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Firefox uses too much memory

  • 2 replies
  • 1 has this problem
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  • Last reply by cor-el

mpbrais
mpbrais
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I use Firefox, latest edition 34.0.5 on a desktop and on a portable, both with Windows 7, Professional Edition on the desktop and Home Edition on the portable. Each Windows is up to date.

When I start Firefox on the portable, Task Manager tells me it uses around 150 mB. Rapidly this increases with each new page opened, to reach 1.5-1.8 GB. Then Firefox slows down, stops responding. I have to shut it off and restart. Then the memory usage is again 150-160 mB.

I do not have this problem on the desktop. The memory usage will increase from 150 mB to never more than 280mB.

Any idea ?

Thanks

I use Firefox, latest edition 34.0.5 on a desktop and on a portable, both with Windows 7, Professional Edition on the desktop and Home Edition on the portable. Each Windows is up to date. When I start Firefox on the portable, Task Manager tells me it uses around 150 mB. Rapidly this increases with each new page opened, to reach 1.5-1.8 GB. Then Firefox slows down, stops responding. I have to shut it off and restart. Then the memory usage is again 150-160 mB. I do not have this problem on the desktop. The memory usage will increase from 150 mB to never more than 280mB. Any idea ? Thanks

All Replies (2)

Scott
Scott
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You have quite a few plug-ins installed - one of them could be causing the issue you describe. Try Firefox Safe Mode to see if the problem goes away. Firefox Safe Mode is a troubleshooting mode that temporarily disables extensions (amongst other things).

If Firefox is open, you can restart in Firefox Safe Mode from the Help menu:

  • Click the menu button New Fx Menu, click Help Help-29 and select Restart with Add-ons Disabled.

If Firefox is not running, you can start Firefox in Safe Mode as follows:

  • Hold the Shift key when you open the Firefox desktop or Start menu shortcut.

When the Firefox Safe Mode window appears, select "Start in Safe Mode".

Safe Mode Fx 15 - Win
cor-el
cor-el
  • Moderator
  • Top 10 Contributor
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Note that your System Details List shows multiple Flash plugins.

  • Shockwave Flash 15.0 r0
  • Shockwave Flash 16.0 r0

You can find the installation path of all plugins on the about:plugins page.

You can check the Flash player installation folder for multiple Flash player plugins and remove older version(s) of the plugin (NPSWF32) and possibly (re)install the latest Flash player.

  • (32 bit Windows) C:\Windows\System32\Macromed\Flash\
  • (64 bit Windows) C:\Windows\SysWOW64\Macromed\Flash\

You can create a new profile as a test to check if your current profile is causing the problem.

See "Creating a profile":

If the new profile works then you can transfer files from a previously used profile to the new profile, but be cautious not to copy corrupted files to avoid carrying over problems.