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My firefox browswer keeps hanging up all the time. What can I do?

  • 16 replies
  • 4 have this problem
  • 1 view
  • Last reply by FredMcD

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My firefox browser has all but quit working. Sometimes it won't even open. Other times the site just seems to keep loading all kinds of other site stuff down in the in the lower left hand corner that I have never seen before. Then other times I will click on a bookmarked site and instead of opening it just keeps running the same stuff down in the bottom. I have tried several system restores. But it just keeps going back to doing the same thing after a few hours. Slamming the computer down by holding the power button down will get firefox going again but not for long.

My firefox browser has all but quit working. Sometimes it won't even open. Other times the site just seems to keep loading all kinds of other site stuff down in the in the lower left hand corner that I have never seen before. Then other times I will click on a bookmarked site and instead of opening it just keeps running the same stuff down in the bottom. I have tried several system restores. But it just keeps going back to doing the same thing after a few hours. Slamming the computer down by holding the power button down will get firefox going again but not for long.

Chosen solution

And I have McAfee supreme protection but it isn't picking up the problem. Would PCmatic be better?

I don't know those programs.

Use these links to create a new profile. Use this new profile as is. Is the problem still there?

http://kb.mozillazine.org/Profile_folder_-_Firefox#Navigating_to_the_profile_folder

https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/profile-manager-create-and-remove-firefox-profiles

https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/how-run-firefox-when-profile-missing-inaccessible


Type about:profiles<enter> in the address bar.


You may have ad / mal-ware. Further information can be found in the Troubleshoot Firefox issues caused by malware article.

Run most or all of the listed malware scanners. Each works differently. If one program misses something, another may pick it up.

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All Replies (16)

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Start Firefox in Safe Mode {web Link} by holding down the <Shift>
(Mac=Options)
key, and then starting Firefox. A small dialog should appear. Click Start In Safe Mode (not Refresh).

Is the problem still there?

https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/firefox-slow-how-make-it-faster

https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/firefox-uses-too-many-cpu-resources-how-fix

https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/firefox-hangs-or-not-responding

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First thank you so much for responding. But unfortunately I have very limited computer knowledge and do not understand what <Shift>

(Mac=Options)  is. I don't know there those keys are on my HP keyboard.
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The <Shift> key is on your keyboard. It changes between lower and UPPER case. (Mac) is for the Mac computers.

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Thank you so much again. Especially since I'm pretty dense. So thanks for your patience. I will give it a try.

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I started firefox in safe mode and the browser came right up but then when I tried to open a couple sites from my bookmarks they never came up. And I had to slam my computer down again to even get back to here.

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FredMcD said

Start Firefox in Safe Mode {web Link} by holding down the <Shift>
(Mac=Options)
key, and then starting Firefox. A small dialog should appear. Click Start In Safe Mode (not Refresh). Is the problem still there? https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/firefox-slow-how-make-it-faster https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/firefox-uses-too-many-cpu-resources-how-fix https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/firefox-hangs-or-not-responding

Yes the problem is still there in safe mode. It works for a few sites and then it will just start connecting a whole bunch of stuff I've never seen down in the left hand corner and I can't load another site.

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Start your Computer in safe mode with networking. Then start Firefox. Try Safe websites. Is the problem still there?

Starting The Computer In Safe Mode;
Free Online Encyclopedia

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OK I'll give this a try.

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FredMcD said

Start your Computer in safe mode with networking. Then start Firefox. Try Safe websites. Is the problem still there? Starting The Computer In Safe Mode;
Free Online Encyclopedia

OK I tried starting my computer in safe mode and started firefox and only went to safe sites but the problem is still there.

But speaking of "safe sites" I didn't really have this problem until I went to Buzzfeed and looked at the stuff they posted on Trump being blackmailed by Russia. I don't know if there's a connection or not but that is when all my trouble started.

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PS refreshing firefox seems to help for awhile.

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Is the problem only with Buzzfeed?

Many site issues can be caused by corrupt cookies or cache.

  • Clear the Cache and
  • Remove Cookies
    Warning ! ! This will log you out of sites you're logged in to.

Type about:preferences<Enter> in the address bar.

  • Cookies; Select Privacy. Under History, select Firefox will Use Custom Settings. Press the button on the right side called Show Cookies. Use the search bar to look for the site. Note; There may be more than one entry. Remove All of them.
  • Cache; Select Advanced > Network. Across from Cached Web Content, Press Clear Now.

