Silverlight (Netflix) not working after latest Firefox update
After the latest Firefox update (34.0.5), I can't get Silverlight to work on Netflix. I get a black screen with no error codes.
Netflix has a checklist of things to do if you get a black screen (https://help.netflix.com/en/node/95), and I've done all of these things several times -- manually removing Netflix cookies, uninstalling and reinstalling Silverlight (and I used a Fix-It app on the Microsoft website to troubleshoot), disabling ad blockers and virus software, and scanning for malware. I've done all of these things, and nothing has helped. I can play Netflix videos in Chrome, but I think there's no reason why I shouldn't be able to use my preferred browser, especially since I was able to do it without incident up until Wednesday night.
I had two chats with Netflix tech support. Neither were much help, but the second person suggested that I uninstall Firefox entirely and then reinstall. I don't really want to do that. I'm not really that tech-y, and I'm afraid of losing my settings. Honestly, I would cancel Netflix before doing that.
Has anybody else had this problem? Are there any OTHER workarounds or suggestions of what I can try to fix this problem? Also, is it possible to be prompted when there's a new Firefox update.. and not have it automatically updated without my permission? I can't, by any chance, roll back to the version when everything worked fine?
All Replies (20)
hi tenderprey, microsoft has reportedly released a defective update for silverlight through the monthly patchday on tuesday (and disabled it again afterwards). can you try this fixit tool to restore your installation https://support.microsoft.com/kb/2608523 or else reinstall silverlight manually?
https://help.netflix.com/article/en/node/183?ba=GSButtonClick&q=n8152
Hi philipp! I did use the fix-it tool before, but I did the manual fix-it this time around. I've probably uninstalled and reinstalled Silverlight 10 times in these last two days! Anyway, I did it again, and I still get the black screen (no error message). But, Silverlight is working on Chrome, so I think it's a Firefox/Silverlight issue rather than just a Silverlight issue.
That article's similar to the one I posted. I did do all of the steps that were relevant to me (this one has IE-centric steps that don't apply).
Is it possible that the latest Firefox update doesn't agree with Silverlight, or (as the tech support guy at Netflix thought) could my Firefox be corrupted now?
I'm now fairly certain that the problem is not with Silverlight itself. It runs fine on Chrome, but I really don't like using Chrome. Netflix tech support suggested that the latest update of Firefox (which happened RIGHT before this black screen problem started) has somehow become corrupted.
Is there any way to scale back to the last version? Is it possible that it has become corrupted? Is there any way to fix this (besides uninstalling and reinstalling)? Can I turn off automatic updates in Firefox? Or can I be given an option to update? I don't really want it to just update on its own.
tenderprey said
I'm now fairly certain that the problem is not with Silverlight itself. It runs fine on Chrome, but I really don't like using Chrome. Netflix tech support suggested that the latest update of Firefox (which happened RIGHT before this black screen problem started) has somehow become corrupted. Is there any way to scale back to the last version? Is it possible that it has become corrupted? Is there any way to fix this (besides uninstalling and reinstalling)? Can I turn off automatic updates in Firefox? Or can I be given an option to update? I don't really want it to just update on its own.
"Netflix" runs both in "explorer" and in "chrome" because (as the guys In "netflix" told me) both browsers don´t use the silverlight "plu-in".
philipp said
hi tenderprey, microsoft has reportedly released a defective update for silverlight through the monthly patchday on tuesday (and disabled it again afterwards). can you try this fixit tool to restore your installation https://support.microsoft.com/kb/2608523 or else reinstall silverlight manually? https://help.netflix.com/article/en/node/183?ba=GSButtonClick&q=n8152
Philipp, I tried your suggestion but it didn´t worked. "Netflix" works very well with "explorer" and with "chrome" because (as the guys at "netflix" told me) none of those browsers require the silverlight "plug-in". As this started to happen with the "firefox"-version 34.0.5, it appears that there´s some kind of issue between "firefox"-version 34.0.5 and the silverlight "plug-in".
