Disable the hardware acceleration in the Flash Player.
See Flash videos won't play full screen

Flash "Display settings" window:

• http://www.macromedia.com/support/documentation/en/flashplayer/help/help01.html

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The information submitted with your question indicates that you have out of date plugins with known security and stability issues that should be updated.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

1. Check your plugin versions: http://www.mozilla.com/en-US/plugincheck/
   • Note: plugin check page does not have information on all plugin versions
2. 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

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)