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

See "Basic Troubleshooting: Make a new profile":

• https://support.mozilla.org/kb/Basic+Troubleshooting#w_8-make-a-new-profile

There may be extensions and plugins installed by default in a new profile, so check that in "Tools > Add-ons > Extensions & Plugins" in case there are still problems.

If the new profile works then you can transfer some files from the old profile to that new profile, but be careful not to copy corrupted files.

See:

• http://kb.mozillazine.org/Transferring_data_to_a_new_profile_-_Firefox

These types of problems are usually caused by your firewall not recognizing the update. There are instructions on how to configure your firewall at https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/configure-firewalls-so-firefox-can-access-internet

I will try this tomorrow and see if I can update to the latest offering. Appreciate the responses gents.

I have tried both suggestions. Any updated FF past 3.6 still takes a long time. Went back to 3.6 which crashes incessantly. Doesn't send report either has a problem with sending it. I have reduced 6 pages of tabs to one with 8. Waiting for the next crash. I started a new profile with no joy. I cleared history and cache many times. What a pain. I ran memcheck and disccheck both ok. Cache is set at 1024.

 Application Basics

       Name
       Firefox

       Version
       3.6.28

       Profile Directory

         Open Containing Folder

       Installed Plugins

         about:plugins

       Build Configuration

         about:buildconfig

 Extensions

       Name

       Version

       Enabled

       ID

       Java Console
       6.0.33
       true
       {CAFEEFAC-0016-0000-0033-ABCDEFFEDCBA}

       Ghostery
       2.8.0.1
       false
       firefox@ghostery.com

       Xmarks
       4.1.0
       true
       foxmarks@kei.com

       Forecastfox
       2.2.1
       true
       {0538E3E3-7E9B-4d49-8831-A227C80A7AD3}

       WOT
       20120515
       true
       {a0d7ccb3-214d-498b-b4aa-0e8fda9a7bf7}

       Java Quick Starter
       1.0
       true
       jqs@sun.com

       Microsoft .NET Framework Assistant
       1.2.1
       true
       {20a82645-c095-46ed-80e3-08825760534b}

       RealPlayer Browser Record Plugin
       15.0.5
       true
       {C3949AC2-4B17-43ee-B4F1-D26B9D42404D}

       BarTab
       2.0
       true
       bartap@philikon.de

 Modified Preferences

     Name

     Value

       accessibility.blockautorefresh
       true

       accessibility.typeaheadfind
       true

       browser.history_expire_days.mirror
       180

       browser.places.smartBookmarksVersion
       2

       browser.startup.homepage_override.buildID
       20120420145725

       browser.startup.homepage_override.mstone
       rv:1.9.2.28

       extensions.lastAppVersion
       3.6.28

       general.useragent.extra.microsoftdotnet
       ( .NET CLR 3.5.30729)

       network.cookie.prefsMigrated
       true

       places.history.expiration.transient_current_max_pages
       53407

       places.last_vacuum
       1342361131

       privacy.sanitize.migrateFx3Prefs
       true

       security.default_personal_cert
       Select Automatically

Did you try the new profile without any extensions enabled and without any other modifications?

Did you try to disable all plugins?

• https://support.mozilla.org/kb/Troubleshooting+plugins

Did you try to disable hardware acceleration in Firefox?

• Tools > Options > Advanced > General > Browsing: "Use hardware acceleration when available"
• https://hacks.mozilla.org/2010/09/hardware-acceleration/

If it still happens in a new profile then other software may also be causing this.

You can try to boot the computer in Safe mode with network support (press F8 on the boot screen) as a test to see if that works.

Disabling the plugins and updating the extensions did the trick. Over time FF accumulates extensions and we add plugins and it seems they don't play well in a new sandbox.