are trying to play videos in full screen mode. I'm having a problem when NOT in full screen mode. I have not even attempted switching to full screen because my screen goes all black before I can change any settings. This effects the videos on YouTube as well as Netflix.
What cor-el said will most likely solve the problem. Did you try his suggestion?
See: http://kb.mozillazine.org/Flash#Performance_or_display_issues_with_certain_Flash_videos
Other issues needing your attention
The information submitted with your question indicates that you have out of date plugins with known security and stability issues that should be updated. To see the plugins submitted with your question, click "More system details..." to the right of your original question post. You can also see your plugins from the Firefox menu, Tools > Add-ons > Plugins.
- Next Generation Java Plug-in 1.6.0_22 for Mozilla browsers
- 2 updates behind
- Security update version 1.6.0_24 released 2011-02-10
- Check your plugin versions: http://www.mozilla.com/en-US/plugincheck/
- Note: plugin check page does not have information on all plugin versions
- Update the Java plugin to the latest version.
- Download site: http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/java/javase/downloads/index.html (Java Platform: Download JRE)
- Be sure to un-check the Yahoo Toolbar option during the install if you do not want it installed.
- Also see "Manual Update" in this article to update from the Java Control Panel in Windows Control Panel: http://support.mozilla.com/en-US/kb/Using+the+Java+plugin+with+Firefox#Updates
- Removing old versions (if needed): http://www.java.com/en/download/faq/remove_olderversions.xml
- Remove multiple Java Console extensions (if needed): http://kb.mozillazine.org
- Java Test: http://www.java.com/en/download/help/testvm.xml
- Download site: http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/java/javase/downloads/index.html (Java Platform: Download JRE)
Modified by Helper7677
I'm unable to do what cor-el suggested due to the fact that I need to be able to right click on the video to turn off hardware acceleration. My screen goes black before I can make any adjustments. Since my last post I have updated my Java to the latest version and confirmed it with the Java version checker and I have uninstalled and reinstalled Adobe Flash Player (both the ActiveX version for IE and the plug-in version for Firefox). I believe we may be getting lost in translation here, let me lay it out step-by-step here.
1. I go to YouTube and click on a video I want to watch. 2. The new page barely loads and the entire screen goes completely black (I can not see anything on the monitor). 3. Once I Ctrl/Alt/Del (and the Windows screen pops-up) then I can hear the audio start for the video. 4. I click "Task Manager" and the screen flashes quickly and then returns to complete blackness. 5. I Ctrl/Alt/Del again and must choose "Restart" to force Firefox to close and restart my PC.
I have tried disabling the "Shockwave Flash" plug-in and when I click on a video on YouTube the screen does not go black but where the video should be playing a "you need to install Flash" message is displayed. This tells me that this is a problem directly related to the Flash plug-in.
Again, I have already uninstalled and reinstalled the latest version of Flash and confirmed this with the Flash "test page".
Is there anyway to disable hardware acceleration without having to right click on the video? Is there some options menu I can go to instead to disable this feature?
Right-click in the area where the video would be, the "black" area, to turn off hardware acceleration, then reload/refresh the tab.
I've already done that (Right- click to the area which turns black) but I can't do anything because it has no somethings appear when I did. (the screen remains black and can't do anythings except press ESC)