Unable to install/open/run programs on 8 with touch screen

Hi All!
I'm trying to help a friend install Firefox on her tablet because IE isn't fast enough for her to watch streaming media, but she can't get the Firefox download to open & install. If she tries to run it from Mozilla's site, (without saving it to her desktop first), she gets a message that says she "can't open this file ", (she lives by herself, so no one else ever uses her tablet & she "thinks" she's the administrator).
I'm trying to help her install Firefox by walking her through the process over the phone, but I run 8.1, on a laptop that uses a mouse & has a desktop image rather than a tablet with the charms & a touch screen. In other words, we have a hard time communicating because we do the same things VERY differently. To complicate it even more, she's VERY new at using her new device, (even using a PC in general), & when she bought it at a local Best Buy, the Geek Squad set it up, but they didn't tell her anything about using it!
Since it was set up for a single user, (possibly negating an Administrator-related issue), I thought that there may be an issue with her AV program/firewall blocking downloads, but, unfortunately, she doesn't know how to find "Program Files (x86) ". I tried to have her do a "search" to see if she could find Norton, McAfee, etc., but she said she doesn't have a space to type in a search topic. Needless to say, she's embarrassed about not knowing more about her device, but I know there MUST be a way to figure this out without calling the Geek Squad, (they'll charge her a ridiculous fee if she brings it in & they won't give her advice over the phone!) again!!!
She came across "Programs & Features" when trying to find Program Files (x86), & believe it or not, it says "There are no programs installed on this device ". HUH???? This just HAS to be wrong, otherwise she couldn't use her tablet, right?? She's able to use Bing to search, (using IE), but why/how can a device do anything if "no programs are installed "????
Well, that's my problem. I'm trying to help my friend install Firefox, but her touch screen tablet won't let her. I really hope someone will help me so that I can help her. I guess this is kinda like those, "blind leading the blind ", situations..I mean I know how to do most of the basic things on a PC, but I'm really out of my element with devices with a touch screen; heck, I still have a flip phone! So you see what I mean, right?
Thanks in advance for any & all suggestions. I really want to help her with this because paying an exorbitant "geek fee" is out of the question for her. Again, thank you so much for taking the time to read my post, & hopefully, help me to help her.

Gratefully,
Nuts4Mutts

 

Hi Nuts4Mutts, Like you I'm on W8.1 with mouse and keyboard.
You should be able to show the menu by swiping the Touch screen from the upper right side. Settings I think is the one to Touch and open. This should show Control Panel.
You also get Search (Magnifying glass icon) and Start icon.
Type Downloads in Search box should show what is downloaded.
I'm feeling my way with my Notebook - someone may drop in with more specific help. Neil.

 

I have never had a problem with IE watching streaming media. I watch a couple of drag racing sites all the time. No buffering at all. Have watched it for hours at a time and no problems. I wouldn't think that FF would make that much difference if it made any at all.
You could also have her download Classic Shell which will have a Start button like the older versions of Windows and won't have to worry about using the Charms.

 

There is no reason to believe FF will be any faster. The current versions of IE are plenty fast to support streaming media.

It is more likely the tablet is just not very quick (most tablets aren't) or her connection is slow.

And regardless, she should NOT, by any means, be embarrassed because she cannot figure out W8. Microsoft should be (and they are, actually - at least for the way they implemented it).

If her tablet allows it, I might suggest she install Start8 to return the standard W7 Start orb and familiar desktop.

 

This is the path on a Desktop or Laptop PC. Not to sure about tablets but it's worth a try. IE is listed under Control Panel\Programs and Features\Turn windows features on or off. Program Files(x86) Should be listed under This PC\C:\Program Files(x86). Is there a lot of Geek Squad Bloat Ware on the tablet?