Hi, hold down Shift when you start Firefox to start in Safe Mode. More - [[Troubleshoot Firefox issues using Safe Mode]]. -------------------------- If that doesn't help, try performing a ''Clean reinstall''. This means you remove your Firefox program files and then reinstall Firefox. This process does not remove your [[Profiles - Where Firefox stores your bookmarks, passwords and other user data|Firefox profile]] data (such as bookmarks and passwords), since that information is stored in a different location. To do a clean reinstall of Firefox, please follow these steps: '''Note:''' You might want to print these steps or view them in another browser. #Download the latest Desktop version of Firefox from [https://www.mozilla.org mozilla.org] (or choose the download for your operating system and language from [https://www.mozilla.org/firefox/all/ this page]) and save the setup file to your computer. #After the download finishes, close all Firefox windows (or open the Firefox menu [[Image:New Fx Menu]] and click the close button [[Image:Close 29]]). #Delete the Firefox installation folder, which is located in one of these locations, by default: #*'''Windows:''' #**C:\Program Files\Mozilla Firefox #**C:\Program Files (x86)\Mozilla Firefox #*'''Mac:''' Delete Firefox from the Applications folder. #*'''Linux:''' If you installed Firefox with the distro-based package manager, you should use the same way to uninstall it - see [[Installing Firefox on Linux]]. If you downloaded and installed the binary package from the [http://www.mozilla.org/firefox#desktop Firefox download page], simply remove the folder ''firefox'' in your home directory. #Now, go ahead and reinstall Firefox: ##Double-click the downloaded installation file and go through the steps of the installation wizard. ##Once the wizard is finished, choose to directly open Firefox after clicking the Finish button. More information about reinstalling Firefox can be found [[Troubleshoot and diagnose Firefox problems#w_5-reinstall-firefox|here]]. <b>WARNING:</b> Do not use a third party uninstaller as part of this process. Doing so could permanently delete your [[Profiles|Firefox profile]] data, including but not limited to, extensions, cache, cookies, bookmarks, personal settings and saved passwords. <u>These cannot be easily recovered unless they have been backed up to an external device!</u> See [[Back up and restore information in Firefox profiles]]. <!-- Starting in Firefox 31, the Firefox uninstaller no longer lets you remove user profile data.Ref: Bug 432017 and https://support.mozilla.org/kb/uninstall-firefox-from-your-computer/discuss/5279 [Fx31] Windows uninstaller will no longer offer the option to remove personal data --> Please report back to say if this helped you! Thank you.

Hi, Thanks for the suggestions. Safe mode doesn't solve the fundamental problem, but I have reinstalled - this time 64 bit. I will report back in a few days if that has solved the problem. Update on July 29 The problem has not recurred since reinstalling Firefox. And byt he way 64 bit is a big improvement in speed.