Usually when you click the "Update Now" button in the plugin chack page. It takes to the Adobe Download page. There you can find the "Install Now" It start initializing and popup the flash files. you need to download the flash file and install it manually.

for more

• https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/install-flash-plugin-view-videos-animations-games

________________________________________________________________________________

Sometimes a problem with Firefox may be a result of malware installed on your computer, that you may not be aware of.

You can try these free programs to scan for malware, which work with your existing antivirus software:

• Microsoft Safety Scanner
• MalwareBytes' Anti-Malware
• TDSSKiller - AntiRootkit Utility
• Hitman Pro
• ESET Online Scanner

Microsoft Security Essentials is a good permanent antivirus for Windows 7/Vista/XP if you don't already have one.

Further information can be found in the Troubleshoot Firefox issues caused by malware article.

Did this fix your problems? Please report back to us!

Hello Bigpics, maybe it is not related, but in your system details it seems that you have in your profile folder a User.js file.

The user.js file does not exist by default. If you create the file, forget it, if you have not create the file then delete the User.js file (some programs create and write in the file also).

thank you

Thanks for the input, iamjayakumars.

Since my original post, I'd already run a full Malwarebytes anti-malware scan which found nothing.

I next tried the Kapersky TDSSKiller - with its default options. And then the Microsoft Safety Scanner. Neither found any problems.

And I've been happy with AVG Free as my always-on anti-malware daily solution for quite a few years up to this point.

So should I try ALL the programs you listed?

Also as you suggested, yes, clicking on update for each of the plug-ins takes me to what appears to be the appropriate Adobe download page. And I've used this procedure successfully many times in the past until the problem occurred, and I do know how to do the manual install.

However, all that happens now is that the download page takes me to the Adobe home page (in the same tab).

More info:

1. Adobe Reader X (the stand alone app, not the FF plug-in) does let me know when an update is available and this program updates normally. So the problem is specific to my Firefox add-ons - not to Adobe.

[And I've been able to download and run the anti-malware utilities mentioned here. So again, it seems like a very focused problem, whatever it is.]

2. The problem began some months ago. I THINK I recall, but I'm not sure that after a few tries the first time or two I noticed the issue, I MAY have been able to download Flash updates. However, in any case, I cannot do so now, nor any of the three Adobe plug-ins mentioned.

Thanks for the helpful links, btw. I have read the article on troubleshooting Firefox problems. And I see there may be other resources there.

What would you (or anyone) suggest for my next step??

Thanks for responding, ideato.

Now that I know to look for it, I see that my system details say I have a user.js file as you noted. However, I cannot FIND this file in Windows Explorer, so I cannot delete it.

And yes, I've set Explorer to show hidden files and folders.

I first tried navigating to it from the instructions you linked to - and then I tried a search of my whole computer. Nothing comes up.

Very curious, yes? Any advice as to what this means??

You can use this button to go to the Firefox profile folder:

• Help > Troubleshooting Information > Profile Directory: Show Folder (Linux: Open Directory; Mac: Show in Finder)

Note that Windows hides some file extensions by default. Among them are .html and .ini and .js and .txt, so you may only see the name without file extension. You can see the real file type (file extension) in the Properties of the file via the right-click context menu in Windows Explorer.

Latest Flash player versions here:

• http://www.adobe.com/special/products/flashplayer/fp_distribution3.html

Thanks, cor-el.

With your help I was able to make some progress. First, I was able to find and remove the user.js file. I then cleaned the cache and restarted.

However, trying to download updates from the regular Adobe download page that FF takes you to STILL doesn't work.

Second, the alternate download link you directed me to did enable me to update Adobe Flash, and thanks for that.

However, I then tried to navigate from that link to find similar alternate links to download the Acrobat and "Shockwave for Director Netscape" - but could only find the regular download page that's not working for me.

So THE problem still exists - and I have two "vulnerable" plug-ins - but if you can direct me to similar pages for downloading these two plug-ins, I'm willing to live with workarounds if no one has a complete solution to restoring the default functionality.

PS: Do I need Shockwave for Director if I also have Flash??

More: Here are the contents of the user.js file I deleted:

user_pref("network.http.max-persistent-connections-per-server", 4); user_pref("nglayout.initialpaint.delay", 600); user_pref("content.notify.interval", 600000); user_pref("content.max.tokenizing.time", 1800000); user_pref("content.switch.threshold", 600000);

Any input on what this was doing and whether or not I should restore it, since it turned out not be involved with the problem??

No, the Shockwave for Director is an entirely different plugin than the Adobe Flash plugin and is hardly used these days (there may be some SWD games around) and there is no need to install this plugin.

• https://support.mozilla.org/kb/Using+the+Shockwave+plugin+with+Firefox
• http://www.adobe.com/products/shockwaveplayer/shwv_distribution3.html

Much appreciated, cor-el.

I don't game, so I've disabled and uninstalled Director. According to what I read on what you sent, this will also reduce Firefox's memory usage, which is always welcome.

That leaves Acrobat - which I do use frequently. I tried to use the links you sent for Flash and Director to find a similar alternate download page for Acrobat XI, but can only find the "regular" one - and that's still not working.

So if you have access to a link that will let me download Acrobat, my "work-around" solution will be in place and I won't have any "vulnerable" plug-ins - though it's still a mystery why I can't simply download them the normal way.

Thanks again...!!

For Windows Vista, Adobe is not supporting the current Adobe Reader 11 / Adobe Acrobat 11 series, so what you have is the latest for your system. Mozilla's plugin check site currently does not recognize 10.1.9 as current, so you'll have to trust Adobe to keep you up-to-date and disregard the plugin site on this one.

Thanks also, jscher2000.

Even though my bug persists, all of you guys have been a big help! And I've made major progress in "managing" the problem. So I won't mark it solved - I'm still worried something's infiltrated my system despite the tools above not finding it, but I will get on with just using my system with fingers crossed and hope that if an answer's out there it may get posted some day.

And I see, alas, that my Vista system's being "EOL'd" - a shame 'cos it runs well and meets my needs - and I have no interest in spending days upgrading to 7 - i.e., finding, reinstalling and re-configging every program on a six year old PC.

(Although my guess is that Win 7 will likely be supported for at least as long as XP was - especially given how corp unfriendly Win 8 is to legacy corp systems and how relatively unpopular it's been with the public. So if I don't replace this machine soon, I may have to upgrade as fewer and fewer vendors - including MS - continue to support it.)

As for Acrobat, I guess my choices are to always download and open in stand-alone Adobe Reader X or leave the "vulnerable" Acrobat plug-in active and take my chances...

Hi Bigpics, although the plugin check site considers 10.1.9 vulnerable, this is due to a lack of knowledge, and/or a limitation of design, and cannot be taken as authoritative. You should use it if you like.

It might happen if you have Ghostery addon. Temporarily disable blocking and the download button will work.