To backup the passwords, you need to backup 2 files from your [[profiles|profile folder]], key3.db and signons.sqlite (Firefox stores user data in the profile folder). You can backup more than your passwords, for details see either http://kb.mozillazine.org/Profile_backup or https://support.mozilla.com/kb/Backing+up+your+information Note that reinstalling the application will rarely fix issues, since most issues are due to problems elsewhere, such as in the profile folder. You could be better off creating a new profile and then selectively copying data such as bookmarks and passwords into the new profile folder. For details on how to do that see http://kb.mozillazine.org/Creating_a_new_Firefox_profile_on_Windows and http://kb.mozillazine.org/Transferring_data_to_a_new_profile_-_Firefox

If Firefox is still slow in a new profile then check your security software (firewall and anti-virus) and make sure that Firefox has full permissions. * [[Firewalls]] * http://kb.mozillazine.org/Firewalls