If you are downloading the tiny "stub" or "online" installer, it needs to connect back for more files and some firewalls block that.

Could you try the "full" or "offline" installer, which you can get from the following page (scroll down to your preferred language):

https://www.mozilla.org/firefox/all/

Any improvement?

Tried the suggestion. Didnt work. During process, i get a message.....scanning alert and then ie quits working

Are you able to download and run any of the cleaning programs listed in this article: Troubleshoot Firefox issues caused by malware.

this article mentions malfunctions of ff.......my problem is I cannot download ff onto my laptop running ie11 & windows7

Sometimes malware makes it impossible to install alternative browsers to prevent you from using anything except Internet Explorer. That is why I suggest trying malware cleaners.

IE11 would not let me download any of the malware cleaning programs

Okay, it sounds like you might need to use one of the advanced troubleshooting forums listed in that support article.

Downloaded a malware program on another laptop, copied to the prob laptop & running scan now.

 Am thinking prob might be w windows or mcafee antivirus plus firewall

Virus plus firewall

Oh... can you download the full installer for Firefox on the other laptop and copy it over to the one that isn't working normally and install it that way?