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Firefox hangs and then crashes when opening multiple (esp. facebook) tabs

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  • 1 has this problem
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  • Last reply by FredMcD

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For the last few years, when opening multiple tabs (esp. facebook. For example 2 dozen of facebook tabs, usually much less if other websites are already loaded on other tabs), black rectangles appear on the page, and after opening a few more tabs, Firefox becomes unresponsive and crashes. Since I already know what's coming, usually I don't let it come to this, but restart Firefox when black appears on the page. (to be more precise about this black thing: the whole page would be black and Firefox button and tabs would also not be displayed correctly (see attachment), and then when elements are graphically "rerendered", like on mouseover event, or when scrolling, they sometimes would be shown normally again.) Still, overall I've submitted so far over a thousand crash reports.

I tried reinstalling Firefox, "Refresh Firefox", and this behaviour still happens on safe mode. Since many times RAM usage would be maxed, I upgraded my RAM to see if the problem would be solved. While performance improved, the problem persisted and I found out there's no need for RAM usage to be maxed out for these crashes to happen. I believe unchecking the hardware acceleration setting didn't help either. I vaguely remember reading about an open bug about black on pages. One way or the other, any help or ideas how to solve this problem or what would be causing it would be greatly appreciated.

a link to my last crash report: https://crash-stats.mozilla.com/report/index/bp-e68350a0-bf08-4154-9c4a-caf9d2160204

For the last few years, when opening multiple tabs (esp. facebook. For example 2 dozen of facebook tabs, usually much less if other websites are already loaded on other tabs), black rectangles appear on the page, and after opening a few more tabs, Firefox becomes unresponsive and crashes. Since I already know what's coming, usually I don't let it come to this, but restart Firefox when black appears on the page. (to be more precise about this black thing: the whole page would be black and Firefox button and tabs would also not be displayed correctly (see attachment), and then when elements are graphically "rerendered", like on mouseover event, or when scrolling, they sometimes would be shown normally again.) Still, overall I've submitted so far over a thousand crash reports. I tried reinstalling Firefox, "Refresh Firefox", and this behaviour still happens on safe mode. Since many times RAM usage would be maxed, I upgraded my RAM to see if the problem would be solved. While performance improved, the problem persisted and I found out there's no need for RAM usage to be maxed out for these crashes to happen. I believe unchecking the hardware acceleration setting didn't help either. I vaguely remember reading about an open bug about black on pages. One way or the other, any help or ideas how to solve this problem or what would be causing it would be greatly appreciated. a link to my last crash report: https://crash-stats.mozilla.com/report/index/bp-e68350a0-bf08-4154-9c4a-caf9d2160204
Attached screenshots

Modified by amba2

All Replies (14)

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Signature OOM | small

System Memory Use Percentage 90

Attention Sumo's there are 30 related bug reports most about oom

msmpeg2vdec.dll = Microsoft DTV-DVD Video Decoder

xul.dll = Firefox

icudt55.dll = International Components for Unicode


Perform a System File Check to fix corrupted system files Win 7, 8, 10, Vista: https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/kb/929833

See if there are updates for your graphics drivers https://support.mozilla.org/kb/upgrade-graphics-drivers-use-hardware-acceleration


Firefox uses too much memory (RAM) - How to fix This article describes how to make Firefox use less memory to make it run faster and prevent crashes.

https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/firefox-slow-how-make-it-faster

https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/firefox-uses-too-many-cpu-resources-how-fix

https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/firefox-hangs-or-not-responding

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Thanks. I Used file checker, which came out fine except for a few files that I manually deleted: "DRM-DL.man", "drmmgrtn.dll", "DRM-DL.man", "Microsoft-Windows-Client-Features-Package~31bf3856ad364e35~x86~~6.1.7601.17514.Microsoft-Windows-Client-Features-Update" I also tried to no avail:

  • setting 'Override the colors specified by the page with my selections above' to 'Never' in Options-> Content-> Colors, as suggested somewhere
  • Clearing FF data (Cache, browsing history etc.)
  • Turning off antivirus and firewall (AVG)
  • Checking for display drivers on window update (there is one for my screen) and on my (onboard) video card manufacturer's site (intel)

On one of my profiles Firefox crashes straight away without doing the blackness thing before crashing.

Modified by amba2

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In the address bar, type about:crashes<enter>. Note: If any reports do not have BP in front of the numbers/letters, click it to submit them.

The crash report is several pages of data. We need the report numbers to see the whole report.

Using your mouse, mark the most resent 7 - 10 crash reports, and copy them. Now go to the reply box below and paste them in.

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FredMcD said

If any reports do not have BP in front of the numbers/letters, click it to submit them.

