Firefox hangs, stops working, have to restart it
I use Firefox all the time and really rely on it. I hate using IE. Lately, though (just in the past month or so) it is really annoying me. I will be using it just fine and then all of a sudden, clicking on links or putting in a URL will not work. It just hangs there, and the little round thing spins at the top of the tab (like the hourglass) and it just hangs forever. The only thing that works is if I close down Firefox and then restart it a little later (or reboot my pc). This is getting really annoying. It happens several times a day. Thanks! I am using Firefox 8.01 with Windows XP. I just reinstalled Windows a few months ago, so everything is clean and fresh and new :)
All Replies (20)
First, try upgrading to the latest version of Firefox.
Second, if Firefox still hangs when on version 9.0.1 this article might help you: Firefox hangs or is not responding - How to fix
Upgrading didn't help...I just deleted the files as instructed on that link...we'll see if that helps. It hangs randomly when I click on a link...
I have tried all of the suggestions and it still hangs. A lot. :( Very frustrating.
Troubleshooting info
Application Basics
Name
Firefox
Version
9.0.1
User Agent
Mozilla/5.0 (Windows NT 5.1; rv:9.0.1) Gecko/20100101 Firefox/9.0.1
Profile Directory
Open Containing Folder
Enabled Plugins
about:plugins
Build Configuration
about:buildconfig
Crash Reports
about:crashes
Memory Use
about:memory
Extensions
Name
Version
Enabled
ID
Add to Amazon Wish List Button
1.7
true
amznUWL2@amazon.com
Keep Tube Downloader
1.2
true
webmaster@keep-tube.com
McAfee ScriptScan for Firefox
14.4.1
true
{D19CA586-DD6C-4a0a-96F8-14644F340D60}
BitComet Video Downloader
1.30
false
{B042753D-F57E-4e8e-A01B-7379A6D4CEFB}
Microsoft .NET Framework Assistant
0.0.0
false
{20a82645-c095-46ed-80e3-08825760534b}
Modified Preferences
Name
Value
accessibility.typeaheadfind.flashBar
0
browser.places.smartBookmarksVersion
2
browser.startup.homepage
http://www.facebook.com/suzannel
browser.startup.homepage_override.buildID
20111220165912
browser.startup.homepage_override.mstone
rv:9.0.1
extensions.lastAppVersion
9.0.1
gfx.blacklist.direct2d
2
gfx.blacklist.layers.direct3d10
2
gfx.blacklist.layers.direct3d10-1
2
network.cookie.prefsMigrated
true
places.database.lastMaintenance
1327705742
places.history.expiration.transient_current_max_pages
53435
places.history.expiration.transient_optimal_database_size
85495316
privacy.sanitize.migrateFx3Prefs
true
security.warn_viewing_mixed
false
Graphics
Adapter Description
Mobile Intel(R) 945GM Express Chipset Family
Vendor ID
8086
Device ID
27a2
Adapter RAM
Unknown
Adapter Drivers
igxprd32
Driver Version
6.14.10.4814
Driver Date
3-30-2007
Vendor ID (GPU #2)
8086
Device ID (GPU #2)
27a6
Adapter RAM (GPU #2)
Unknown
Adapter Drivers (GPU #2)
Unknown
Driver Version (GPU #2)
6.14.10.4814
Driver Date (GPU #2)
3-30-2007
WebGL Renderer
Blocked for your graphics driver version. Try updating your graphics driver to version 6.14.10.4926 or newer.
GPU Accelerated Windows
0/1. Blocked for your graphics driver version. Try updating your graphics driver to version 6.14.10.4926 or newer.
Please try to use Diagnose Firefox issues using Troubleshoot Mode. If Firefox no longer hangs, select Disable All Add-ons and restart. You can then try to enable each add-on one by one to identfiy which add-on is causing the problem.
I can't really do that. Here's why. If I go into safe mode (and I assume you mean Safe Mode with networking since I wouldn't be able to actually go online with just safe mode), I can't use Firefox online because then my anti-spyware and anti-virus programs won't work. I would be taking a risk with my computer. And the problem with it hanging does not happen right away, it will happen after a while, so I would have to spend some time online, surfing, and risking my computer. As suggested above, I did disable my add-ons and restart Firefox, and it did not help. I don't see how safe mode will help that, anyway. Either the add-ons are interfering or not.
No, Firefox Safe mode is meant.
- Help > Restart with Add-ons Disabled
Safe mode is a diagnostic mode that disables all extensions and hardware acceleration and the JavaScript JIT compiler to check some possible error causes.
Oh, I thought you mean Windows safe mode. I already did restart Firefox with add-ons disabled.
That is one of the suggestions in the page mentioned above. I already did all of the things listed there. The link for "Firefox Hangs" https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/Firefox-hangs
Try updating Firefox to the lastest version. You can follow the instructions in the article Update Firefox to the latest release.
If the updated version of Firefox still hangs, try a new profile. Don't worry, your currenty profile will be saved, allowing you to switch back if this doesn't work.
I did download the latest version first thing. Did you not read the first posts and replies?? I will try the profile thing....
- Disable "McAfee ScriptScan for Firefox" extension.
- Close Firefox
- Disable McAfee from your Windows Taskbar.
- Reopen Firefox. Browse the web for about 30-60min.
iMarshmellow மூலமாக திருத்தப்பட்டது
Should I delete the old profile or rename it or what? Thanks
If I disable my antivirus program, then I leave myself open to risk....
As stated above, I did disable ALL of my add-ons and that didn't help.
I have used McAfee for years with no problems with firefox until now.
And also there is no way to disable mcafee in the taskbar as far as I can tell. I would have to reboot with mcafee unchecked in misconfig.
You should keep your old profile until we know what the prolem is. The new profile doesn't need any particular name.
If that doesn't work, you should think about trying what iMarshmellow suggested on a trusted site, like Yahoo or the new York Times.
Sorry, but I don't believe that there are any truly "trusted sites". Any site can be hacked or have an ad with a virus or worm without knowing it. Besides, even if that were true, then that would mean I'd have to give up Firefox. I paid for McAfee...not giving that up. If Firefox can't work with one of the major antivirus programs, then what good is it?
Suzanne Lanoue மூலமாக திருத்தப்பட்டது
We may not even have to take that step. Have you tried a new profile yet?
Okay, the new profile didn't work. It still hangs.
Why does this say SOLVED when it's not???
I've removed the solved status. There is an Undo button if you've clicked the wrong link in the mail by accident.
Did you already update to Firefox 10.0.1?
A possible cause is security software (firewall) that blocks or restricts Firefox or the plugin-container process without informing you, possibly after detecting changes (update) to the Firefox program.
Remove all rules for Firefox from the permissions list in the firewall and let your firewall ask again for permission to get full unrestricted access to internet for Firefox and the plugin-container process and the updater process.
You can check other security software as well.
See:
For the third time, yes, I upgraded to the latest Firefox. I will try that with the windows firewall...