I'm a long time user of Firefox, starting with version 6 it wouldn't play any sort of video, lately I downloaded version 8 & it won't play videos either. I've been using Google Chrome for a couple of months, & while there are a few things about Chrome I don't like, it at least plays any video I ask it to!
I would go back to Firefox if anyone could tell me why it won't play videos!
Hi, and welcome to the forum. 
That's a very strange issue you have with Firefox. What videos are we talking about, YouTube type online videos?? Do you get any sort of error message - such as "A plug-in is needed to play this content" - or anything?
This would generally be caused by a missing plug-in or conflicting add-on. Try clearing the Firefox cache and other saved data via something like CCleaner. Also try running Firefox in 'No add-on mode' - Click Help and select Restart with Add-ons Disabled... Then see if you can view videos.
Let us know how you get on,
Cheers...Jim
Jim, As far as what videos don't play with Firefox, youtube is one, I get jazz and blues emails daily and neither play in Firefox, also I belong to several Yahoo groups related to model trains, these group members often have links to train videos from sources all over the world, none of these videos will play in Firefox, but all do in Chrome!
The Firefox help forum told me to upgrade flash, I did with no change, also to restart Firefox without addons, none of witch had any effect on whether Firefox could or would play videos! then one of the folks trying to help me suggested I switch to a different browser for a while, which is how I got to using Google Chrome.
This non video playing started when I downloaded version 6 of Firefox, then after a month of using Chrome I got an email from Mozilla that version 8 was ready for download, I downloaded it with high hopes, but version 8 wasn't any better at playing video's than version 6 was.
Okay, well as I said, it is a strange one.
Have a look at a couple of settings in the Firefox Options menu: In Firefox go to Tools>Options:
1) Click on Privacy (across the top) and make sure "Accept cookies from sites" and "Accept third-party cookies" are both ticked.
2) Click on Content and remove the tick from "Block pop-up windows" - if the videos will play with this option disabled you can go back and enable the option again and then add the video websites to the list of Exceptions. If the videos still will not play, make sure you go back and enable that option again.
3) Under Content again, make sure "Enable Java-Script" is ticked.
Would it be possible for you to send me a link to one of the jazz/blues videos or one of the model train videos, or both?
Cheers...Jim
Jim,
I fired up Firefox this morning and made it the default browser again, then did as you requested, but alas videos still don't play!
As far as sending you links, how would I do that?
Rich
Hey Rich - Couldn't you just copy and paste the links? When you are on the video website, copy from the address bar and then paste into a reply here. Unless that is, you need to log-in to an account to view the videos, in which case it wouldn't be much use.
What happens in FF when you try to watch a video - does the video screen actually appear but it's just a black screen with no controls? Or are there controls but they do not work/respond?
How far do you want to go with this Rich? I am quite happy to persevere and keep offering suggestions as long as you are happy to keep trying.
Next step I would suggest is setting up a new profile in FF. Your profile is transferred through updates and the uninstall/reinstall process, and if it becomes corrupted will affect each new FF version or reinstall in the exact same way. It's not too difficult to create a new profile and your existing profile will not be removed or changed in any way.
Cheers mate...Jim
Jim,
I wasn't clear enough, I just didn't have your email address!
Rich
Jim, thanks for your help, I really appreciate it!
When I try to play a video in FF, the results vary from no play window to a window but as you say with no controls, more often it's with no window for the player!
Here are a couple of links from my archives.
http://www.jazzonthetube.com/videos/gene-hardy/quay-waltz.html
http://www.30sjazz.com/videos/tommy-dorsey/song-of-india-.html
The videos of trains from all over I have never archived, and no one is currently posting on the train groups with any links to videos.
I once had to make a new profile, but so long ago I have forgotten how to do it!
Rich
Till recently noaxetogrind, I was a v3.6 user, now I've upgraded to v9.1 and am able to click those links with no problem. Versions 4 & 5 had some problems, but so far this latest one is clear sailing. I know (as it took me like forever to make the switch), but if you've got problems with v6, suggest you give v9 a try. You can always reload v6, and you're current addons should come back too (well it worked for me with v3.6.24 while I tried out newer versions), Mindblower!
"For the needy, not the greedy"
Hey Rich - Sorry mate, it must have seemed like I abandoned you. Not so, I've been away for a few days. I always take my laptop away with me but this time I've had terrible problems connecting to the mobile broadband.
No problems watching those videos myself mate, so if Mindblower and I can view them okay then I think it's fair to say that there's nothing wrong with Firefox and the problem lies somewhere within your setup.
Here's a link to a guide on how to create a new FF profile: http://kb.mozillazine.org/Creating_a_new_Firefox_profile_on_Windows
I strongly advise you to try that Rich, your profile is specific to your own FF installation so is a likely culprit. If you can play the videos using the new profile you will then need to re-install any add-ons/themes - bit of a pain but worth the effort if the issue is fixed.
Let us know how you get on (and apologies again for the late reply),
Cheers...Jim
Jim, many thanks, the new profile did the trick!
with my bookmarks, I exported an HTML file from Google Chrome. In order to see the bookmarks in Firefox I click on bookmarks, then "bookmarks bar" then unsorted bookmarks or bookmarks imported from Firefox!
Seems a bit much! any way to reduce that to just clicking Bookmarks the way it used to be?
Thanks again!
Rich
Hey Rich - Glad to hear you sorted it out mate - good one!!
Yes, when you import bookmarks into Firefox it does require a few clicks to access them each time. Not sure if that can actually be improved - I have the bookmarks sidebar enabled permanently and just leave those folders expanded so I don't need to keep clicking on them.
Cheers...Jim
Another way is to press Ctrl + B to bring up the bookmarks sidebar then just typ a few consecutive letters of the bookmark you are looking for in the searchbox.
Ctrl + B to hide it again.
That, to me, is much faster.
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