locked Flash video (including YouTube) freezes in firefox

Firefox version: 4.0a5_1.0b1 Operating system: Windows XP
Author
Message
Kirsten
Firefox user

Googling this problem, I've seen it's a persistant and ongoing problem for a lot of people, but I don't see that it's been addressed anywhere by firefox.

I've noticed since the latest update that sometimes (not all the time) flash audio/video will load and look as if it's starting to play, but then will freeze at two seconds. Even if you open a new browser, or tab, the problem persists. I will then have to close all currently open firefox windows and tabs, start again, and then (usually) videos will play.

This is a persistent, frustrating problem. IE will play these vids/audio no problem. It's a bummer. I certainly don't want to go back to go back to IE. Yuk.

Firefox, Help!!

I have the latest versions of both Firefox, Flash (and java). And I don't have the ActiveX plugin.

Extensions installed:

None.

Plugins installed:


[+]


Thu 01 of May, 2008 17:29 PST  
Bo
Bo
13935 posts

First try installing the latest version of Flash (you're behind one; there was a recent release) using this procedure to see if that helps:

  1. Download this uninstaller from Adobe.com
  2. Download this installer from Adobe.com
  3. Close Firefox
  4. Run the uninstaller, then the installer
  5. Open Firefox

If that doesn't do it, try it this way:

  1. Download this uninstaller from Adobe.com
  2. Download this installer from OldApps.com
  3. Close Firefox
  4. Run the uninstaller, then the installer
  5. Open Firefox

There's also a rumor going around that Java can cause this. If you'd do this before trying the above stuff and report back, I'd appreciate it:

  1. In Firefox, go to Tools > Options...
  2. Click to the Content tab
  3. Uncheck "Enable Java"
  4. Close the Options window, restart Firefox, try a video

Good luck!



Thu 01 of May, 2008 17:46 PST  
brainiac
Firefox user

I've been having the same issue off and on now for a while. I've uninstalled/reinstalled flash but it kept coming back.

I just disabled Java and it fixed the problem. Rumor confirmed.



Wed 07 of May, 2008 11:23 PST  
Bo
Bo
13935 posts

brainiac, thanks for the confirmation.



Wed 07 of May, 2008 17:09 PST  
Atticus Finch
Firefox user

I used the second option listed and it has been working well over the course of a few days (the first option was not successful). I greatly appreciate that you posted those solutions to a problem that many people seems to grappling with.



Wed 07 of May, 2008 20:46 PST  
David
Firefox user

I use this page

http://www.java.com/en/download/windows_xpi.jsp

press "free java download"

the page detect your version, and if you have it lastets version, does not pass anything, but videos reload ( in detecting step)and they can be seen without problem, without having to reload firefox.



Sun 01 of Jun, 2008 21:27 PST  
Derek
Firefox user

@david-

Bless you!! This is the first method that works, requires no config changes, and can be done in just a few seconds time.



Tue 10 of Jun, 2008 15:33 PST  
Tom
Firefox user

I've had this problem for years and have never been able to watch videos on this computer. Every couple of months I have looked for a solution. Nothing has ever worked. I had pretty much given up. Finally something works!!! (I disabled Java) Thank you, thank you, thank you!



Thu 12 of Jun, 2008 20:09 PST  
Anonymous

Wow! I disabled Java (and javascript) and it worked! I downloaded java a while ago, even though I knew that they caused problems. Didn't expect it to cause this random type problem. Just hit disable Java, then Javascript. Close the browser then restart it. Works like a charm. Oh, also, I did this before I attempted a Flash reinstall. Rumor confirmed



Wed 18 of Jun, 2008 13:35 PST  
asdf
Firefox user

Again, this works. Disable both java and javascript. props...
If only I could bump this to the top of the google results page :)



Sun 22 of Jun, 2008 03:06 PST  
Ginger
Firefox user

It's enough just to disable Java.
Don't disable javascript - almost every website use some javascript, and you will have problems with browsing.
Java and Javascript are two totally different things, and have nothing in common except 4 letters in a name.



Sun 22 of Jun, 2008 12:00 PST  
Bulent
Firefox user

how can i disable java ? thank you in advance



Tue 24 of Jun, 2008 11:28 PST  
Chris
Firefox user

Help for about 1min the high cpu usage again



Tue 24 of Jun, 2008 23:07 PST  
Anónimo

I have a question. How can i use Java content without having to disable it from Firefox? Thanks in advance!



Thu 26 of Jun, 2008 07:18 PST  
Thyago
Firefox user

I used the method of david and it's work perfectly!!!
I didnt have to disable java or anything else.
Thank you david!



Sat 28 of Jun, 2008 13:20 PST  
Patrick
Firefox user

I kept getting the freeze problem on this page which has a lot of embedded Youtube and Flash videos on it (not safe for work):

http://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2008/06/18/nsfw-a-beginners-guide-to-sporn/

I tried restarting Firefox - didn't work.
Disabling Java - didn't work.
Disabling Javascript - didn't work.
David's java reinstall (above) - didn't work.

Bo's Flash uninstall and reinstall (above) worked perfectly - thanks.



Sun 29 of Jun, 2008 01:29 PST  
jodaboda
Firefox user

Simple fix package:
Download here



Sun 06 of Jul, 2008 01:34 PST  
NahLaterz
Firefox user

@ David
.
.
.
thanks... that worked to perfection!!!!!



Sun 06 of Jul, 2008 16:22 PST  
barry
Firefox user

Disabled Java: Didn't work.
Revert to older version of Flash (as per Bo, above): Worked.
-
Then, I got an "update Flash" pop-up/reminder, and I did it, thinking that it might be a newer version that fixes the problem. Nope, problem back.
-
Finally, I uninstalled Flash and installed the Flash 10 Beta (windows).
-
So far, so good!



Tue 08 of Jul, 2008 10:24 PST  
spbruyere
Firefox user

1. In Firefox, go to Tools > Options...
2. Click to the Content tab
3. Uncheck "Enable Java"
4. Close the Options window, restart Firefox, try a video on YouTube.

And enjoy freeze free video from now on, awesome fix folks, thanks for the reduction in my daily headaches on YouTube...



Thu 10 of Jul, 2008 11:47 PST  
takusman
Firefox user

I have a problem where the video stops but the audio keeps playing perfectly. The only option i haven't tried is to get the new flash, but everything else, didn't work at all



Thu 10 of Jul, 2008 14:17 PST  
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