Skip navigation
Robin Kluth
Robin Kluth Calculating status...
Currently Being Moderated

[FP 11.4 & FF 14.0.1] Firefox hang on every page with flash-content

Aug 27, 2012 12:41 AM

Tags: #flash #windows #firefox #freeze #hang #x32 #11.4 #14.0.1

Hi at all

 

I have a problem with the new Flash Player, let me explain it:

 

We have a windows-domain with software distribution via GPO.

 

Since update to 11.4 via the msi package (11.3 was previously installed) we have in the meanwhile 3 PCs (all Win7 x32 with FF 14.0.1 and Flash 11.4) with this problem:

 

- While loading a page with Flash content, the Firefox simply freezes and have to be killed together with plugin-container in order to work again.

 

If this happens, ff and plugin-container have 0% cpu-usage. It freezes and does nothing...

 

If I remove Flash: Web-pages are working, but without flash.

 

What I've tried:

 

  • reinstall using flash-uninstaller
  • Using "normal" end-user web-installer
  • Uninstall via Uninstaller and tried 11.3 again
  • reinstall Firefox, both 14 and 13

 

Nothing helped to bring Flash-support back.

 

This happens only on FF, Internet Explorer is working fine...

 

Can someone give me a hint?

2011 Views   10 Replies   Latest reply: Robin Kluth, Sep 23, 2012 11:29 PM
 
Replies
  • Pat Willener
    Currently Being Moderated
    1. Pat Willener,
    Aug 27, 2012 3:11 AM   in reply to Robin Kluth
    Report

    Sorry, not many ideas about this...

     

    What I would try if I encountered this problem: try on one of the affected machines

     

    Does it work better after that?

     
    |
    Mark as:
  • Chris Campbell
    8,551 posts
    May 4, 2010
    Currently Being Moderated
    2. Chris Campbell,
    Aug 27, 2012 6:19 PM   in reply to Pat Willener
    Report

    If Pat's suggestions don't work, could you try temporarily disabling protected mode (see the bottom of the faq below) to see if that makes a difference?

     

    How do I troubleshoot Flash Player's protected mode for Firefox?

     
    |
    Mark as:
  • Robin Kluth
    Currently Being Moderated
    3. Robin Kluth,
    Aug 28, 2012 1:27 AM   in reply to Chris Campbell
    Report

    Hi again

     

    Your ideas does not resolve the problem

     

    What I've tried now:

    • Uninstall Flash using both the Uninstaller from the KB-page and the 11.4 uninstaller
    • reinstall Flash using standalone msi & exe
    • Reinstalled Firefox (with complete uninstall)
    • created new windows profile with new ff profile
    • Safe-Mode in FF doesnt work
    • switching back to 11.3 doesnt work!

     

    New facts:

    • Flash Plugin is working with IE and latest Opera, so this problem happens only on Firefox.
    • We have currently 3 PCs with same issue and still no solution.

     

    Exists a registry cleaner for Flash? Maybe something is wrong there?

     

    Next tests:

    • I'll check a few other systems for this issue. On some systems (same OS), Flash is working perfect.

     

    Or its Firefox (tried complete uninstall: no changes)....

     
    |
    Mark as:
  • Robin Kluth
    Currently Being Moderated
    4. Robin Kluth,
    Aug 28, 2012 2:05 AM   in reply to Robin Kluth
    Report

    Tested 5 PCs with similar configuration: all working fine.

     

    I really dont know what is causing this problem and I hope that its limited to the 3 PCs.

     
    |
    Mark as:
  • Robin Kluth
    Currently Being Moderated
    5. Robin Kluth,
    Sep 6, 2012 4:36 AM   in reply to Robin Kluth
    Report

    Hi,

     

    update: The next user has this issue, there are currently 6 PCs with this problem .

    I cant work around that, yet.