Thanks. I submitted today hundreds of reports that I THOUGHT were submitted before (a daunting task as at first I thought it would take me forever to wait for the page to load each time I clicked one, but it turned out I could click a few in a row and whenever the page redirected, press back and continue)

Using your mouse, mark the most resent 7 - 10 crash reports, and copy them. Now go to the reply box below and paste them in.

bp-2d57cfde-2c6c-4b17-9377-8f0312160206 06/02/2016 18:46 bp-a68958ec-0bde-48f0-8bf7-c99812160206 06/02/2016 18:43 bp-61fbf486-2579-435d-be6e-926ce2160205 05/02/2016 04:37 bp-1ba482e0-3efa-4bbf-a6dc-af74d2160205 05/02/2016 04:02 bp-e68350a0-bf08-4154-9c4a-caf9d2160204 04/02/2016 23:36 bp-daf904f8-5633-4015-8171-84c0c2160204 04/02/2016 19:20 bp-63a52525-ce53-4d88-a58f-7f0f42160203 03/02/2016 03:18 bp-0ce71326-50aa-4e60-b356-4fded2160202 02/02/2016 06:32 Thanks again

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Product Firefox Version 43.0.3 Build ID 20151223140742 Release Channel release OS Windows NT OS Version 6.1.7601 Service Pack 1

bp-2d57cfde-2c6c-4b17-9377-8f0312160206 bp-a68958ec-0bde-48f0-8bf7-c99812160206

Signature sqlite3BtreeMovetoUnpacked ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Product Firefox Version 44.0 Build ID 20160123151951 Release Channel release OS Windows NT OS Version 6.1.7601 Service Pack 1

bp-61fbf486-2579-435d-be6e-926ce2160205

Signature OOM | small

System Memory Use Percentage 72

Attention Sumo's there are 30 related bug reports

msmpeg2vdec.dll = Microsoft DTV-DVD Video Decoder


Perform a System File Check to fix corrupted system files Win 7, 8, 10, Vista: https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/kb/929833

See if there are updates for your graphics drivers https://support.mozilla.org/kb/upgrade-graphics-drivers-use-hardware-acceleration

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According to my motherboard's website (Gigabyte) I have the latest drivers for my board, but I also installed and tried using the intel driver update utility from their website and it found something to be installed - "intel chipset device software (inf update utility-exe only)". The installation failed, so i installed it manually from their website. According to device manager and windows update I have the latest graphic driver. There is a driver for my monitor. Should I install it? It fails to install tho... Should i uninstall "intel graphics media accelerator driver" and/or "intel tv wizard"?

About repairing system files, these 4 files were not repaired when I ran the checker because i deleted anything that had "drm" in it from my computer. maybe in a week or two i'd have a copy of windows 7 enterprise dvd and then i could repair those files. Thank you

Modified by amba2

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Forgot to mention there's a problem of focus being stolen. When FF hangs (like said above), sometimes other FF windows steal focus.

Since my missing files had to do with DRM, I also tried toggling the "Play DRM content" checkbox but FF crashes either way.

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I've called the big guys to help you. Good luck.

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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.

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I might first update to Firefox 44.0.2 and I will post back if I can find more info about why a blocked driver would still do that.

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Thanks FredMcD.

cor-el said

Create a new profile as a test to check if your current profile is causing the problem. ...

Created a new user. Crash still happens.

cor-el said

Done...

guigs said

I might first update to Firefox 44.0.2 and I will post back if I can find more info about why a blocked driver would still do that.

I have also updated to FF 44.0.2. Over the last updates FF has started releasing memory more quickly when shut down which is a nice improvement. Actually few of my crashes were due to logging off while FF windows were closed but while the process was still running, so these happen no more)... But the crashes I described in my question still occur. Be back in a week... Thanks

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amba2 said

cor-el said

Done...

To be more precise, these are the additional things I tried while going through the troubleshooting process on this page that I didn't write in detail in my previous replies (restored settings after each test):

  • Checked themes (non installed).
  • Set everything under plug-ins to "Never Activate"
  • Cleared offline storage
  • Renamed localstore.rdf and prefs.js.
  • Found 3 problematic extensions and followed workaround instructions when applicable: Adblock Plus, DownThemAll (all mentioned settings in about:config were already set to default), AVG's LinkScanner component (reinstalled AVG without that component)
  • Made sure previous clean reinstall was in par with instructions under the "Clean reinstall" section by deleting some files in the AppData folder as explained here.
  • Checked windows firewall settings. Uninstalled firewall by AVG.
  • Renamed firefox.exe to firefox1.exe
  • Anti-malware products that were already installed: Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware, Spybot 1.6.2 :D , ran microsoft malicious software removal monthly tool.
  • Thanks
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Ran System File Check and replaced files according to instructions. Then ran System File Check again FWIW and now in addition to "Cannot repair member file" and "file cannot be checked" I get "Could not reproject corrupted file... source file in store is also corrupted".

Unless anyone have any new insights, I'm done with this issue.

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