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FIrefox sync never finishes and uses 100% cpu

  • 11 replies
  • 1 has this problem
  • 2 views
  • Last reply by Jeenu

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I was setting up a new system, and configured Firefox sync my profile. However, on this new system, the sync never completes (the wheel keep spinning), and also takes 100% of CPU time. The only way I can get out of this is to disconnect Firefox on the system from my account.

I've profiles on other machines where sync works just fine. I don't get why it's causing problems on this particular system. Browsing etc. are all fine.

FWIW, it's a Chromebook on which I'm running Linux via. crouton.

I was setting up a new system, and configured Firefox sync my profile. However, on this new system, the sync never completes (the wheel keep spinning), and also takes 100% of CPU time. The only way I can get out of this is to disconnect Firefox on the system from my account. I've profiles on other machines where sync works just fine. I don't get why it's causing problems on this particular system. Browsing etc. are all fine. FWIW, it's a Chromebook on which I'm running Linux via. crouton.

All Replies (11)

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Hi, '

You can open about:sync-log via the location bar to see if there are recent error logs available. You can upload a recent log if the log is too big to put in a reply, paste address to message.. https://pastebin.mozilla.org/

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Thanks. I noticed there are repeated messages of "Error decrypting record: Error: A key bundle must be supplied to decrypt". I've pasted a recent log here: https://pastebin.mozilla.org/9091055. Please let me know that gives enough clues.

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FWIW, I did try removing my old profile, and started afresh, but it's still the same behavior.

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Hi, did you reinstall on one of 2 systems or use a cleaner program ? As the error can not find the Key means it is missing.

Are the systems in Sync showing properly ?

See if it will Sync in SAFE MODE :

In Firefox Safe mode these changes are effective:

  • all extensions are disabled (about:addons)
  • default theme is used (no persona)
  • userChrome.css and userContent.css are ignored (chrome folder)
  • default toolbar layout is used (file: localstore-safe.rdf)
  • Javascript JIT compilers are disabled (prefs: javascript.options.*jit)
  • hardware acceleration is disabled (Options > Advanced > General)
  • plugins are not affected
  • preferences are not affected

TEST''''is issue still there ?

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It's the same issue in Safe Mode too.

I tried something different: I cleaned up stale entries for sync machines, and logged in again. I noticed that as soon as I signed into sync, there was a balloon with "Activate" button on it, and it prompted me to click on it. I had clicked on it every time before, but skipped this time. I noticed that sync was in progress even without clicking on it. With that, I saw the CPU usage coming down to something like 50%, and got these logs: https://paste.ubuntu.com/p/k8bX5JgRFN/

However, the sync never stopped - the icon kept spinning. But logs were not updated either. And CPU was never found at rest.

I didn't get what you meant by cleaner program. This is a fresh install, and I had tried removing my profile and starting afresh earlier.

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It seems to be stuck in syncing the history.

How much history visits do you have?

You can check this via "Verify Integrity" on the "Help -> Troubleshooting Information" (about:support) page.

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Not that much. I just verified places database integrity:

> Task: checkIntegrity + The database is sane > Task: invalidateCaches + The caches have been invalidated > Task: checkCoherence + The database is coherent > Task: expire + Database cleaned up > Task: vacuum + Initial database size is 15360KiB + The database has been vacuumed + Final database size is 15360KiB > Task: stats + Places.sqlite size is 15360KiB + Favicons.sqlite size is 5120KiB + pragma_user_version is 47 + pragma_page_size is 32768 + pragma_cache_size is -2048 + pragma_journal_mode is wal + pragma_synchronous is 1 + History can store a maximum of 131778 unique pages + Table moz_places has 24242 records + Table moz_historyvisits has 35100 records + Table moz_inputhistory has 1 records + Table moz_hosts has 722 records + Table moz_bookmarks has 270 records + Table moz_bookmarks_deleted has 0 records + Table moz_keywords has 9 records + Table sqlite_sequence has 1 records + Table moz_anno_attributes has 4 records + Table moz_annos has 2 records + Table moz_items_annos has 12 records + Table moz_meta has 4 records + Table sqlite_stat1 has 17 records + Index sqlite_autoindex_moz_inputhistory_1 + Index sqlite_autoindex_moz_hosts_1 + Index sqlite_autoindex_moz_bookmarks_deleted_1 + Index sqlite_autoindex_moz_keywords_1 + Index sqlite_autoindex_moz_anno_attributes_1 + Index moz_places_url_hashindex + Index moz_places_hostindex + Index moz_places_visitcount + Index moz_places_frecencyindex + Index moz_places_lastvisitdateindex + Index moz_places_guid_uniqueindex + Index moz_historyvisits_placedateindex + Index moz_historyvisits_fromindex + Index moz_historyvisits_dateindex + Index moz_bookmarks_itemindex + Index moz_bookmarks_parentindex + Index moz_bookmarks_itemlastmodifiedindex + Index moz_bookmarks_dateaddedindex + Index moz_bookmarks_guid_uniqueindex + Index moz_keywords_placepostdata_uniqueindex + Index moz_annos_placeattributeindex + Index moz_items_annos_itemattributeindex > Task: _refreshUI

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HI, when you say a new install does that mean a format ? If so you have lost the Token that is needed to make the connection.

Cleaner program something like ccleaner

Modified by Shadow110

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To recap: this issue was found on a Chromebook I got, on which I'm running Linux via. crouton (xfce). There was no Firefox profile before (neither mine nor someone else's). I installed Firefox afresh, tried to login to Sync. I reckon whatever token it needs, it gets from authenticating with the server? Since encountering this problem, I've deleted the ~/.mozilla directory, and started many times over, only to hit the same again.

Modified by Jeenu

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Hi, think this is going to go no where here as we just try to troubleshoot the issue, no access to server or anything.

So if you would please follow these instructions : Ignore all the URL here : https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/forum-response-firefox-sync-verification-email-faq until the very bottom and make a Bugzilla account. Provide any and all info plus below if not listed : Put the link in to forum question : https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/questions/1228298 also the Pastebin URL, no others can be used. Then continue to the bottom further and do the last bold stuff to get a Supervisor.

Can take up to several days and you will be contacted.

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OK, I've raised a bug report now: https://bugzilla.mozilla.org/show_bug.cgi?id=1481030.

Thank you for your help so far.

Modified by Jeenu