Firefox Constantly Freezing Entire PC When Flash Installed
I've had an ongoing, highly annoying problem for months now. I've used Firefox for years without issues, yet several months ago I noticed I would be browsing the web and Firefox would randomly freeze. I would then attempt to minimize the window, and nothing would happen. If I click on the Start Menu, nothing would happen. If I tried to open my task manager, nothing would happen. The freezes could last between 45 seconds to several minutes, and there seemed to be no particular type of website that caused the freeze - it's sporadic, best as I can tell.
Not long ago, I formatted my entire PC, upgraded the motherboard, processor, power supply, hard drive, and video card. I then installed Windows 8 (previously had been using 7). Same problem occurred.
I did some searching on the web and wound up disabling Firefox hardware acceleration, the freezing would still occur.
Next I uninstalled Firefox, and installed Opera. Same exact types of freezes. I installed Google Chrome, same exact types of freezes. I then uninstalled everything and started using Internet Explorer (barf), and much to my surprise all the freezing stopped.
About a month ago, I formatted my PC again, and this time I installed Opera without any version of Adobe Flash. No freezing.
My hard drive crashed earlier this week, prompting another complete reinstall of my OS, only this time I downgraded to Windows 7, installed Firefox, and the freezing immediately started up again. Uninstalled Firefox, installed Chrome, same problem.
I am completely and totally stumped as to what is going on that's causing this freezing, and I'd be greatly appreciative for any input I receive.
Thanks.
All Replies (17)
We are sorry to hear that you are experiencing a problem with Firefox.
You are using Windows 7. Correct?
Try Firefox Safe Mode to see if the problem goes away. Safe Mode is a troubleshooting mode, which disables most add-ons.
(If you're not using it, switch to the Default theme.)
- On Windows you can open Firefox 4.0+ in Safe Mode by holding the Shift key when you open the Firefox desktop or Start menu shortcut.
- On Mac you can open Firefox 4.0+ in Safe Mode by holding the option key while starting Firefox.
- On Linux you can open Firefox 4.0+ in Safe Mode by quitting Firefox and then going to your Terminal and running: firefox -safe-mode (you may need to specify the Firefox installation path e.g. /usr/lib/firefox)
- Or open the Help menu and click on the Restart with Add-ons Disabled... menu item while Firefox is running.
Once you get the pop-up, just select "'Start in Safe Mode"
If the issue is not present in Firefox Safe Mode, your problem is probably caused by an extension, and you need to figure out which one. Please follow the Troubleshoot extensions, themes and hardware acceleration issues to solve common Firefox problems article for that.
To exit the Firefox Safe Mode, just close Firefox and wait a few seconds before opening Firefox for normal use again.
Please report back soon.
Try disabling graphics hardware acceleration. Since this feature was added to Firefox, it has gradually improved, but there still are a few glitches.
You might need to restart Firefox in order for this to take effect, so save all work first (e.g., mail you are composing, online documents you're editing, etc.).
Then perform these steps:
- Click the orange Firefox button at the top left, then select the "Options" button, or, if there is no Firefox button at the top, go to Tools > Options.
- In the Firefox options window click the Advanced tab, then select "General".
- In the settings list, you should find the Use hardware acceleration when available checkbox. Uncheck this checkbox.
- Now, restart Firefox and see if the problems persist.
Additionally, please check for updates for your graphics driver by following the steps mentioned in the following Knowledge base articles:
Did this fix your problems? Please report back soon.
Thank you.
Please check if all your plugins are up-to-date. To do this, go to the Mozilla Plugin Check site.
Once you're there, the site will check if all your plugins have the latest versions. If you see plugins in the list that have a yellow Update button or a red Update now button, please update these immediately.
To do so, please click each red or yellow button. Then you should see a site that allows you to download the latest version. Double-click the downloaded file to start the installation and follow the steps mentioned in the installation procedure.
I already stated I've tried disabling hardware acceleration to no effect. I also don't use any plugins at all.
I'm attempting to run Firefox in safe mode now, and I've downgraded Flash to 10.3.
Downgrading Adobe Flash will most likely not solve the issue.
Please report back with the Safe Mode results.
Thank you in advance.
JUST DISABLE ADOBE TRASH and use HTML5 player add on for Firefox and Firefox Nightly (Win8/8.1 or 7), there problem solved.
YouTube, Videos etc ALL supported Flash isn't needed anymore.
Modified by Mombasa69
Just use HTML5 Player add on extension for Firefox, it does everything Adobe Flash does and is far more stable.
Delete Adobe Flash, Disable it or better still burn it, it's the most lame software out there.
Modified by Mombasa69
Uninstalled Flash and installed YouTube ALL Html5, now nothing loads at all in Youtube.
Safe Mode didn't do anything either. I'm still freezing occasionally.
Make sure Adobe Flash is disabled in Win 8 using IE desktop (top right) tools in extensions add on's I think it is, not at home atm on work PC.
Just make sure the embedded adobe flash is disabled. (even if you uninstall it there's still an embedded version of flash that needs disabling).
HTML5 should work fine then.
Modified by Mombasa69
Please note that there are various compatibility issues with Firefox using HTML5.
I do not recommend using HTML5 for all online content, nor do I recommend removing Adobe Flash Player for good.
Adobe Flash crashes HTML5 does not, and Adobe Flash will soon be assigned to history and not before time!
I've been fighting this freezing issue also since after FireFox version 25. To get my PC back, I must unplug the power cord. (DUAH!?!?!)
All I have to do is open 2 FF browser windows or one window and 3 Tabs, any webpage will do. I can freeze my PC anytime by refreshing all windows at the same time' either both Browser windows or one browsers 3 Tabs. No other browser I use has this issue, just FF.
Y.E.S. I have tried ALL the posted tries in these forums, UnReinstall FF and Add-Ons, Flash, AnitVirus and FireWall.
One thing I really don't understand is, as our PC's upgrade we're told to use older versions of our "X" drivers? Isn't that counter productive? Except for Adobe's upgrades (which I have uninstalled to test) FireFox is the only culprit to this freezing problem.
HUGE SUGGESTION: On every FireFox upgrade, have a "Revert to last version" button.
WELL, PROGRESS? FireFox version 27.1 just finished installing and I immediately tried stressing it. So far it's not freezing up.
Opened 2 browsers and 4 Tabs each then refreshed all 8 tabs ASAP several times, no freeze up. A reserved, HOO AHH!!!
Modified by fm.usa
WOW, that sure didn't last long. FF froze up my PC again.
Modified by fm.usa
PC FROZE all morning long. After a one hour lunch PC still froze up. Had enough UNINSTALLED FireFox. ___ Installed 2 other brands of browsers beside IE 8, that makes 3 browsers that don't freeze up my PC. ___ . ___ "Houston! Mozilla's FireFox has a problem."
Modified by fm.usa
@fm.usa If the above information does not resolve your issue, please consider creating a new thread containing the specific details of your issue.
Doing so will allow the Mozilla volunteers to give you solutions that are more helpful to you. This may help them to solve your problem faster and more efficiently.
Please, feel free to post the link to your thread on this thread for volunteers interested in assisting you.
Thank you.
@fm.usa
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