tenderprey said
Hi philipp! I did use the fix-it tool before, but I did the manual fix-it this time around. I've probably uninstalled and reinstalled Silverlight 10 times in these last two days! Anyway, I did it again, and I still get the black screen (no error message). But, Silverlight is working on Chrome, so I think it's a Firefox/Silverlight issue rather than just a Silverlight issue. That article's similar to the one I posted. I did do all of the steps that were relevant to me (this one has IE-centric steps that don't apply). Is it possible that the latest Firefox update doesn't agree with Silverlight, or (as the tech support guy at Netflix thought) could my Firefox be corrupted now?
The guys at "netflix" told me that both "explorer" and "chrome" don´t use the silverlight "plug-in" and that another technology is used by both browser to handle "nexflix".
So, it sounds like there's a compatibility problem. I didn't realize that Firefox accesses Silverlight in a whole different way. Do you think Firefox needs to be updated/patched to be able to work with the Silverlight plugin again, or does the plugin need to be updated to be compatible with the latest version of Firefox?
tenderprey said
So, it sounds like there's a compatibility problem. I didn't realize that Firefox accesses Silverlight in a whole different way. Do you think Firefox needs to be updated/patched to be able to work with the Silverlight plugin again, or does the plugin need to be updated to be compatible with the latest version of Firefox?
First of all, I´m not a IT guy...just a fan of "firefox". Regarding your question, since this issue started with the 34.0.5 version of "firefox" it´s my opinion that it´s "firefox" the one that should be updated/patched to work again with "netflix". to fix such issue.
Note to Firefox: no Netflix is a deal-breaker.
Yeah, it's definitely a dealbreaker. I've been using Chrome more recently (and I hate it).
Unfortunately, my Firefox updated to version 35 yesterday, and Silverlight is still not working.
I agree, gerardoerak, I think Mozilla should be the ones to patch this. I guess it's time to submit something to Bugzilla? It doesn't seem like talking about it here will do anything.
the flashblock extension is also known to cause issues with silverlight.
Mr. Tenderprey, the same happens to me. Netflix still not working after I updated to version 35 (yesterday, also). I was expecting this issue to be resolved with this update with no luck. I agree that the following step should be to report this matter to "bugzilla" but (since I´m not a "tech-guy") I don´t know how to proceed. Do you?. Regards.
Philipp, thanks but I´m not using the "flashblock" extension. Regards.
I was hoping this would be resolved, too. I did report the issue just now to https://bugzilla.mozilla.org/enter_bug.cgi (under 'Report an issue with a website that I use'). I don't think I'm qualified to write an actual bug report, though. There are no recent reported Silverlight bugs listed on that page, which makes me think no one has reported it so far. I'll definitely update here if I get some kind of response.
Since the update yesterday, I have some Greasemonkey scripts that aren't working now, too. This last update has been a mess..
tenderprey, your system details show that you have flashblock present. please try disabling it and restart firefox and test the issue with silverlight again.
I, too, tried the Microsoft Fix-It link ( https://support.microsoft.com/kb/2608523 ) without success. Netflix help went through everything they knew, also without success. They gave me a M/S number (1-866-234-6020) to call. M/S said the problem was on Firefox's side so the ring-around-the-Rosie continues. I could just go back to Chrome, but I don't want to, and it would be a pain to redo things and live without the extensions. Firefox does not seem to play well with Android, either.
Tendreprey, hopefully your report to "bugzilla" help to fix this issue. Regards.
Fook, I totally agree with you. I wouldn´t like to use "chrome".
Here are the related Netflix Bugs @ Bugzilla.
I don't see any recent Bug reports having been filed for this particular discussion. Some Netflx user is going to have to file a Bug report, the Firefox developers aren't going to "fix something" that doesn't have a Bug report filed for the issues being discussed here.
the-edmeister, thank you for your suggestion. However, the problem (at least with me) is that I´m not a "tech-guy" and I don´t know how to file a "bug-report". Regards.