Computer hangs while typing in Firefox
I have a new HP Intel Core2duo computer that has 4 gigs of ram with Windows 7 64bit and the video card reads Quatro 1500FX. While typing anywhere on the net (search bars, forms, logins, emails...etc) it will hang for a minute or two and then slowly add each letter that was typed. This causes the screen to freeze until it's done. It's incredibly annoying. It looks like it only happens in Firefox, I've reset Firefox but it hasn't helped. I tested in IE and it seems fine. I prefer using Firefox though. No malware or viruses found either as my computer is still new. Doesn't happen offline at all, I usually have to write in notepad first and copy & paste into whatever I'm doing online to avoid the problem. This happened on my other computer too, exact same machine except that one has 7 gigs of ram but when I deleted an add-on and reinstalled it, it seemed to do the trick. Things I've already tried for this computer are...
-Complete system scan for adware and malware -Resetting Firefox -Uninstalling Firefox and re-installing -Clearing cache and cookies -Un-checking "use hardware acceleration" in the options menu -Disabling all add-ons and plugins
I know it's a Firefox issue because every other browser works just fine. I've posed on numerous forums and no one knows what to do about it. Any help/suggestions would be highly appreciated, thanks.
Все ответы (12)
Hello,
It seems that this may do the trick. If not, how many applications are you running at a time? This can greatly affect the speed of your computer. As seen is the chart, Firefox uses a lot of ram, and that may be an issue. (The chart shows only one tab). You can see for yourself in this article that tells how to show your CPU utilization. You may notice it skyrocket when you use Firefox, which means your computer is slowing down.
Try Firefox Safe Mode to see if the problem goes away. Firefox Safe Mode is a troubleshooting mode that turns off some settings, disables most add-ons (extensions and themes).
If Firefox is open, you can restart in Firefox Safe Mode from the Help menu:
- In Firefox 29.0 and above, click the menu button
, click Help 
and select Restart with Add-ons Disabled.
- In previous Firefox versions, click on the Firefox button at the top left of the Firefox window and click on Help (or click on Help in the Menu bar, if you don't have a Firefox button) then click on Restart with Add-ons Disabled.
If Firefox is not running, you can start Firefox in Safe Mode as follows:
- On Windows: Hold the Shift key when you open the Firefox desktop or Start menu shortcut.
- On Mac: Hold the option key while starting Firefox.
- On Linux: Quit Firefox, go to your Terminal and run firefox -safe-mode
(you may need to specify the Firefox installation path e.g. /usr/lib/firefox)
When the Firefox Safe Mode window appears, select "Start in Safe Mode".
If the issue is not present in Firefox Safe Mode, your problem is probably caused by an extension, and you need to figure out which one. Please follow the Troubleshoot extensions, themes and hardware acceleration issues to solve common Firefox problems article to find the cause.
To exit Firefox Safe Mode, just close Firefox and wait a few seconds before opening Firefox for normal use again.
When you figure out what's causing your issues, please let us know. It might help others with the same problem.
It could be the work of one of your add-ons, or even add / mal-ware. Look thru your add-ons list and make sure you know what each one is there for. Also, check the programs that are on your computer Windows > Start > Control Panel > Uninstall Programs. (Mac: Open the "Applications" folder) Go thru the list and use a web search to check any that you don't know what they are.
Thank you for the quick replies.
jackson1442 - Thanks for your suggestions. I went into Safe Mode and followed your steps, tested out some typing and it's still hanging. No change at all. It's extremely frustrating because I don't know what's causing it. My other computer had the same issue in the beginning but quickly disappeared after disabling the only add-on I had at the time, then enabling it again. I don't have any add-ons on this computer after removing RealDownloader (from Real Player) since I don't really need it. My plugins include Acrobat Reader, Shockwave Flash and VLC Web Plugin right now. Maybe if I uninstall all of them, restart, test it out and see? Although I need those plugins though.
FredMcD - I know it's not malware because the computer is still new, I've done complete malware, adware and other virus scans and the computer is clean. All of the programs in Control Panel I recognize, nothing suspicious. Thanks very much for your suggestions.
Create a new profile as a test to check if your current profile is causing the problem.
See "Creating a profile":
- https://support.mozilla.org/kb/profile-manager-create-and-remove-firefox-profiles
- http://kb.mozillazine.org/Standard_diagnostic_-_Firefox#Profile_issues
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 the problem
Boot the computer in Windows Safe Mode with network support (press F8 on the boot screen) as a test.
cor-el - Thanks very much for your suggestions. I tried creating a new profile, followed your steps, tested out some typing in an email and the issue still stands. I went into Safe Mode but the internet connection automatically disconnected, just in Safe Mode. So I could not test out Firefox. Maybe I should try a complete "clean install" and see if that helps.
Firefox in safe mode should not prevent access to the internet. Did you start Firefox in safe mode, or your computer?
It was Safe Mode in Windows. I hit just Safe Mode instead of Safe Mode with Networking and realized that's why I couldn't get online. So I went in again in Safe Mode with Networking and tested out some typing and everything seemed to work perfectly, no hanging. Then I got out of Windows Safe Mode and went into Firefox Safe Mode with a new profile again to test it out, but it hangs as usual. So I'm not sure what this means.
Okay. Let's see. With the computer in safe mode (that means only Microsoft programs are active) no problem. But Firefox, safe or normal, has problems. So it looks like the computer has something in it could cause your problems.
It could be the work of one of your add-ons, or even add / mal-ware. Look thru your add-ons list and make sure you know what each one is there for. Also, check the programs that are on your computer Windows > Start > Control Panel > Uninstall Programs. (Mac: Open the "Applications" folder) Go thru the list and use a web search to check any that you don't know what they are.
Thanks FredMcD. But I've done all that, if you scroll to the earlier posts you can see that I've tried all those. The computer is completely clean of any malware or spyware. I have minimal add-ons that I've disabled, nothing seems to be making a difference, everything is recognizable in the Control Panel. Wouldn't it make sense that it's a Firefox issue since Windows Safe Mode worked perfectly? Firefox Safe Mode still caused problems, I really believe it's Firefox since other browsers work fine.
Did you check advanced settings in your security software (firewall, anti-virus)?
Which security software (firewall, anti-virus) do you have?
I still think that it is a computer memory problem. What applications do you have running when you have the computer out of safe mode. Safe mode usually greatly reduces your computer memory usage.
cor-el - I checked the advanced settings and everything is how it should be, I use Zone Alarm, I won't switch from that though as I've used it for a long time and never have problems with it.
jackson1442 - I can't see how it would make sense if it were a memory problem. I only have Firefox and Sticky Notes up. If it were a memory problem it would affect more than just Firefox. My old computer before this one had the latest v29 Firefox, a lot less ram and I had many programs running at once and it still worked perfectly in Firefox.
I should also add that I downloaded Safari to test that out and it also works great. It must be some kind of setting I'm missing. Someone mentioned installing an older version of Firefox to give it a test, I installed version 12 and everything seemed to work great, no hanging. But of course I won't keep the old version as there's no security updates.