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New Firefox pathetically slow. Can't run 20 or 30 tabs even. Need old Firefox version download!

  • 4 replies
  • 1 has this problem
  • 7 views
  • Last reply by cor-el

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I'm having to post this from Microsoft Edge.

I'm one of those Firefox power user people. I've had up to 1900 tabs open in the old version of Firefox.

When I downloaded the new one and opened my large number of tabs (1500) the browser wouldn't function once I had allowed more than one tab to open. I closed tabs and restarted the browser, and did this a couple of tabs at a time between restarts and got down to 1000 and gave up.

I then opened a fresh Firefox browser with 20 tabs from a single site from my bookmarks. It was unable to load even ONE tab fully. I let it sit for half an hour. The processor use and the memory were HUGE -- more than old Firefox had when I had the admittedly way too many tabs open. Further playing around with it and few tabs was no better.

Please, please is there a way to download the old version so that I can continue working until the new browser is fixed. I've always loved Firefox, but this update seems like it was released very prematurely.

I'm having to post this from Microsoft Edge. I'm one of those Firefox power user people. I've had up to 1900 tabs open in the old version of Firefox. When I downloaded the new one and opened my large number of tabs (1500) the browser wouldn't function once I had allowed more than one tab to open. I closed tabs and restarted the browser, and did this a couple of tabs at a time between restarts and got down to 1000 and gave up. I then opened a fresh Firefox browser with 20 tabs from a single site from my bookmarks. It was unable to load even ONE tab fully. I let it sit for half an hour. The processor use and the memory were HUGE -- more than old Firefox had when I had the admittedly way too many tabs open. Further playing around with it and few tabs was no better. Please, please is there a way to download the old version so that I can continue working until the new browser is fixed. I've always loved Firefox, but this update seems like it was released very prematurely.

All Replies (4)

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You do not have send info to Mozilla turned from inside Firefox Please consider doing so before you post. I have no info.

Are you on 57 or 57.0.1 with Firefox with Multi-Thread due soon.

Can try to update : https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/update-firefox-latest-version See if that helps.

If will not update do this for ram usage : Go to the Firefox 3 Bar Menu --> Help ? --> Troubleshooting Information Page and take a look in the Accessibility section if accessibility is set to "true" there. if yes, go to the Firefox 3 Bar Menu --> Options --> Privacy & Security panel and under Permissions check the setting to Prevent Accessibility Services from accessing your browser. Restart Firefox

If still not doing what you want can try toning down the Multiprocessor : You could try this please : Go the Menu then Tools --> Options --> Performance and untick everything. change the recommended size lower then see how it runs. Note: 0 = No Multi-processor = slow again. Restart Firefox after making these changes please.

Can also do this : Going back : unfortunately 56.0.2 and below is no longer safe to use for every day use do to security issues, but 52.5.0 ESR is. It will continue to get security updates until May 2018, and you can download and install it from this page: https://www.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/organizations/all/ Note : Legacy Extensions will be deleted or removed in any version update after May 2018.

You should make a backup of your Profile before going back and just because : https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/back-and-restore-information-firefox-profiles

And to make things interesting and still be involved with the new version you can install the Developers Edition as it has a Compatibility Mode at the end of the install to run both. : https://www.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/developer/ I do. Nice Blue Firefox.

fyi: took 5yrs to make 57 from scratch.

Please keep your Video Card Drivers Updated, very important. Thank You

Please let us know if this solved your issue or if need further assistance.

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If you choose to downgrade;

First, Type about:preferences#advanced<enter> in the address bar. Under Advanced, Select Update.

[v56+] Type about:preferences#general<enter> in the address bar. Select Update.

Select Never Check For Updates.

Also turn off Use a background service to install updates


Install Older Version Of Firefox {web link} Be sure to read everything here.

If you still want to downgrade, look under; I still want to downgrade. Click the Directory of other versions and languages link. Look for the directory of the version that you want. But, remember that old versions may have security issues.

You should also check out Firefox; Extended Support Release {web link} ESR Notes System Requirements

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Thank you. I'll check these things out and then get back to you later today. I don't have time to work on it this morning. A few comments, though...

1) I couldn't do the send info from inside Firefox as I couldn't even access web sites well enough to do that from Firefox. I'm posting this from Edge as I said. If I have time, I'll do that later today, but at the rate it was going yesterday, clicking a link to go to another page was taking minutes to load, so between getting to the support page, signing in, going to the forums, etc... would take forever. And then it would be hit or miss as to whether the page decided to load or not.

2) I'll have to check the exact number, but I know I'm at the latest version it would install as an upgrade as of late night on 12-5-17

I hope to get this fixed, but looking at the problems so many people are having, I don't have a good feeling that the "new" Firefox is going to work as well as the old version for quite some time. The old one may have security issues, but having a secure browser that doesn't browse doesn't do anyone any good, either.

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Try to disable accessibility services in Firefox.