As you have noticed this is what we call a soft block. You have the option to re-enable Real Player, but the reason for the block is that RealPlayer on Windows systems this was often interfering badly with FlashPlayer 11.3. use; as you appear to have discovered.

The advice up to today has been to downgrade FlashPlayer to the secure version 10.3, or to take some risk and use the not secure version 11.2.

• full instructions are in the article Adobe Flash plugin has crashed - Prevent it from happening again

Firefox and Adobe developers have been working on this issue and breaking news is that there is a new release of Flash Player

• Adobe Flash Player 11.3.300.262 for Firefox.
  • from http://get.adobe.com/flashplayer/

We have not yet received many reports on this but you may wish to downloading and installing the very latest one.

Please post back with how you get on.

John99: I did exactly what you suggested but Flash Player 10 simply does not load on my system, even with the debugger, whatever that is for. When I went back to my Planet Pulse site I got a FireFox message that additional add ons were necessary to show the video. When I clicked install, I got the latest Flash Player 11 version you suggested. So I'm still stuck - I can't download videos using RealPlayer. However, I downloaded a free app called BestVideoDownloader for YouTube videos and that takes care of my Planet Pulse downloads because they are YouTube videos. As far as videos on other websites, I use FVD Suite's downloader. Maybe FireFox and RealPlayer, not just Adobe, can come up with a RealPlayer downloader Add-on that works. This problem just occurred with the latest release of FireFox Desktop when it disabled my RealPlayer Browser Record (Downloader) Plugin Extension. If anyone else comes up with solutions, please post them. I will Thank You most graciously! My problem is not viewing videos but downloading them easily.

Thanks for posting back Bill,

Would you please check which version of Flash Player is installed and active in your browser by visiting the FlashPlayer site with Flash Player enabled:

• http://www.adobe.com/software/flash/about/

Are you able to confirm that shows you are using 11.3.300.262 (I understand the site actually runs the FlashPlayer software to verify what it is and that it is working)

May I suggest you try using the new flash player initially with all the other video related software disabled. Does FlashPlayer video now play ok on the sites you usually use ?

Next try with only the FLash Player and Real player software enabled

• do flash player videos still play/stream ok ?
• what happens when you try to download with the RealPlayer software is this still not working ?
  • (I do not know but It may be Adobe's intention to block applications that download video)

John99: Yes, Adobe confirms I am using 11.3.300.262 Flash. I disabled all other video extensions/plugins and Flash Player plays my videos everywhere including YouTube. With Flash Player and Real Player software everything still plays except that I can't download any videos. I enabled the RealPlayer downloader (Browser Record Plugin 15.0.4) and immediately I could not view any videos at all, except for a few on YouTube. They downloaded but would not replay in RealPlayer. I got a message that Real needed to download additional software. So I clicked Download but got a message that Real couldn't find the software, which was Detailed as being Content Type: video/webm. I don't know what this content is. So I disabled RealPlayer downloader (Browser Record Plugin) and I can see my videos again, but I can't download them using the RealPlayer DOWNLOAD button because it doesn't appear - it is some function of the Browser Record Plugin. So I'm back to the conflict between FireFox 13 and RealPlayer Browser Record Plugin 15.0.4 where I can't download videos using RealPlayer.

OK this is suposition at this stage,but it seems the secure versions of FlashPlayer may be blocking RealPlayers Record/download functions.

If that is the case and you are willing to take the risk of using an insecure version try using FlashPlayer 11.2

Our article Adobe Flash plugin has crashed - Prevent it from happening again explains the downloads are available from http://helpx.adobe.com/flash-player/kb/archived-flash-player-versions.html

Although apparently Adobe intend these for developer testing purposes, and not end user use. You may find this Adobe information useful, it currently contains an explanation of how to install from their zipped archives. (May be worth making a copy of the page in case it changes)

• How do I revert to a previous version of Flash Player? 12-Jun-2012 17:00
  • http://forums.adobe.com/thread/1022066

I had the current version of the player downloaded already and removed it to install the 11.2 version as Adobe suggested. That did not solve the problem either. I just updated the player to the current version and the "download now" button is still not present. The videos play perfectly well however.

Yes, John99, you suppose correctly. It is this: Solution 3: Disable protected mode in Flash 11.3. I found this solution on RealPlayer's Interactive Support page (I'll document all the URLs I have used later in a Reply). I changed the Flash config file by using Notepad as follows: On 64-bit Windows, C:\Windows\SysWOW64\Macromed\Flash 5. Open mms.cfg. 6. Add "ProtectedMode=0" (without the quotes) to the last line in the file. Save and close.

