Why is Firefox 29.0.1 SO SLOW?
Since the recent update Firefox is running extremely slow. I've been using this software for years and experienced nothing like this prior to the update... Windows Vista 64 bit, plenty of RAM/processor/functioning graphics card etc etc. Whatever you guys did with this update, you broke Firefox. Just letting you know.
All Replies (11)
It is possible that your security software (firewall, anti-virus) blocks or restricts Firefox or the plugin-container process without informing you, possibly after detecting changes (update) to the Firefox program.
Remove all rules for Firefox and the plugin-container from the permissions list in the firewall and let your firewall ask again for permission to get full, unrestricted, access to internet for Firefox and the plugin-container process and the updater process.
See:
Start Firefox in Safe Mode to check if one of the extensions (Firefox/Tools > Add-ons > Extensions) or if hardware acceleration is causing the problem.
- Switch to the DEFAULT theme: Firefox/Tools > Add-ons > Appearance
- Do NOT click the Reset button on the Safe Mode start window
Frustrations abound with updates. Whether Windows updates that debilitate operations or Mozilla decides to update - hopefully for a very good reason - and the FF browser crashes on a regular basis. So what does the user do? Gets suggestions fm whomever. MANY suggestions, a number of which I really don't want to touch. So why can't Mozilla (yes, I know it's free ware) NOT follow the 'lead' of Microsoft and only introduce stable, proven Fire Fox updates.
If there is still a problem,
Start Firefox in Safe Mode
While you are in safe mode; Firefox Options > Advanced > General.
Look for and turn off Use Hardware Acceleration.
Poke around safe web sites and see if there is still a problem. Then restart.
Firefox 29.0.1 is pretty well unusable as it stands. I haven't started Firefox in safe mode, but on Options>Advanced>General Use Hardware Acceleration is not ticked anyway.
Start Firefox in Safe Mode {web link} While you are in safe mode; Poke around safe web sites and see if there is still a problem. Then restart.
Use Hardware Acceleration is already not ticked, so how is starting in safe mode and poking about safe websites to see if there is still a problem going to make a difference?
From Mozilla.org help files;
Troubleshoot Firefox issues using Safe Mode
Safe Mode is a special Firefox mode that can be used to troubleshoot and fix problems. Safe Mode temporarily resets some settings and disables add-ons that might be causing problems. By comparing Firefox behavior in normal mode to its behavior in Safe Mode you may be able to pinpoint the cause of the problem.
Add-ons are as they were before the update so, unless Mozilla is producing updates which don't operate with existing add-ons, there shouldn't be any difference between before and after should there?
What has it been, a week since you first posted here? Any chance that you spent less than a minute to open the Firefox SafeMode? Even to try to humor us?
To answer your question today, yes there can be a difference with add-ons after an update especially an update with as many changes as there are in Firefox 29.
And have any of YOU during the past week spent any time on looking at why Firefox 29.0.1 is running slow for people?
Did any of you spend a minute or so checking whether there were differences in add-ons with Firefox 29 before it was released, especially if it had so many changes in it? (I can guess your answer "There are SOOOOOOO many add-ons and SOOOOOOO many changes that we couldn't...")
Even free software should be fit for purpose.
All three posters should note that you are dealing with volunteers who are Firefox users just like yourselves. Please provide separate questions if you have specific problems. Top 10 contributors are putting in huge amounts of time to help others. I'm not a fan of some of the recent changes but my Firefox is working perfectly. In almost all cases, problems are not at the Firefox end.