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 soon.

I have MS Security Essential installed and run it on a regular basis. I also have Spybot installed and also run that on a regular basis. No viruses or malware have been detected.

Where are those cookies located?

Firefox stores its own cookies in the cookies.sqlite file in the Firefox profile folder.
If the cookies are located elsewhere then they may not get removed properly.
This can more easily happen if the cookies created by a plugin and stored outside Firefox.

Thanks for your reply.

I figured that Firefox cookies were stored in some hidden file but I couldn't find it. However, when I run Firefox lots of stuff is put in the Temporary Internet file. With the exception of the cookies from Real.com, all other stuff is deleted when I close Firefox. And that's the way that I have my options set up (ie. keep cookies until I close Firefox).

As I've noted in my original post, IE will totally clean out the temp files including the cookies from Real.com. I'm 99.99% on Firefox and use IE only to clean out my temp files.

The cookies from Real.com are stored in the usual c:/temp/Temporary Internet Files location.

All RealNetworks plugin's are disabled (never turned on") via Firefox. I have stopped Real from being started at StartUp. Nevertheless, they will appear even though I do not run any RealNeteworks programs (eg. realplayer or real downloader).

These cookies are persistent and a nuisance because I have to manually delete them.

It is possible that the RealPlayer is started automatically to check for updates and that is causing those cookies to appear. Firefox doesn't store any data in the locations that IE and other MS programs use.

• http://kb.mozillazine.org/Profile_folder_-_Firefox

Cor-el,

It appears that I've hit a dead-end here.

You're telling me that Firefox is set up to clean up or delete temp files and cookies only from the location where it stores them.

And I'm telling you that it appears that apps started and run under Firefox appear to put temp files and cookies in the standard TempInternetFiles location. And that these items are not cleaned up by Firefox.

It looks like I'll just continue to remove these temp files/cookies manually.

I appreciate your efforts to help me out. Thanks.

BTW - RealPlayer auto-update is disabled. RealPlayer startup is a different problem.