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Firefox 17.0.1 cache activity on multiple hard disks?

  • 3 replies
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  • Last reply by sbozkus

sbozkus
sbozkus
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I upgraded OS of my desktop PC from Win 7 to Win 8 (install from scratch). I also loaded latest version of Firefox 17.0.1 My C system disk is a SSD (therefore no moving parts). I also have a second mechanical hard disk only for data (no software installed on it). I noticed that; when I scroll up & down in any web page (sometimes just moving mouse over active areas) I hear exactly syncronized activity sound from my mechanical hard disk. So Firefox is inducing some read/write activity on that drive (which normaly it shouldn't have anything to do with it). I didn't have this with my previous Win 7 - Firefox 16 combination (on exact same PC setup). I'm only using few extensions (that I've been using on my previous setup as well). It only happens with Firefox. Scrolling in no other software causes such activity on my secondary mechanical disk. So I assume that; Firefox is throwing it's cache operation on every single drive it finds available around. I couldn't find any setting (under Options) to specify location of cache file. May be it's not the cache file; but it's absolutely caused by Firefox. I have a virtually silent PC - currently spoiled by Firefox. Any idea how can I have Firefox run using only the resources of my C (SSD) drive?

I upgraded OS of my desktop PC from Win 7 to Win 8 (install from scratch). I also loaded latest version of Firefox 17.0.1 My C system disk is a SSD (therefore no moving parts). I also have a second mechanical hard disk only for data (no software installed on it). I noticed that; when I scroll up & down in any web page (sometimes just moving mouse over active areas) I hear exactly syncronized activity sound from my mechanical hard disk. So Firefox is inducing some read/write activity on that drive (which normaly it shouldn't have anything to do with it). I didn't have this with my previous Win 7 - Firefox 16 combination (on exact same PC setup). I'm only using few extensions (that I've been using on my previous setup as well). It only happens with Firefox. Scrolling in no other software causes such activity on my secondary mechanical disk. So I assume that; Firefox is throwing it's cache operation on every single drive it finds available around. I couldn't find any setting (under Options) to specify location of cache file. May be it's not the cache file; but it's absolutely caused by Firefox. I have a virtually silent PC - currently spoiled by Firefox. Any idea how can I have Firefox run using only the resources of my C (SSD) drive?

Chosen solution

Further detail : You also have to disable these two options; - Use smooth scrolling - Use hardware accelaration when available These are under: Options>Advanced>General tab>Browsing section

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All Replies (3)

Gingerbread Man
Gingerbread Man
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Firefox stores all your data — including the cache — under your profile folder, which resides on your system disk.

If you want a version of Firefox that stores everything in its installation folder, get Firefox Portable. It's designed to be run off a USB Flash drive, but it can also be installed to a local disk. Just make sure to put it somewhere other than the Program Files folder, because over there, Windows UAC would prevent it from writing and modifying files.

Or if you prefer doing things the hard way, you can relocate most of Firefox's data as described in this thread:

As for finding out what Firefox is doing, you can use Process Monitor. Create a filter for Process name: firefox.exe, then open the Tools menu and choose File Summary to examine disk activity.

sbozkus
sbozkus Question owner
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I managed to solve this problem. Cause was not Firefox actually. It was "Logitech SetPoint 6.5" extension for Firefox. I disabled it. Now my virtualy silent PC is back to life. Thanks Gingerbread_Man for your time and feedback.

sbozkus
sbozkus Question owner
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Chosen Solution

Further detail : You also have to disable these two options; - Use smooth scrolling - Use hardware accelaration when available These are under: Options>Advanced>General tab>Browsing section