When you get slowness crashes, closedown problems and slow restarts a lot of those issues relate to the state of the Firefox profile and it's contents.

If you have a Firefox problem on closedown and that particular profile sate is captured the problem may be reproducible.

• - Firefox will restart in that state
• - anyone using the same profile may see similar problems

If a particular profile state after a problematic close-down issue is captured that should be reproducible.

I am not clear what your problem is but if I understand correctly we are able to find situations in which it is crash free

You are confusing me more. You specifically asked me to "back up" my profile if this happens and I asked you how to do that, and now you're saying Firefox does it. Which is it?

EDIT: Okay, just got the freeze a minute or two ago, had to close out Firefox through my start task manager. Just reopened it, and it saved the session (though not the long-ins and such). No crash report, of course. I had a few tabs opens (Jezebel, wikipedia, a Yahoo story). To say this over and over and over again, this is not reproducible because it's not a particular site or group of sites that does this. The hangs (with disabled multiprocess) and the crashes (with enabled multiprocess) are not site-specific. The only way to "produce" these events are simple browsing, so you're going to have a helluva time nailing this down, but should finally and definitely disabuse yourself of the idea that this can be methodically reproduced. It can't.

This is with the brand new profile with multiprocess turned off.

Keep a copy of the profile and all the files it contains. That allows you to compare that profile with a new one and it also allows you to reuse the profile in that state but by making yet another copy so keeping the original profile as evidence that may come in handy.

It may be that Firefox is more likely to crash quickly or have freezes using the profile in that state. If you have a coy of the profile it may be useful. For instance the sessionstore files may cause a very slow startup. The profile may contain unusual files indicating Firefox was having a problem processing bookmarks or session status.

If freezes are at all predictable then it should be possible to capture them on a profiler. People who understand Firefox better than I do are then able to work out exactly what Firefox was doing at that time. Such tools may also give a graphical indication of the freezes and second to second speed of Firefox. Should the issue be memory related it is possible to get detailed snapshots of memory status overall, as a comparison between two particular times and the status of memory used by any particular tab.

Getting a suitable person to look at that data would be the next problem, but as long as the issue is seen in Firefox's safe mod and Windows safe mode it is an issue potentially likely to affect a lot of other users and something we could file a bug about. As I have explained previously we can also deliberately crash Firefox whilst in the problem sate and get a crash report that will be processed, that gives a stack trace and a wealth of information likely to be useful to an engineer looking at your issue.

I just told you I produced the hang (not crash) in the new profile:

EDIT: Okay, just got the freeze a minute or two ago, had to close out Firefox through my start task manager.

So now what do I do?

OK three things to do Please remember to do this in Windows safe mode and Firefox safe mode with any plugin like FlashPlayer disabled. If you need to use videos to have a hang then I suggest using YouTube HTML5 videos.

First prepare for what you are doing and get ready for copying the Profile

• Obtain the windows executable for the crash utility
  • See MDN: How to Report a Hung Firefox https://developer.mozilla.org/docs/Mozilla/How_to_report_a_hung_Firefox
  • Use download link: https://ftp.mozilla.org/pub/mozilla.org/utilities/crashfirefox-intentionally/crashfirefox.exe
• It is best to use a brand new profile. Don't do anything where confidential information is going to be involved.
• Make a note of where your current Firefox profile is. In fact the easiest method is to open the location from the troubleshooting information page when you first start up Firefox.
• You may want to practice using the profiler on your ordinary Firefox.
• Not yet but when finished copy the whole profile in to a folder and then share that folder.

Second use the profiler to capture a profiler output file

• See MDN https://developer.mozilla.org/docs/Tools/Performance & https://developer.mozilla.org/docs/Tools/Performance/How_to

1. Use Menu => Developer => Tools => Performance
   That will open the built in profiler and it will by default open at the bottom of the current tab.
2. When you think there may be a hang use the button to start the recording. Record for say ten seconds after the hang starts before closing the recording. Save the file using the save button and giving the file a suitable name. If you add a number to the name it will make the file unique.
3. Repeat again if necessary to make sure you have captured a suitable recording.
4. Put the file somewhere where we can obtain it such as making it shareable on https://onedrive.live.com/ and posting the link
5. In your reply include a brief explanation of what you did that session, and what you were doing when the hang occurred. Including confirmation that it was in Windows safe Mode and Firefox safe mode with plugins disabled.

Obviously what we hope you are able to do is capture as short a run as possible that includes a definite and obvious hang.

