You can check for problems with current Shockwave Flash plugin versions and try this:

• make sure you have the latest Flash version:
  http://www.adobe.com/special/products/flashplayer/fp_distribution3.html
• check for updates for your graphics drive drivers
  https://support.mozilla.org/kb/upgrade-graphics-drivers-use-hardware-acceleration
• disable protected mode in the Flash plugin (Flash 11.3+ on Windows Vista and later)
• disable hardware acceleration in the Flash plugin
• disable hardware acceleration in Firefox
  https://support.mozilla.org/kb/upgrade-graphics-drivers-use-hardware-acceleration

See also:

• http://kb.mozillazine.org/Flash#Troubleshooting
• https://support.mozilla.org/kb/adobe-flash-protected-mode-firefox

I've tried all those suggestions. Spent almost 2 hours on the phone with Microsoft Assure Program staff. They uninstalled and reinstalled FlashPlayer and Shockwave. Adobe FlashPlayer does not appear as a plug-n on my Firefox settings. Shockwave does. Also, Windows 10 says it's (Shockwave) one of my programs, but unavailable.

I did get Firefox to work after I installed: Firefox%20Setup%2040-win10.exe and Firefox%20Setup%2040.0b3.exe But I'm still having problems. Windows changes the settings when the computer is shut down and then turned on again. IE is then, again, my default browser.

What I have noticed is that the Microsoft OS now has control of over 50% of the programs on my computer, I saw this when checking the Security tab in Properties. 

Is Microsoft blocking me from being able to use Firefox as my browser?

You do not really need Shockwave if you are referring to Shockwave for Director. Shockwave Flash and Shockwave for Director are different plugins and the latter is hardly used these days (probably only some games may use it).

• https://support.mozilla.org/kb/Using+the+Shockwave+plugin+with+Firefox

Note that Firefox is a 32 bit application and thus needs a 332 bit Flash version.

You can uninstall the current Flash player version and (re)install the latest Flash version.

See this about uninstalling Flash players:

• http://helpx.adobe.com/flash-player/kb/uninstall-flash-player-windows.html

Note that this will remove all installed Flash players.

You can find the latest Flash player versions for Firefox on this page:

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

If you have submitted crash reports then please post the IDs of one or more recent crash reports that start with "bp-":

• bp-xxxxxxxx-xxxx-xxxx-xxxx-xxxxxxxxxxxx

You can find the report ID of recent crash reports on the "Help > Troubleshooting Information" page (about:support).

• Click the "All Crash Reports" button on this page to open the about:crashes page and see all crash reports.

Alternatively you can open about:crashes via the location/address bar.

See also:

• http://kb.mozillazine.org/Mozilla_Crash_Reporter
• https://support.mozilla.org/kb/Mozilla+Crash+Reporter

This is not a cure, but should let the web page load without crashing.

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