Only particular addon or all addons?

Firefox > Add-ons. On the left side of the page are the types of add-ons. The Get Add-ons at the top of this list is a search for finding something from the Mozilla Add-ons Web Page. When you get to your add-ons page, check what section you are viewing.

You can click one of the other tabs like Extensions or Plugins if Get Extensions is selected and doesn't respond.

If there aren't any extensions visible in the Extensions tab then it is possible that there is a problem with the file(s) that store the extensions registry.

Delete the extensions.* files (e.g. extensions.json, extensions.sqlite, extensions.ini) and compatibility.ini in the Firefox profile folder to reset the extensions registry.

• https://support.mozilla.org/kb/Profiles

New files will be created when required.

See "Corrupt extension files":

• http://kb.mozillazine.org/Unable_to_install_themes_or_extensions
• https://support.mozilla.org/kb/Unable+to+install+add-ons

If you see disabled or not compatible extensions in "Firefox/Tools > Add-ons > Extensions" then click the Tools button at the left end of the Search Bar to check if there is a compatibility update available.

If this hasn't helped then also delete the addons.json and addons.sqlite file.

Yesterday I went to see what addons needed to be updated. It did search and showed me a couple of shockwave that needed updating. When I said go ahead and update it just going back to the main page. nothing happened and I cant remember which shockwaves they were because now when I go to my add-on manager, it just sits there are searchs (the circle is going around) it will do this for hours. HELP what is wrong? I know I have some problem with video because when I watch one, the talking is off from the way they move their mouth, I think it's too slow. What to do? I am pretty computer literate, but when I see 'reset firefox' and all the hassles that come with that, I am at a loss. ANYONE OUT THERE KNOW HOW TO FIX THIS?

If a program has trouble updating, go to the web site of the owner of the program and get the full installer.

Thanks for the reply, but I am really not sure what you mean. Perhaps I did not explain the situation correctly. I am on Firefox, I click on "tools" and then Add-ons. When I go the the add-on bracket, it says "check for add-ons" that need updating , then it starts to search ( the circle is going around) and it just stays that way, it never retrieves anything. I have done this before without any problem. Also I am unable to see my add-ons, which of course I have. Do not know if that helps clarify or just muddys the water. Thank you

Did you try to go to all possible tabs on the about:addons (Firefox/Tools > Add-ons) page?

Do all tabs give this issue?

Did you try to delete the extensions.* files and compatibility.ini like I posted above?

I'm not sure is this is the same problem -- if it isn't, I'll take this elsewhere. But when I click Tools>Add-ons, it takes me to the page as normal, but none of my add-ons (all of which are working) show up. Ditto for "Extensions," and all other tabs. I've been trying to see them because I have a *$&#@ slide-in/pop-up ("Hot Deals") that isn't in my program files, and which MalwareBytes and Webroot haven't removed. I'm trying to check to see if any nasty thing has been stuck in as an add-on, but the pages shows /nothing/. I can check for updates, as the user above stated, but that's literally all it shows. No data at all on the rest of the page.

Start Firefox in Safe Mode
While you are in safe mode;
Firefox Options > Advanced > General.
Look for and turn off Use Hardware Acceleration.

After, go over to your add-ons pages. In safe mode, all add-ons are disabled. If you can't see anything you did not install, try this;
Go thru your add-ons and DISABLE some of them. Then restart Firefox. If the problem is still there, go back to safe mode and disable more of them. Once FF is running properly, you know one of the disabled is the problem. Just one thing, it may be an add-on, or more then one that don't work well together.

Thanks very much -- I started by disabling the three I didn't recognize, and that fixed the problem.

Great News ! ! What were they? One last thing. Do this once in a while;

Sometimes a problem with Firefox may be a result of malware installed on your computer, that you may not be aware of.

You can try these free programs to scan for malware, which work with your existing antivirus software:

• Microsoft Safety Scanner
• MalwareBytes' Anti-Malware
• TDSSKiller - AntiRootkit Utility
• Hitman Pro
• ESET Online Scanner

Microsoft Security Essentials is a good permanent antivirus for Windows 7/Vista/XP if you don't already have one.

Further information can be found in the Troubleshoot Firefox issues caused by malware article.

Did this fix your problems? Please report back to us!

I use Webroot SecureAnywhere and Malwarebytes Anti-Malware. I update daily.

The add-ons I disabled were i-beta 0.1.7, TwitPixExpress for Firefox 1.2, and a Photobucket Uploader.

I don't remember ever installing i-beta, though from all the searching I did, it seems mild enough.

Does any of this help?

I checked out Microsoft Security Essentials, but I'd have to disable Webroot (which has served me well -- only this Hot Deals(!) thing has gotten past it) and MalwareBytes, so I skipped it. I do use the Microsoft Firewall.

You can always turn it off and restart it later.Also, run several of the listed malware scanners. Each works differently. If one program misses something, another may pick it up.

Even after the three I ran? (MalwareBytes, CCCleaner, and Webroot.)

I would have thought if they didn't find it, nothing would -- and I update MalwareBytes daily.

That's the way life is.

Innit, though?

Were you able to uninstall all three extensions that you mentioned?

• http://kb.mozillazine.org/Uninstalling_add-ons
• http://kb.mozillazine.org/Uninstalling_toolbars

All but one, yes, thanks. Everything's still running fine. You've been most helpful!

Extensions that do not have a "Remove" button are installed by other software and are not under control of the Firefox extension manager.

Such globally installed extensions are usually found via a registry scan or are installed in a location that Firefox scans for installed extensions.

• https://developer.mozilla.org/Adding_Extensions_using_the_Windows_Registry

Extensions installed this way need to be removed via the settings (options/preferences) of the program that has added this extension or you need to uninstall this program via "Control Panel > Programs".
In Firefox you an only disable such an extension.

Yep. That's what I did. thanks.