Third Crash Firefox & share the files and Crash ID

• Crash Firefox. Preferably whilst it is in the hung sate.
• Let us have the crash ID and say whether or not it was hung at the time of the crash .
• Let us have the full profile share the files including the profiler output file and Crash ID

It would be great if you could do this in the next day or so. I will look at the profile files and the profiler output, but I doubt it will mean much to me. If you would like I will then file a bug on your behalf. Next there is a staff member doing tutorials on filing bugs. I am hoping if you are able to do this soon I can use this as a good example. With any luck I will be able to involve Rachel and get eyes on the bug sometime next week. So something that may not ordinarily guarantee getting attention may get attention because Rachel is involved.

I'm sorry, this is WAY too involved and above my skill level. More than that, we'd already confirmed I don't get crashes when I'm working simultaneously in both Firefox and Windows safe modes.

Anyway, updating to the most recent version that seems to be available, now, and hoping this solves it.

Yes you may not get Crashes but you were talking about Firefox crawling and hanging.

If that is not happening now good, you know Firefox itself is ok and it is all your addons or other changes that are the cause of your problems.

You have a chance now to provide info with a high likelihood we can get staff looking at your problem. Staff are not normally involved in forum support problems these days. This is a near enough one off opportunity to get expert help for free.

Not too sure why you say it is above your skill level. Are there any parts of my suggestions that you need me to clarify ?

So, this seems to be a new one since I updated to the newest version, tonight, or at least one with a different title:

bp-43955da1-dc4e-4ef8-b7f4-c1ebc1170508

Happened scrolling a long time through a Twitter feed.

Anyway, I was talking about Firefox crawling and freezine with multiprocess turned off. I am not interested in using Firefox with multiprocess disabled, so that's a waste of time monkeying around with. As for my skill level, trying to deal with those extra programs while in both windows and firefox safe modes is too much work.

I will come back to this thread if you revise your decision. I will repeat my suggestion from earlier in this thread with added emphasis.

{From #answer-965291*} That is a good goal and should be achievable.

To be able to run Firefox with multiprocess enabled 
without crashes related to it, 
since disabling it makes the browser run slowly and then freeze. 

However for troubleshooting and a realistic prospect of progress you need to initially revise that to a first goal of

 To be able to run Firefox without crashes and  freezes. 

I am fairly sure we have already discovered methods of you running Firefox without crashes.
Multi process is intended to speed up Firefox, but does in some circumstances cause problems.
If you have issues in single process Firefox you must sort them out first before compounding your problems by using a multi process Firefox.

Lets remember you have multiple long question threads and apparently multiple Firefox issues over several Firefox releases I doubt the problems are going to magically disappear.

As for bp-43955da1-dc4e-4ef8-b7f4-c1ebc1170508 I suspect either that crash report is corrupt, or we had a problem in processing it. But as I said I am only interested in testing in a much simpler setup,

FireFoxFan1 said

As for my skill level, trying to deal with those extra programs while in both windows and firefox safe modes is too much work.

There is only one extra program the crash utility. Which is simple to use and causes Firefox to crash with a few mouse clicks. It installs easily again with a few mouse clicks. I would not have thought Windows Safe mode and Firefox safe mode were too complicated to use and I am fairly certain you have tried them before. The profiler is a built in Firefox tool and also is used with a few mouse clicks. It is not requiring you to use a comandline or terminal.

You have already invested a lot of time & work in asking about your problems. I had hoped the opportunity to present a case that Mozilla staff may be interested in solving would be an opportunity you would jump at, even if it takes you some time to get a Firefox hang and then to gather & provide the necessary information.

* (Kitsune forum bug link   #answer-965291 may not work as intended. Try instead https://support.mozilla.org/questions/1156978#answer-965291 )

I'm messing around not knowing what I'm doing in regular old Firefox safe mode. I'm trying to see if I can get a freeze scrolling through a long twitter feed. I still don't understand how I'm supposed to record when it freezes or predict when a crash is going to come. Even If I start the recorder before it freezes, I won't be able to stop it once it freezes. Also, how long does it record for and does it only record in one tab if I have multiple ones open? If I switch over to a tab do I have to individually start a recording in each additional tab?

This is exactly what I was talking about concerning this being over my skill level.

I also don't understand what you wanted me to do in the first step with the manual crash reporter, and how it's relevant to the second step.

EDIT: In this version, I recorded these two times. I was going through a twitter account, a newspaper account, and Daily Kos Elections, which is the one that made it crawl and freeze.

https://1drv.ms/u/s!As6tJB14k1Y3gRTFr4GuiHXwqEts

https://1drv.ms/u/s!As6tJB14k1Y3gRXfLQ37Xo9WYyMc

I had to use the crash reporter to crash it:

bp-315f8d69-1ea6-4adc-a4c1-18cf81170508

EDIT: Tried this one with my regular profile (the one with multiprocess enabled) with my normal settings and got this one while I was reading The Detroit News in a few tabs and had Daily Kos Elections in another while also having open one or two MLive.com tabs:

https://1drv.ms/u/s!As6tJB14k1Y3gRYjjOC7ykVDesTc

I'll try this in both windows and firefox safe mode. The problem with windows safe mode is that it leaves my screen resolution in a funky state which makes it difficult for me to navigate Firefox for any extended amount of time.

