Create a new profile as a test to check if your current profile is causing the problems.
See Creating a profile:

• https://support.mozilla.org/kb/profile-manager-create-and-remove-firefox-profiles
• http://kb.mozillazine.org/Standard_diagnostic_-_Firefox#Profile_issues

If the new profile works then you can transfer files from a previously used profile to the new profile, but be cautious not to copy corrupted files to avoid carrying over the problem
Profile Backup and Restore

• http://kb.mozillazine.org/Profile_backup
• https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/back-and-restore-information-firefox-profiles
• http://kb.mozillazine.org/Transferring_data_to_a_new_profile_-_Firefox

Thank you, i Reset firefox defaults and opened in safe mode and that didnt work. Then i created a new profile and only transferred bookmarks, and it still didnt fix it. Something messed up my firefox, flash and java yesterday when i updated them.

Thanks for your help anyway.

Hello

Certain Firefox problems can be solved by performing a Clean reinstall. This means you remove Firefox program files and then reinstall Firefox. Please follow these steps:

Note: You might want to print these steps or view them in another browser.

1. Download the latest Desktop version of Firefox from http://www.mozilla.org and save the setup file to your computer.
2. After the download finishes, close all Firefox windows (click Exit from the Firefox or File menu).
3. Delete the Firefox installation folder, which is located in one of these locations, by default:
   • Windows:
     • C:\Program Files\Mozilla Firefox
     • C:\Program Files (x86)\Mozilla Firefox
   • Mac: Delete Firefox from the Applications folder.
   • Linux: If you installed Firefox with the distro-based package manager, you should use the same way to uninstall it - see Install Firefox on Linux. If you downloaded and installed the binary package from the Firefox download page, simply remove the folder firefox in your home directory.
4. Now, go ahead and reinstall Firefox:
   1. Double-click the downloaded installation file and go through the steps of the installation wizard.
   2. Once the wizard is finished, choose to directly open Firefox after clicking the Finish button.

More information about reinstalling Firefox can be found here.

WARNING: Do not run Firefox's uninstaller or use a third party remover as part of this process, because that could permanently delete your Firefox data, including but not limited to, extensions, cache, cookies, bookmarks, personal settings and saved passwords. These cannot be easily recovered unless they have been backed up to an external device!

Please report back to say if this helped you!

Thank you.

Thank you. I have uninstalled flash 14 and reinstalled flash 13 and that has sorted out my flash,youtube and other website viewing issues, but i still have my browser close & minimize buttons blacked out.

I will try following your clean reinstall guidelines and report back.

I dont seem to have a Firefox installation folder: Which one do I delete?

Under Mozilla Firefox in Programs files x86 I have:

• Browser (Under this components, extensions & search plugins)
• Defaults (Pref under this)
• Dictionaries
• Plugins
• uninstall
• Webapprt

then I also have a folder for Mozilla Maintenance Service

Just go to Mozilla.org and download the full installer. It will do the rest.