This is where I am right now and I can Download my Planet Pulse videos but still have a problem on YouTube and Bloomberg Video. I downloaded RealDownloader 1.1.0 which duplicates some of the Real Player 15.0.4.53 functions which includes a download function (Browser Record Plugin 15.0.4.53, an update from the Record Plugin 15.0.4 disabled by FireFox). However this included Record Plugin doesn't function with FireFox so I had to install a separate program RealDownloader. I still have more steps to take now that I have uncovered part of the problem which you supposed - a compatibility problem with Flash's 11.3 Protected Mode. But I don't quite understand their instructions: "Once the compatibility issue has been resolved, you will have to repeat these steps and delete this line to re-enable protected mode. Re-enable the Downloader Plugin". It seems that re-enabling the Flash protected mode will again cause the problem with the Downloader Plugin, but I'm not there yet. I'll let you know my results after I check some more sites with videos and try to download them.

I have now seen confirmation from Firefox staff that the updated Version was intended to fix problems, but NOT the Recording problem.

I also note that an Adobe workaround for using Real Player includes disabling the recording function. http://helpx.adobe.com/flash-player/kb/flash-player-113-crash-mozilla.html

Other Adobe information of possibly of use to you relating to protected mode is

• How do I troubleshoot Flash Player's protected mode for Firefox? 15-Jun-2012 14:45
  • http://forums.adobe.com/thread/1018071?tstart=0
• http://blogs.adobe.com/asset/2012/06/inside-flash-player-protected-mode-for-firefox.html

You can download the Flash 11.2 player via this direct link:

• http://fpdownload.macromedia.com/pub/flashplayer/current/licensing/win/install_flash_player_11_plugin_32bit.exe
• http://forums.adobe.com/thread/1022066

You need to uninstall the Flash 11.3 version if you downgrade Flash.

• http://helpx.adobe.com/flash-player/kb/uninstall-flash-player-windows.html

Installing Adobe Flash Player 11 Version 11.2.202.235 per cor-el's Reply solved my problem. BUT Please READ the rest of this POST. My problem is definitely the compatibility problems caused by Adobe Flash Player's newest release 11.3.300.262 and its Protected Mode. I read their comments about compatibility at the links John99 provided above and note their need to protect Flash from malicious SWF file attacks. But I don't download many videos and those I do come from trusted sites. So I won't upgrade to Adobe's latest Flash Player version until this compatibility issue with Real Player Downloader (called RealDownloader 1.1.0.66) is solved. >>>NOTE: As you install Adobe's Flash Player 11.2 you get a short screen asking you to choose 1 of 3 Options about future installations of Adobe Flash Player - Don't choose Adobe's Recommendation of Option 1: Automatically Install Future Updates as they become available. This "auto update" will re-install Flash Player 11.3 with its Protected Mode and your Download problem starts all over again! Choose Option 2 which will inform you that an update is available and gives you the choice of installing it or not. I am waiting until Adobe/RealPlayer/Mozilla all sort out this video Download/Protection incompatibility problem!

I want security but I also want the ease of 1 click video downloads!

I want to Thank John99 and cor-el and everyone else who Replied. I hope this Forum helps other FireFox users in the future if they have this same problem.

Thanks for your reply. The issue really is the downloading (recording) issue as the videos play just fine. Should I contact the Real Audio folks?

I went to the RealPlayer site and there appears to be a work around that is not too clunky to the video download problem.

Here are the steps:

1. In Firefox, open the video, right-click on the its URL and select Copy. 2.Open RealPlayer, click the RealPlayer logo, then click File, New, then New Web Browser. 3. Paste the copied URL into the RealPlayer browser line and click the Go arrow.

RealPlayer will then open the web page and start the video, and the "Download This Video" option should appear. You should then be able to download the video and play it in Real Player anytime.

msharfman, do you mean this has to be done everytime for each individual video?

As far as I know.

