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Firefox seems to be working fine but the display is frozen.

  • 8 replies
  • 1 has this problem
  • 3 views
  • Last reply by FredMcD

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The browser seems to be working just fine, apparently. The cursor changes shape when I hoover over a link, it even shows the description of the link but when I click it, nothing happens. The webpage loads but not VISIBLY, as the display is frozen on the previous one. The only way to see the newly-loaded site is to make some other program active and then return to the properly loaded page with the new set of links and pics. But when I click again, the whole cycle goes on and on. I tried to reboot, reset, re-instal and update the Firefox but nothing seems to work.

The browser seems to be working just fine, apparently. The cursor changes shape when I hoover over a link, it even shows the description of the link but when I click it, nothing happens. The webpage loads but not VISIBLY, as the display is frozen on the previous one. The only way to see the newly-loaded site is to make some other program active and then return to the properly loaded page with the new set of links and pics. But when I click again, the whole cycle goes on and on. I tried to reboot, reset, re-instal and update the Firefox but nothing seems to work.

All Replies (8)

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Do a malware check with several malware scanning programs on the Windows computer. Please scan with all programs because each program detects different malware. All these programs have free versions.

Make sure that you update each program to get the latest version of their databases before doing a scan.

You can also do a check for a rootkit infection with TDSSKiller.

See also:

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Start Firefox in Safe Mode {web Link} by holding down the <Shift>
(Mac Options)
key, and then starting Firefox. Is the problem still there?

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FredMcD said

Start Firefox in Safe Mode {web Link} by holding down the <Shift>
(Mac Options)
key, and then starting Firefox. Is the problem still there?

It's working perfectly this way. I looked up what I can do while in Safe Mode and one of the options was to disable Hardware Acceleration. I did and Firefox is now working fine. But what exactly did I disable? Is it going to affect my browsing experience in some major manner?

Modified by Alfmen

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It could be the work of one of your add-ons. Type about:addons<enter> in the address bar to open your Add-ons Manager. Hot key; <Control>(Mac:<Command>)<Shift> A)

In the Add-ons Manager, on the left, select Extensions. Disable a few add-ons, then Restart Firefox.

Some added toolbar and anti-virus add-ons are known to cause Firefox issues. Disable All of them.

If the problem continues, disable some more (restarting FF). Continue until the problem is gone. After, you know what group is causing the issue. Re-enable the last group ONE AT A TIME (restarting FF) until the problem returns.

Once you think you found the problem, disable that and re-enable all the others, then restart again. Let us know who the suspect is detective.

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FredMcD said

It could be the work of one of your add-ons. Type about:addons<enter> in the address bar to open your Add-ons Manager. Hot key; <Control>(Mac:<Command>)<Shift> A) In the Add-ons Manager, on the left, select Extensions. Disable a few add-ons, then Restart Firefox. Some added toolbar and anti-virus add-ons are known to cause Firefox issues. Disable All of them. If the problem continues, disable some more (restarting FF). Continue until the problem is gone. After, you know what group is causing the issue. Re-enable the last group ONE AT A TIME (restarting FF) until the problem returns. Once you think you found the problem, disable that and re-enable all the others, then restart again. Let us know who the suspect is detective.

The only add-on I have currently installed is the Avast Antivirus add-on and it's disabled. The problem goes away when I uncheck the Hardware Acceleration and returns when I enable it again.

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Then leave it disabled.

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FredMcD said

Then leave it disabled.

And what does it do, exactly? How is leaving it disabled going to affect my browsing experience? :) Also, thank you for help, you've been great! :)

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From Mozilla help files;

"Since this feature was added to Firefox, it has gradually improved, but there still are a few glitches." (The article is years old.)

https://hacks.mozilla.org/2010/09/hardware-acceleration/