     

    Still only Windows 7 32-bit users.

     
    |
    Mark as:
  • Chris Campbell
    8,551 posts
    May 4, 2010
    Currently Being Moderated
    6. Chris Campbell,
    Sep 6, 2012 2:40 PM   in reply to Robin Kluth
    Report

    Robin, have you tried disabling protected mode using the instructions in the FAQ I posted above?

     
    |
    Mark as:
  • Robin Kluth
    Currently Being Moderated
    7. Robin Kluth,
    Sep 10, 2012 12:00 AM   in reply to Chris Campbell
    Report

    Hi,

     

    sorry - I've forgot that.

     

    I've tried to disable the ProtectedMode and it works!

    Now, this isnt a hint for me to solve the problem, maybe you have a tip for me?

     

    How can I isolate the source of this issue?

     

    Thanks for your help!

     
    |
    Mark as:
  • Chris Campbell
    8,551 posts
    May 4, 2010
    Currently Being Moderated
    8. Chris Campbell,
    Sep 12, 2012 11:14 AM   in reply to Robin Kluth
    Report

    The key here will be to determine what is different between the machines that work and those that hang.  Of all the systems that fail, they are all Windows 7 32bit?  Do you have any 32bit systems that don't fail?  What about hardware, are there similarities here?  Attached devices/drivers?  Software that is running at the time?  Maybe try booting Windows in safe mode to see if it still hangs?

     

    We're definitely interested in what's going on.  I'll ask our security and Mozilla folks to see if they have additional clues.

     
    |
    Mark as:
  • Robin Kluth
    Currently Being Moderated
    9. Robin Kluth,
    Sep 13, 2012 1:30 AM   in reply to Chris Campbell
    Report

    Chris Campbell wrote:

     

    The key here will be to determine what is different between the machines that work and those that hang.  Of all the systems that fail, they are all Windows 7 32bit?

     

     

    Yep, this issue only happens on Windows 7 32-bit machines, currently 6.

     

     

    Do you have any 32bit systems that don't fail?

     

     

    Yep, the most Windows 7 32-bit machines wont fail.

     

     

    What about hardware, are there similarities here?  Attached devices/drivers?  Software that is running at the time?

     

     

    These machines are all from DELL. They all have normal hardware, nothing special. Other machines from same type does not affected. Software: All have standard software distributed via Software-distribution (GPO). Only some PCs have special software, but it is not running. No special drives, too.

     

     

    Maybe try booting Windows in safe mode to see if it still hangs?

     

     

    Good idea, indeed - I will try this.

     

     

    We're definitely interested in what's going on.  I'll ask our security and Mozilla folks to see if they have additional clues.

    Thanks!

     

    EDIT:

    Safe mode: Flash is working! (without disabled Protected Mode!)

     

    I've set msconfig now to: Custom system start and deselected the boxes to load systemservices and system start elements.

    So, now windows does a non-safe mode boot but no service or element was loaded except the drivers (right?). Flash is not working with this config!

     

    So, whats the difference between safe mode and normal boot with minimal configuration (see attached picture).

     

    Only drivers will be loaded, right? If so, I can exclude the network and graphics driver as source: graphics driver are updated right now and network was working in safe-mode.

    msconfig.PNG

     

    Any new ideas?

     

    Informations about safe-mode

     
    |
    Mark as:
  • Robin Kluth
    Currently Being Moderated
    10. Robin Kluth,
    Sep 23, 2012 11:29 PM   in reply to Chris Campbell
    Report

    Hi, again.

     

    I dont had the time to test the new Flash release, yet. I'll try it this week.

     

    Exists a changelog for the new version?

     

    Thanks!

     
    |
    Mark as:
Actions

More Like This

  • Retrieving data ...

Bookmarked By (0)

Answers + Points = Status

  • 10 points awarded for Correct Answers
  • 5 points awarded for Helpful Answers
  • 10,000+ points
  • 1,001-10,000 points
  • 501-1,000 points
  • 5-500 points