@John99

        Just to clarify about Adobe's archived versions implying they're only for developers use, not for end user use. They're saying that on that page only because generally they don't want people to use previous versions. But they even recommend the rollback themselves, finally, even as a" last resort" to 10.3 or 11.2 on another page  and a first choice on the Runtime Announcement page a couple of days ago ( now removed and replaced by this new update). They also give users a choice, explaining the trade off (newer features of 11.2 vs. better security for 10.3). Also, although you're right about security vulnerabilities of 11.2, if you scroll down the list on the link you will see the safer 10.3 which is up to date on security. That's why I've been recommending the 10.3 instead of the 11.2. But, now cor-el  is now posting  a link to the potentially less secure 11.2  which I tested and posted on SUMO on 6/11 and then changed my opinion to 10.3 for the average user. I and others with excellent security have had no problems with the 11.2, though. And RealPlayer's Level Three Case Manager told me,as I explained on SUMO that after I recommended that if their techs could be given permission to give instruction on how to find it ( they were already recommending it or agreeing with my recommendation to do it),that it's now been officially approved as a FIRST CHOICE with Adobe's own instructions in their KB under "RealPlayer Plugin blocked by Firefox" and Changing browsers as a second choice. 

       This article has been updated and it's excellent. It provides a direct links to the safer 10.3 for both FF and IE (since both have to be installed for RealPlayer to work properly, and the Adobe uninstaller uninstalls both. 

https://real.custhelp.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/9930/~/realplayer-plugin-blocked-by-firefox

NOTE my Reply just below cor-el's Reply which is my CHOSEN SOLUTION. I've just updated my Reply to cor-el with some notes I've learned from this forum's POSTs over the past several days.

Hi To All Freaked Out Firefox and RealPlayer users,

      This is the proper workaround for the problem of not being  able to see videos after the Adobe defective 11.3 update (either the 11.3.300.257 or the latest 11.3.300.262) and  not being able to download them with the RealPlayer Browser  Record Plugin extension because Firefox disabled it.You can  enable it but you won't be able to see videos unless you roll  back the defective update and disabling the extension doesn't even work  for some users to even let you see videos, much less download them. I successfully tested   uninstalling adobe's update 11.3  and reinstalling with two  different versions  - 10.3 and 11.2 and posted this on other  threads beginning 6/11. People who have tried it have been  very grateful once they stopped listening to all the  confusing and misleading recommendations by Firefox and  Adobe. It's the ONLY one that gives full use of RealPlayer as  well as updated security on the Flash Player and I've  provided  the most direct link to that version without having  to download a cumbersome .zip file. It's a link to the 10.3  version. You will see other references to the 11.2 version on  this thread. Although I tested that first and it works  equally well, there are known critical vulnerabilities as  reported by Secunia and Adobe,so I don't recommend it unless  you have top security software. I do, and had no trouble with  it. The 10.3, however, is up to date on security and works  equally well -I've tested both. Just remember to enable the  RealPlayer Browser Record Plugin extension after you roll  back the update. 

      Alternatively, if you want, you can simply switch browsers  'till this is fixed. And for many of you for whom  FF  disabling the RealPlayer extension does not even work to  allow you to see videos - it didn't for me, and a Level Three  Case Manager I know at RealPlayer said the same thing- obviously it's not the best solution and even if it allows  you to see videos, these geniuses at Firefox have not been  even telling you how to then download videos with RealPlayer  - they've  been too busy following Adobe's "pass the buck and blame  RealPlayer so just disable it" nonsense without telling what  to do next, or that there are other much better choices. RealPlayer is likely not the cause (although there is a conflict in the interaction with the Adobe update.

            The Best Choices are:
 First Choice:
         
         Roll Back the Update to the 10.3 version - 

See  links below for both Adobe's uninstaller - to first uninstall the 11.3- and for the 10.3  version. Choose the 10.3 that says "for other browsers"- this  is for Firefox. The other one is for IE Active X. IE and has to be reinstalled also because the uninstaller removes both version. 

And on Adobe clean uninstall directions, step 4, that says to delete the extra files and folders is not generally necessary and you may be denied access to delete all the files. RealPlayer also says that's not necessary.I know how to create special permissions but didn't bother because most users would not know how to do that - I didn't have to, although I'm almost certain one of these Firefox gurus will tell you I'm wrong. It's fine to do the step, it just can be difficult for many and it didn't seem necessary for me or anyone else I've heard back from.

        Note: When you reinstall the 10.3 change the update  setting from automatic to "Never check for updates" to avoid any more problems until this is finally  fixed. Adobe already updated to the 11.3.300.262 for Firefox (which was designed to ONLY fix the crash problems and not the video viewing problems) and didn't even fix that -I don't trust anything Adobe says right now until this is  permanently fixed. And in the future I strongly urge you to  do the same, keeping it on "Notify me if there are updates" in a future version where that choice is available. If you forget, you can change the setting from  the control panel. Click on Large Icons, then Flash Player and on then the   Advanced tab and dot the lower radio button for "Never check....." in the 10.3  If you don't  get notified of a new version you can always check this forum  which you need to do anyway because any new version at this  point is going to be a beta version fix until we test it  thoroughly and I don't care who disagrees with me on that, or  what Firefox says either.