No need for it to crash or even freeze solid so that you need it to restart. You say it crawls in single process Firefox so using that record the profile. Try to include a period where it is crawling.

I was preobably expecting it would not crash itself, untill you use the ustility program to crash it. The crash reporter will then display.

The output from tye built in profler tool generate a file that by default is called:

profile.json 

Not sure you will see the part after the period|dot

I could not make sense of the file on the one drive. I expected it to be the profiler output plus a copy of the Firerox profile folders and files. I will try to make contact with Rachel and see if she can help out here.

Thanks a lot for trying this. I am not sure the files you share are working as expected, certainly the first one did not.

Do not act just now. I have tried to contact Rachel. Let's see if I get a response. Unfortunately of course I can not guarantee Rachel will have time to help out.

This is my thinking but I will wait for Rachel to see if she has better suggestions. What I am really hoping you will try as I mentioned repeatedly is all at the same time

• Windows safe mode
• A new Firefox profile.
• Any plugins disabled
• (Better still you have tried Aurora before, try with a fresh install of what is now called Developer Edition - that automatically gives you a fresh Firefox profile. It also ensures you have new program files - but delete any preexisting pre install files at location C:\Program Files (x86)\Firefox Developer Edition\ )
• A single website - not facebook - too complicated and known to be able to cause problems
• I think we did establish Firefox does not tend to crash in that sort of configuration. If so it is good we have made progress. We have a baseline configuration in which Firefox works.
  • If Firefox does crash in this configuration whilst in multi process mode please confirm that is the configuration and test conditions and let us have the relevant crash report.
  • If Firefox does not crash but only hangs then once testing and use of the built in Profile is completed then please force a crash either when Firefox is frozen or shortly after one of the hangs.
• If things with Firefox are really as bad as you say and it crawls and hangs in multiprocess mode then you probably do not even need to open more than a single tab to be able to demonstrate problems.

FireFoxFan1 said

I'm messing around not knowing what I'm doing in regular old Firefox safe mode. I'm trying to see if I can get a freeze scrolling through a long twitter feed. I still don't understand how I'm supposed to record when it freezes or predict when a crash is going to come. Even If I start the recorder before it freezes, I won't be able to stop it once it freezes. Also, how long does it record for and does it only record in one tab if I have multiple ones open? If I switch over to a tab do I have to individually start a recording in each additional tab? This is exactly what I was talking about concerning this being over my skill level. I also don't understand what you wanted me to do in the first step with the manual crash reporter, and how it's relevant to the second step. EDIT: In this version, I recorded these two times. I was going through a twitter account, a newspaper account, and Daily Kos Elections, which is the one that made it crawl and freeze. https://1drv.ms/u/s!As6tJB14k1Y3gRTFr4GuiHXwqEts https://1drv.ms/u/s!As6tJB14k1Y3gRXfLQ37Xo9WYyMc I had to use the crash reporter to crash it: bp-315f8d69-1ea6-4adc-a4c1-18cf81170508 EDIT: Tried this one with my regular profile (the one with multiprocess enabled) with my normal settings and got this one while I was reading The Detroit News in a few tabs and had Daily Kos Elections in another while also having open one or two MLive.com tabs: https://1drv.ms/u/s!As6tJB14k1Y3gRYjjOC7ykVDesTc I'll try this in both windows and firefox safe mode. The problem with windows safe mode is that it leaves my screen resolution in a funky state which makes it difficult for me to navigate Firefox for any extended amount of time.

I'm in windows safe mode, firefox safe mode with add-ons disabled in Developer Edition. Trying to replicate a freeze, but can't. I was trying to do it on Hollywoodlife.com, as it's a site that has given me crashes in my regular profile in regular mode. I'll send you a recording to see if you see anything nonetheless.

https://1drv.ms/u/s!As6tJB14k1Y3gRdauS-LSJGtGggW

There is no crash report to post because I haven't had to crash the browser. Still getting two to three hang-crashes a day in my regular profile in regular mode with the same crash report every time (@ IPCError-browser | ShutDownKill )

Going back to my regular profile for right now. Navigating in windows safe mode is not tenable because of the screen resolution.

Problems solved ! ?? If you are not crashing and not getting hangs whilst using Developer edition in Firefox safe mode and Windows safe mode then it sounds as if Firefox is working again as it should. Try the following in this order and stop if you get crashes or hangs. or other problems.

