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Firefox crashes

  • 27 replies
  • 26 have this problem
  • 18 views
  • Last reply by John99

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  • Tried many, many times in the last months to update from 9.0.1 to 10.0.0/10.0.1 etcetera, also after deleting the old version before installing the newest. Crashed continuously even in safe mode.
  • Went back to 9.0.1 without problems.
  • Today tried again several times to update, to 11.0. Same endless story ......
  • Program makes NO crash reports; not even a directory Submitted; only a few very old ones in Pending - deleted these via Explorer (not possible in about:crashes).
  • Restarting with the same crashes [although now 3 Tabs on Mozilla open, still stable!].

These crashes have made me loose very much time.

System: 10 year old Intel Pentium IV 1,8 GHz, 1 GB, more than enough disk space on Win XP SP3 updated until now, scanned with Avast! Virus Free version 7.0 with latest definitions.

Your help is much appreciated: I do NOT want to be exposed to any safety riscs with an old version, or switch to MS IE or Google Chrome.

[5 Tabs open now, still stable (in safe mode); probably will change superfast after sending this report and restarting ....]

* Tried many, many times in the last months to update from 9.0.1 to 10.0.0/10.0.1 etcetera, also after deleting the old version before installing the newest. Crashed continuously even in safe mode. * Went back to 9.0.1 without problems. * Today tried again several times to update, to 11.0. Same endless story ...... * Program makes NO crash reports; not even a directory Submitted; only a few very old ones in Pending - deleted these via Explorer (not possible in about:crashes). * Restarting with the same crashes [although now 3 Tabs on Mozilla open, still stable!]. These crashes have made me loose very much time. System: 10 year old Intel Pentium IV 1,8 GHz, 1 GB, more than enough disk space on Win XP SP3 updated until now, scanned with Avast! Virus Free version 7.0 with latest definitions. Your help is much appreciated: I do NOT want to be exposed to any safety riscs with an old version, or switch to MS IE or Google Chrome. [5 Tabs open now, still stable (in safe mode); probably will change superfast after sending this report and restarting ....]

Modified by NSW_107

Chosen solution

  • I could not find the/any reason why ASC seems to have solved FFs stability problems on my system.
  • Meanwhile FF stays pretty stable now.
  • Possibly a total new installation of Windows XP SP3 might do the trick. But I prefer not to do that: considering buying a new computer.
  • For the moment I feel I have to close this item.

Thanks

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All Replies (7)

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Thanks, John99!

Apologies if this is misplaced.

It's just that I've been chasing this problem around for quite some time, have removed and clean-installed FF 10.x and now 11 a number of times, tried to use the problem resolution system here as it was designed, and somehow, after many attempts to find an answer was led to this thread.

Sometimes you just run out of steam in a certain spot...

Frankly, I can't recall ever having to put so much effort into overcoming an update 'breaking' an application.

If I get a new burst of energy, I'll try to find where this SHOULD go, but, since the system sent me here, this was where I ended up.

For now, it's back to Chrome. I just can't stand going around in circles anymore with no help in sight.

Sorry to be out of place.

So I'll just leave altogether. After being with Mozilla since Mozilla 2, I think I've just reached the breaking point. I'm out.

Modified by ks2problema

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Hi ks2problema,

You have come to the correct place and we will try to help you on this forum if you wish to provide full information about your problem. It would however be best to do that in your own thread. (Rather than someone else's solved thread.)

If you do wish to ask your own question

  • just follow the links and prompts from this clickable link
  • post back in this thread to mention you have asked a question (I or someone else will try to check it gets a response)

If you do wish to use Chrome good luck, but you may miss some of the features or software extensions that may be used with Firefox.

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Thanks so much for your response. Obviously, I'd just about reached my wit's end.

Happily, FF 12.0 appears to have fixed everything.

I mean, just like that.

I'd pretty much given up hope -- but I opened FF actually just to check something, I saw there was yet another update, but that it was an ordinal jump. It wouldn't do an online update through FF, but I downloaded the file and -- to my utter astonishment -- was able to install it over the previous, woefully broken 11.x... and BAM -- it worked. (I'd assumed I'd be uninstalling it once again, scouring the Registry, etc, and then reinstalling clean. But, nope. =)

It worked beautifully. Better than ever. I could load 8 tabs in FF in the same RAM that would hold 2 in Chrome. And, though I can't clock it, it "feels" faster than before my troubles started with the 10.0.1 update.

Anyhow... I'm delighted to have it working again. I kept hoping and updating.

Thanks to the dev team, wherever you are!

Modified by ks2problema

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Glad it is working, thanks for posting back.

Firefox does use paid and unpaid developers, but this forum is mostly answered by unpaid volunteers. We are always looking for anyone else willing to give a hand with whatever they are able to do, see for instance:

Modified by John99

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Thanks, John. I'll give that some thought. I sort of have a full plate dealing with the public as it is (volunteer mod on a music board) -- but I know how important being able to get answers (or reassurance when answers aren't forthcoming) can be. I'll definitely consider it. Then again, I couldn't even get my own installation right until 12 magically fixed it, so... my confidence level isn't exactly high on this front. =)

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I guess I spoke too soon. FF is now locking up all the time, particularly when waiting for advertising content from servers or apparently whenever there's complex javascript to render.

Pages that were loading in a second or two now hang up after 10 or 15 seconds. Clicking anywhere in the tab produces a "Not Resonding" message after a click or two.

One thing that may be related... things were going so well for a couple days that I took the chance of reinstalling FireFTP as it's my favorite client. Later, things started going bad.

That said, I've since done a complete removal and reinstall and FF worked sucky all the while.

One thing I haven't done yet this time is go through the Windows Registry and remove ALL references to Firefox -- which I did previous to the few days of proper function.

Is it possible that R&R of Firefox using the 'remove all personal settings and files' checkbox doesn't actually clean everything out?

I am SO bummed because I really thought things were back to normal for a few days. Same FF version. Nothing else changed on my rig. (I'm a developer so I pay attention to this stuff.)

I'm flummoxed. And severely bummed.

Modified by ks2problema

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You really would do better starting your own thread (but post here to mention it if you do so).

The clean reinstalls will remove most application files relating to Firefox. Most of the settings etc are kept in the Profile.You could remove the profile and do a clean install including using a new profile. But it is easier and does allows data preservation to either

  • install firefox for use in another partition or user account.
  • or create and use multiple profiles, checking that any fresh profiles are in empty folders and even checking what they contain, and if necessary deleting contents
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