If there is still a problem, Start Firefox in Safe Mode {web link} A small dialog should appear. Click Start In Safe Mode (not Refresh). While you are in safe mode;

Type about:preferences#advanced<Enter> in the address bar.

Under Advanced, Select General. Look for and turn off Use Hardware Acceleration.

Poke around safe websites. Are there any problems?

Then restart.

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FredMcD said

Is the problem only with Buzzfeed? Many site issues can be caused by corrupt cookies or cache.
  • Clear the Cache and
  • Remove Cookies
    Warning ! ! This will log you out of sites you're logged in to.
Type about:preferences<Enter> in the address bar.
  • Cookies; Select Privacy. Under History, select Firefox will Use Custom Settings. Press the button on the right side called Show Cookies. Use the search bar to look for the site. Note; There may be more than one entry. Remove All of them.
  • Cache; Select Advanced > Network. Across from Cached Web Content, Press Clear Now.
If there is still a problem, Start Firefox in Safe Mode {web link} A small dialog should appear. Click Start In Safe Mode (not Refresh). While you are in safe mode; Type about:preferences#advanced<Enter> in the address bar. Under Advanced, Select General. Look for and turn off Use Hardware Acceleration. Poke around safe websites. Are there any problems? Then restart.

No the problem just started after I opened the Trump link at BuzzFeed or it also could have been when I opened a link in the comments at Media Matters. But now the problem follows me everywhere I go. I can only open maybe half dozen sites, all of them safe, before my browser hangs up and all the the "connecting to" BS sites appear in the lower left hand corner.

And I have McAfee supreme protection but it isn't picking up the problem. Would PCmatic be better?

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Chosen Solution

And I have McAfee supreme protection but it isn't picking up the problem. Would PCmatic be better?

I don't know those programs.

Use these links to create a new profile. Use this new profile as is. Is the problem still there?

http://kb.mozillazine.org/Profile_folder_-_Firefox#Navigating_to_the_profile_folder

https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/profile-manager-create-and-remove-firefox-profiles

https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/how-run-firefox-when-profile-missing-inaccessible


Type about:profiles<enter> in the address bar.


You may have ad / mal-ware. Further information can be found in the Troubleshoot Firefox issues caused by malware article.

Run most or all of the listed malware scanners. Each works differently. If one program misses something, another may pick it up.

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FredMcD said

And I have McAfee supreme protection but it isn't picking up the problem. Would PCmatic be better? I don't know those programs. Use these links to create a new profile. Use this new profile as is. Is the problem still there? http://kb.mozillazine.org/Profile_folder_-_Firefox#Navigating_to_the_profile_folder https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/profile-manager-create-and-remove-firefox-profiles https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/how-run-firefox-when-profile-missing-inaccessible Type about:profiles<enter> in the address bar.

You may have ad / mal-ware. Further information can be found in the Troubleshoot Firefox issues caused by malware article.

Run most or all of the listed malware scanners. Each works differently. If one program misses something, another may pick it up.

Ok thanks again. And I am really learning a lot from you.

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FredMcD said

And I have McAfee supreme protection but it isn't picking up the problem. Would PCmatic be better? I don't know those programs. Use these links to create a new profile. Use this new profile as is. Is the problem still there? http://kb.mozillazine.org/Profile_folder_-_Firefox#Navigating_to_the_profile_folder https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/profile-manager-create-and-remove-firefox-profiles https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/how-run-firefox-when-profile-missing-inaccessible Type about:profiles<enter> in the address bar.

You may have ad / mal-ware. Further information can be found in the Troubleshoot Firefox issues caused by malware article.

Run most or all of the listed malware scanners. Each works differently. If one program misses something, another may pick it up.

Sorry for the delay in getting back to you but it took me a couple days to learn how to go through all these procedures, And so far this morning what appears to have really helped is downloading all the malware you recommended, Malwarebytes found 117 threats, Then I ran SuperAntiSpyware and it found over 1,000 threats. Then I ran the piece of crap Microsoft and it took more than two hours and didn't find anything but that could be because the other malware programs had already cleaned up all the threats.

So for now at least It appears you have solved my problem and I cannot thank you enough for all your help and especially your patience working with someone who is technologically impaired when it comes to computers.

I have always been happy with Firefox but now more than ever thanks to you.

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