Ubuntu
firefox-3.0 package

Firefox 3 Video Issue: blank screen where the video should be or the gray arrow play button image

Asked by Tumbler

I recently upgraded from Ubuntu 8.04 to 9.04. Since then I have been unable to play video within Firefox 3.0.10. All I get is an gray image with a arrow and circle... Similar to Play button icon on media players. If it is an advertisement, I can click on the image and whatever is suppose to be there will display... most of the time. However, if I go to Hulu.com or a similar website to watch a video, usually all I will get is a blank screen where the video should be or the gray arrow play button image.

If you haven't picked up from my description of the issue, I am just a basic user when it comes to Linux. At best, I know almost enough to be dangerous and have to google for a solution to most any issue the arises. So, any assistance will be greatly appreciated.

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Ubuntu firefox-3.0 Edit question
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actionparsnip
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Best actionparsnip (andrew-woodhead666) said : 		#1

sudo apt-get install mozilla-plugin-vlc

Will make mozilla use vlc and vlc plugin for video.

If you run:

dpkg -l | grep moz | grep plug

You will see other plugins, if any are video related (totem for example) then uninstall it.

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Steve (gbborg) said : 		#2

Also experienced the problem above and followed the directions above. Still no flash videos but running the "dpkg -l | grep moz | grep plug" command revealed that there are 3 plugins. Since I still have no flash, I assume two conflicting plugin need to be removed. Here is the result:

steve@ubuntu:~$ dpkg -l | grep moz | grep plug
ii mozilla-plugin-vlc 0.9.9a-2ubuntu1
    multimedia plugin for web browsers based on
ii swfdec-mozilla 0.8.2-1ubuntu1
  Mozilla plugin for SWF files (Macromedia Fla
ii totem-mozilla 2.26.1-0ubuntu5
    Totem Mozilla plugin

Would you please expand on your explanation and describe exactly how the SWF and Totem plugins should be properly uninstalled. Add/Remove Applications does not seem to locate these plugins.

Thank You.

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actionparsnip (andrew-woodhead666) said : 		#3

sudo apt-get --purge remove totem-mozilla swfdec-mozilla

If you have too many flash plugins (more than 1) they will fight and not work at all. Add/Remove programs is alien to me as I only use apt-get. I hate gui apps for stuff liek this as CLI is significantly faster.

I thought you said you were having issues with video, not flash.

Can you please clarify your issue.

The mozilla-plugin-vlc will link mozilla to vlc and allow you to play embedded videos using the functionality in vlc.

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Tumbler (sonny-nagel-gmail) said : 		#4

Purging the additional plugins fixed it for me. Thanks a bunch for the help!

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Tumbler (sonny-nagel-gmail) said : 		#5

Thanks actionparsnip, that solved my question.

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GPTura (princezhon) said : 		#6

I have the same exact problem like Tumbler had, Thank you actionparsnip for the solution I appreciate it!

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Fred McConnell (fredmcon) said : 		#7

I needed to delete the other plugins.Works great thanks Actionparsnip