When opening firefox, a banner saying downloading the latest applications appears but nothing happens.

Question

Starting today, when I open Firefox a blue banner just under the toolbar pops up saying "Downloading the latest applications". Nothing is downloaded. I'm not sure if this is a function of Firefox or my default page Google. I tried to reload the latest version of Firefox and the problems persists.
== This happened ==
Every time Firefox opened
== today 7/27/10

Answer 1

MSN Toolbar: See http://support.mozilla.com/oc/forum/1/693619?s=downloads&as=s
<u>'''''Other Issues'''''</u>: ~~red:You have installed plug-ins with known security issues. You should update them immediately.~~
<u>'''Install/Update Adobe Reader for Firefox (aka Adobe PDF Plug-In For Firefox)'''</u>: your ver. 8.2.3; current ver. 9.3.3 (important security update release 06-29-2010; see: http://www.adobe.com/support/security/bulletins/apsb10-15.html)
~~red:Check your version here~~: http://www.mozilla.com/en-US/plugincheck/
See: http://support.mozilla.com/en-US/kb/Using+the+Adobe+Reader+plugin+with+Firefox#Installing_and_updating_Adobe_Reader
~~blue:''<u>You may be able to update from the Adobe Reader installed on your system</u>''~~ instead of going to the Adobe site and downloading. Start > Program Files, find and click Adobe Reader to open, click Help, click Check for Updates. Allow the download/update to occur. If you use this method, no need to proceed with the instructions below, <u>'''but'''</u> do look at the two bulleted items at the bottom "'''<u>NOTE for IE:</u>'''" and "Also see:". Restart Firefox and check your new version here: http://www.mozilla.com/en-US/plugincheck/
~~blue:''<u>If you go to the Adobe site to download the current Adobe Reader:</u>''~~
-'''<u>use Firefox to download</u>''' and <u>'''SAVE to your hard drive'''</u> (save to Desktop for easy access)
~~red:-See the images at the bottom left of this post to see the steps to take on the Adobe site~~
-exit Firefox (File > Exit)
-check to see that Firefox is completely closed (''Ctrl+Alt+Del, choose Task Manager, click Processes tab, if "firefox.exe" is on the list, right-click "firefox.exe" and choose End process, close the Task Manager window'')
-double-click on the Adobe Reader installer you just downloaded to install/update Adobe Reader
*<u>'''NOTE: On Vista and Windows 7'''</u> you may need to run the plugin installer as Administrator by starting the installer via the right-click context menu if you do not get an UAC prompt to ask for permission to continue (i.e nothing seems to happen). See this: http://vistasupport.mvps.org/run_as_administrator.htm
*'''<u>NOTE for IE:</u>''' Firefox and most other browsers use a Plugin. IE uses an ActiveX version. To install/update the IE ActiveX version, same instructions as above, except use IE to download the ActiveX installer. See: [[ActiveX]]
*Also see: http://kb.mozillazine.org/Adobe_Reader ~~red:'''''AND'''''~~ [[How do I edit options to add Adobe to the list of allowed sites]]
<u>'''Update Shockwave for Director (aka Shockwave Player)'''</u>: your ver. 11.0; current ver. 11.5.7.609 (<u>important security update released 2010-05-11</u>; see http://www.adobe.com/support/security/bulletins/apsb10-12.html)
NOTE: this is not the same as Shockwave Flash; this installs the Shockwave Player.
~~red:Check your version here~~: http://www.mozilla.com/en-US/plugincheck/
SAVE the installer to your hard drive (Desktop is a good place so you can find it). When the download is complete, exit Firefox (File > Exit), locate and double-click in the installer you just downloaded, let the install complete.
See: '''[http://support.mozilla.com/en-US/kb/Using+the+Shockwave+plugin+with+Firefox#_Installing_Shockwave Installing Shockwave]'''