1. Repeat as before - but instead of using a new profile 'use the existing Developer Editions default profile you have already used.
2. Repeat as the original test before including using a new Profile but this time in Windows ordinary mode.
3. Repeat as 2. above but this time not in Firefox safe mode.
4. Repeat as 2 but this time using a new profile but not in Windows or Firefox safemode
5. As 4. but this time also enable Flash Player.
   • If you have got that far and not had problems it is good news. Post back to confirm all is ok no hangs no crashes.
6. OK now ready to test with multiple sites and with existing or older profiles but please keep all extensions disabled.
   • By now I am sure you will be seeing problems.
     If not then maybe there was a corrupt install or profile corruption or issues which we have so far avoided. It could also relate ti issues with extensions, at one time you had dozens. if I remember correctly. Please report back.

Profiler Files & Onedrive When you use the built in profiler tool it should create a file. For me it defaults to being called profile.json when saved. It can be renamed to something such as 01-profile,json whilst saving it. Such a file may be reimported in to the profiler tool so it can be seen by yourself or anyone it is sent to. I am expecting to see such files on the onedrive links you send me but I am not doing. Rachel I have not yet got a reply from Rachel and noted she was absent from a recent meeting so possibly she is on holiday or absent for some reason.

To be clear, we already knew I wasn't getting crashes and hangs in windows and firefox safe modes, so we're going in circles. The only difference is that I used the developer edition this time like you asked to record part of a session, even though we'd already confirmed I wasn't getting crashes/hangs in that setting/mode.

Where we had gotten was that as soon as I booted Windows regularly I was getting crashes/hangs even in Firefox safe mode. We'd also largely ruled out extensions, particularly after I told you that I'd basically never used but two or three to begin with and as I started to have problems had disabled them all.

What was confusing was that we then went into this confusing/disturbing run-around where you were asking me to do all or some of these steps with multiprocess enabled or disabled and then messing around with hardware acceleration.

What you haven't asked me to do was run developer addition in my regular boot, regular load of Firefox.

The advantage of using the Developer Edition is that you can mess around with that and it does not interfere with your ordinary use of Firefox.

As long as we can get Firefox crash and hang free what we need to do is make one change at a time to see what is causing the hangs and crashes,

We may well need to avoid multi process Firefox because if you get crashes in multi process Firefox that may be masking the real problems that you get in single process which I believe you do not like using because it crawls.

We need to be aware that something may be corrupting your profiles or your program files.

Up date by edit Tue 16th May As I do not wish to interupt cor-el <= => FirefoxFan1 conversations.

Looks like the most recent crash was Release in Multi Process Mode again. As we seem to be confirming Firefox works well without crashing or hangs in some configurations I think it best to make small changes from such a configuration when trying to troubleshoot and eliminate these problems. Modified May 16, 2017 at 7:09:23 AM +0100 by John99

Second update edit

Multiple AV. I am sure it has been mentioned previously using multiple adblockers and especially multiple AV may cause issues. We suggest multiple sequential scans as a check. We do not suggest having multiple AV And multiple adblockers and script blockers active.

You can use MSConfig to disable some startup programs.

You can use the MSConfig program or the Autoruns utility to see what software is getting started (be cautious with disabling services).

• http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/sysinternals/bb963902.aspx

cor-el said

You can use MSConfig to disable some startup programs. You can use the MSConfig program or the Autoruns utility to see what software is getting started (be cautious with disabling services).

• http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/sysinternals/bb963902.aspx

What is this in response too, exactly?

You wrote that Firefox doesn't crash if you boot the computer in windows Safe Mode. In Windows Safe Mode only basic drivers and a limited set of services is started. All third-party software is blocked.

cor-el said

You wrote that Firefox doesn't crash if you boot the computer in windows Safe Mode. In Windows Safe Mode only basic drivers and a limited set of services is started. All third-party software is blocked.

Your advice, then, is for me to go in blind just willy-nilly shutting down start-up programs? Because that's not exactly helpful. Have anything a bit more specific than that, you know, things you've known through experience here on the support boards that have caused problems with Firefox crashes?

Anyway, just had another one. I had several instances of the website Jezebel.com opened, an article from The Detroit News, but I was in a tab on Daily Kos Elections, specifically, when the crash happened. I noticed in my status bar that it seemed to have got stuck on "Googleads." This site - which autoloads new comments - seems to be a more common element than I've had before though I can get these same crashes without having that site open in my browser. Perhaps it has something to do with this?

bp-a5f1b788-01b0-4d17-8de7-8b9570170515

EDIT: I was just working in my normal process (multiprocess enabled) and noticed it slowing down, so recorded just before I got the crash:

https://1drv.ms/u/s!As6tJB14k1Y3gR_23YzU3qeqxG_u

This is the crash I got:

bp-8f79d071-5f12-4f42-b049-681850170516

It happened when I had about four tabs opened with detnews.com articles. It seems that some embedded graphic hanged it, but I can't be sure. Hopefully, the file I posted will help with that.