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After update to FF12 - more cpu usage, slow and unresponsible

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  • 48 have this problem
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  • Last reply by br0k3n

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Nothing new - had this before year ago and I couldn't fix it. Now, the issue is back. Firefox after about 10-20 minutes starts to work awfuly slow. Like, going to few new tabs makes it unresposnible for good few seconds, the browser doesn't react to anything, typing is "invislbe" and appears only after few seconds, then it froze again for a while, like every script on newly opened site needs good two seconds for itself. At these times, the FF uses up to over 25% of my CPU (AMD Phenom 955 BE - 4 cores, 3.2GHz with 8GB of DDR3 RAM). And it also affects the whole system - everything is "stuttering" when FF is doing so. And it all appeared only after upgrading from FF11 to FF12 - similiar thing happened over year ago, when after update I had to totally re-install the whole browser. And now I'm here again, too damn tired to even think about clearing everything, installing totally new FF and importing all the stuff.

I tried soft re-install, started in Safe Mode with add-ons disabled (same thing, after some time the "suttering" occurs), clearing cache, re-installing Java (which seemed to help for a bit). Any ideas what the hell is wrong? I don't want to create new profile and move everything - I want my current damn profile to work as it should. I'm really tired of that - I'm also using Opera and Chrome (I'm web developer, so I kind of need them), but I like FF the most, but with this problem occuring over and over again after some time, I'm really thinking about giving up on Firefox.

Nothing new - had this before year ago and I couldn't fix it. Now, the issue is back. Firefox after about 10-20 minutes starts to work awfuly slow. Like, going to few new tabs makes it unresposnible for good few seconds, the browser doesn't react to anything, typing is "invislbe" and appears only after few seconds, then it froze again for a while, like every script on newly opened site needs good two seconds for itself. At these times, the FF uses up to over 25% of my CPU (AMD Phenom 955 BE - 4 cores, 3.2GHz with 8GB of DDR3 RAM). And it also affects the whole system - everything is "stuttering" when FF is doing so. And it all appeared only after upgrading from FF11 to FF12 - similiar thing happened over year ago, when after update I had to totally re-install the whole browser. And now I'm here again, too damn tired to even think about clearing everything, installing totally new FF and importing all the stuff. I tried soft re-install, started in Safe Mode with add-ons disabled (same thing, after some time the "suttering" occurs), clearing cache, re-installing Java (which seemed to help for a bit). Any ideas what the hell is wrong? I don't want to create new profile and move everything - I want my current damn profile to work as it should. I'm really tired of that - I'm also using Opera and Chrome (I'm web developer, so I kind of need them), but I like FF the most, but with this problem occuring over and over again after some time, I'm really thinking about giving up on Firefox.

Chosen solution

My problems were related to the All In One Sidebar addon. Which have been fixed by the latest update.

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Run all Windows Updates, install all needed service packs, etc.

Update your graphics driver (Firefox uses your graphics card for some rendering, and an out of date graphics card driver can cause problems. https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/how-do-i-upgrade-my-graphics-drivers.

Download and Install MalwareBytes Anti-Malware, run a full Scan. http://www.malwarebytes.org/. This helps check that there are no viruses on your computer causing issues. You can uninstall this program after you clean off any infections.

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Oh...seriously? I don't know if I should laugh now, or cry.

Windows 7, 64bit, updating on monthly basic. Nvidia GeForce 570 drivers always up-to-date, same as audio card, I'm also running Nod 32 and I'm pretty sure I don't have any mallware installed.

Did I mention I'm an IT guy? No? Ok - so, yeah, I'm. And that kind of stuff is obvious to me, but it's NOT the problem for sure.

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br0k3n, I wasn't trying to insult you (I have no idea of what sort of computer experience you have or what sort of state your computer is in). Firefox performance issues are usually a case of a process of elimination, so that is what I'm starting to do (I would have recommended you test with a fresh profile, but you said you didn't want to do that). So, if you want help, let me know, I'd love ot work with you. Yes I might ask you to do things you've already done, it isn't an insult (like I said, I have no idea what you've done) but all I'm trying to do is help you out.

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You didn't offend me, don't worry about that. Sorry if I sounded too "rough", you can blame it on my frustration.

I already stated what I did. 1. Soft re-install of FF, without deleting everything 2. Re-install of Java, Flash updated too 3. All the Windows Updates 4. Drivers are up to date 5. Run FF in Safe Mode with all add-ons disables - didn't work.

The only thing I didn't tried yet, is new profile. But what will it make good, even if this will work? I will have to "import" all the stuff, bookmarks, active tabs, add-ons etc. and things may be fine - for some time, till the next update will make that suttering happen again. And I don't want that, I want to know what exactly may be causing this issue and eliminate it. I was checking if things like XAMPP may be having anything to do with that, but didn't confirmed. I can post only screen from Process Explorer, if that may help in anything. Or even make a video presenting the issue.

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Well, let's try creating a new profile, just to see if it does make a difference. You shouldn't have to create a new one every time you update, and I mainly just want to do this to even see if it helps at all. Your old one will still be there, and if this doesn't make a difference, we will go right back to it.

Profile Manager - Create, remove or switch Firefox profiles can help you create a profile if you aren't sure on the process.

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Created new test profile. It seemed ok, but just opening few tab made the suttering happen. Especially on Forgotten Realms wiki, every new page freeze the whole FF for good few seconds, making browsing a torture. At first I was almost sure, that new profile will at least be working fine for some time, but it looks like the issue isn't in profile - or so I would assume now. Of course, no other browsers have this problem, but at the same time, I'm mostly using FF and other browsers are usually just for developing/testing purposes.

Edit. Just noticed now. FF open from hour or so, suttering upon entering any new site is enourmous and makes me want to throw the PC out of the window. But, now I checked my processes and...suprise. Firefox has three plugin-container.exe - usually, it's only one. I don't think I saw this before and I doubt this is normal? Attaching two screens from Process Explorer.

Modified by br0k3n

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Chosen Solution

My problems were related to the All In One Sidebar addon. Which have been fixed by the latest update.

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Huh, really - new version installed and no problems at all. But how did it affect new profile or safe mode with disabled add-ons? Black magic! For now, I'm just happy that FF is working again as it should, thanks to both of you for help. ;)