The Firefox 8.0.1 release is crashing ALL THE TIME on MacBook Pro OSX 10.6.8 after installing latest Flash version
At this time, Firefox is virtually unusable on the Mac now.
This is not related to any particular website, although websites with flash or java script or "fancier" I/Fs are assured to crash Firefox.
For example, a minute ago, I tried to enter a search phrase into Google (main page) and crash. I tried to enter a search phrase into Netflix search window and crash. I hadn't seen a crash on the Fox News pages though and they are rich content.
Firefox wasn't doing this before the 8.0.1 update (but I can't distinguish this event from the update of Flash to 11.1.102)
I do know that Firefox is virtually unusable (and I'm in Safari at this moment).
I suppose its possible that something on the Mac changed (firmware) but why isn't there a problem with Safari then?
Its not like I have time for a full fledged debug of another software application!!! I don't (and I AM a professional software developer that develops on ALL the platforms/OS including OSX all versions, Windows back to XP, and Linux most flavors and I'm a Qt expert also)
I've NEVER had this problem before. At first I was leaning towards the Flash update. But now I'm not sure.
If someone would suggest a progression of moves to isolate this issue, I'll take that much time to troubleshoot this. I can't quite believe that more people aren't having this problem.
ok.. I'll start with disabling plugins. Then I'll start backing up to previous versions, starting with Flash, then Firefox as these were the latest 2 updates.
Chosen solution
So, lastly I've gone back to Firefox 8.0.1 I have reduced my plugins/addons to minimum fully functional. This includes using adblock.
I DOWNGRADED the Flash on the Mac to the latest version 10. It was release less than a month ago.
This seems to have fixed my problem.
So, there is something about the flash version 11 release that is causing many firefox crashes. (both version 7 and 8)
I'll revise this if I see the crashes again. But I've left some flash sites up and previously this seemed to eventually crash Firefox and so far so good.
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I will say that I turned the plugins / extensions off. Firefox crashed once shortly thereafter but has not crashed again. I'm leaving it this way for a while. If no crash, then I'll turn back on a plugin at a time in my most desirable order (like adblock).
I can play flash videos, etc... so I'm now thinking its not flash... but perhaps an addon.
NOPE. I just had flash crash again. I had 2 internet speed test pages up that use flash. I've turned off most addon's and extensions.
Modified by smith.huh
At the moment, its looking like FlashBlock addon is the culprit.
More later if I determine its something else.
NOPE again. This addon is turned off and I'm still having problems with flash and likely Firefox.
Modified by smith.huh
I'm going to back up to Firefox 7 next. I'm getting the drift that 8.0.1 and/or flash on 8.0.1 are unstable.
I'll let you know if that solves this problem.
NOPE. This had no effect.
Modified by smith.huh
Chosen Solution
So, lastly I've gone back to Firefox 8.0.1 I have reduced my plugins/addons to minimum fully functional. This includes using adblock.
I DOWNGRADED the Flash on the Mac to the latest version 10. It was release less than a month ago.
This seems to have fixed my problem.
So, there is something about the flash version 11 release that is causing many firefox crashes. (both version 7 and 8)
I'll revise this if I see the crashes again. But I've left some flash sites up and previously this seemed to eventually crash Firefox and so far so good.
Have you turned off hardware acceleration in Flash to see if that helps?
Right-click on a playing Flash video, select settings, then un-select "Use hardware acceleration".
Update your video drivers.
Update your other plug-ins:
https://www.mozilla.org/en-US/plugincheck/
Modified by sctl
Hardware acceleration isn't the issue, or if it was (and I never ever had an issue playing flash video's... its apparently flash websites) and turning it off isn't a proper solution to anything IMHO (that's just a bug and I'd go back to a non-buggy version).
My video drivers are as up to date as Apple let's them be.
All my plugins are up to date.
My downgrading to the latest (just released, so I assume it has security updates) version 10 is the way to go.
Firefox just crashed a moment ago while composing in Google mail.
From the screen blank not long before that crash, I do think there is some involvement with the graphics driver and Firefox.
I think this interaction is exacerbated by the Flash 11 release. The Flash 10 release is vastly improved, but not perfect.
Turning off hardware acceleration is a poor answer even if it stops the crashes entirely.
This is a VERY EXPENSIVE laptop to have this kind of issue with... thank you so much Apple. (NOT)