Second Choice:

    Change Browsers -

The Adobe problem only involves Firefox . You can view videos and download them with RealPlayer download button if you don't want to do the rollback. You can even leave the RealPlayer extension disabled (if that allows you to see videos) and use another browser to download (just copy and paste the video URL onto the address bar) and the RealPlayer download button will work.

To uninstall 11.3

   http://forums.adobe.com/message/4041846#4041846

To Install 10.3

   http://forums.adobe.com/thread/889580  
    
Important Note: Remember, you have to reinstall both versions, the one for Firefox and for Internet Explorer  because the uninstaller removes both.
     
      This has worked perfectly for many others I've heard back  from - hope it works for you.

Thanks for the Solution that cuts through all the FireFox/Adobe "recommendations"! One item you forgot was to go to www.real.com and find the RealDownloader 1.1.0 add-on Extension for FireFox and download it. I installed Real Player 15.0.4.53 (the latest update) and it has its own Downloader included which is supposed to pop-up the Download This Video tab for you. The Download This Video tab doesn't work for some reason with FireFox 13.0.1 and Real Player Support gives RealDownloader as a solution. This combination WORKS! Now I have 1 click video download ease!

Thank you for your work throughs and postings about this problem! I greatly appreciate this helpful information.

@Bill5040

Hey Bill5040,

Thanks for your comments. Glad I could help. But I didn't forget. The RealDownloader should not be necessary. The "Download this video" button definitely works and should appear with Firefox 13.0.1 and other people said it's working also, just like I said. Remember, it was in fact working normally with any version before the infamous Adobe 11.3. You definitely have the right version of RealPlayer. But are you positive you remembered to follow my instruction to enable the RealPlayer Browser Record Plugin extension in Firefox's Add-ons Manager under Extensions? Remember, Firefox is disabling it by default - (although it didn't for me, just said it's known to cause security or stability problems). It's a "soft block" so you can definitely enable it (the Blocklist specifically says so and I've tested it). What I explained is correct. RealPlayer should be working perfectly without having to download the RealDownloader.

Also, did you check that the "download this video" setting is enabled in RealPlayer? RealPlayer button upper left" >Preferences,> download and recording,>"download this video",choose one of first two options,( the third disables it except on right click), don't forget to click OK.(Yeah, I once forgot that).

I may have another clue for you if the extension is enabled. Five months ago, after a Firefox update, there was a one week delay in updating the compatibility of the Record Plugin extension. (That's definitely not the case now, though. I've had no problems with the button appearing and working). When the compatibility was updated, I posted the instructions to get it. Fifteen people said it worked in the first half hour,except one - a doctor, no less. I noticed he kept calling RealPlayer "Real Video". He said the Record extension was greyed out with no "enable" button.So I asked him to check the exact name of it 'cause that's not what it's called and that I wasn't just splitting hairs on the name. Sure enough, he finally realized that he had installed the "Real Video Downloader" (that's what he called it) and it conflicted with the RealPlayer extension until he uninstalled it, restarted his computer, reinstalled RealPlayer and the download button worked! I'm trying to check on the exact name of that thing but I think we're talking about the same stand alone video downloader from Real.com but their server is down now - probably for maintenance . I'll try again later today. But I did find a reference for it and it is called the RealDownloader with the same version number that you gave.

If none of this works, there's something else wrong, but at least you can download videos now. Let me know, because I can ask RealPlayer about it tomorrow.

@CheckMate: I greatly appreciate your Reply and am following it. When I uninstalled RealDownloader 1.1.0.66, my Download This Video disappeared again. So I uninstalled Flash Player 11.2.202.235, recommended by cor-el to use instead of Flash Player 11.3.300.262 which causes the problem by Protection, and installed Flash Player 10.3.183.20 recommended by you using your link. I re-booted my PC and now I have 1 click RECORDING (Downloading) of videos again! I also had to uninstall and re-install my Real Player 15.0.4.53 again too. The RealDownloader was interfering with it even after I uninstalled RealDownloader. Now I get a FF Message with Real Player's downloader extension 5.0.4.53 (included in the Real Player program 15.0.4.53) that it "causes security and stability issues". So far I haven't seen any such issues. But I can download my videos and don't need the additional RealDownloader program!!!!

Thanks again for your follow-up Replies!!!