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v10 is slow and hangs, how do I downgrade to v9 to get a working browser again?

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  • Last reply by John99

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I have just had the automatic upgrade install v10 of Firefox. It is now very slow, often hangs for long periods at 100% CPU, cannot be interrupted. I cannot click on buttons or links for 10s of seconds after a page load. It is now basically a non-interactive application.

I have just had the automatic upgrade install v10 of Firefox. It is now very slow, often hangs for long periods at 100% CPU, cannot be interrupted. I cannot click on buttons or links for 10s of seconds after a page load. It is now basically a non-interactive application.

Chosen solution

Downgrading is not recommended in ordinary situations. At the current moment with Firefox 10 automatic updates suspended that could be an exception, but if there is an emergency chemspill release as an update you then miss out on that. Advanced users may consider installing multiple versions of firefox, a simpler method would be to install firefox portable 9 as an additional browser to use for the next few days whilst trying to investigate any hangs, and waiting for any revised further upgrade to a newer version of Firefox 10.


edit
In fact firefox 9 portable, may sensibly; not be easily available either, as it is now an unsupported version. (I also sent you a Private Message look at inbox)

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Chosen Solution

Downgrading is not recommended in ordinary situations. At the current moment with Firefox 10 automatic updates suspended that could be an exception, but if there is an emergency chemspill release as an update you then miss out on that. Advanced users may consider installing multiple versions of firefox, a simpler method would be to install firefox portable 9 as an additional browser to use for the next few days whilst trying to investigate any hangs, and waiting for any revised further upgrade to a newer version of Firefox 10.


edit
In fact firefox 9 portable, may sensibly; not be easily available either, as it is now an unsupported version. (I also sent you a Private Message look at inbox)

Modified by John99

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Note version 10.0.1 of firefox is expected to be released very soon; probably on Friday 10th Feb. and should be available also as an upgrade from Firefox 9.

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This has improved significantly by deleting my places database as recommended in Firefox hangs or is not responding - How to fix .

Modified by arushton

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Opt in for sending data to firefox, the data is anonymous and helps developers looking at such problems. If you also use the about:telemetry option from the add-on https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/fire.../abouttelemetry/ then you see a graphical representation of that data it may be of use if some knowledgeable person is to assist with the troubleshooting.

I do not have the specialised knowledge, although I may be interested in the results, but will probably not be online much now until next week.

You may also need to consider memory usage & amount of RAM and page file use.

One of the problems Firefox 10.0.1 is addressing is hangs, possibly hangs related to java use, so that upgrade may help.

The data sending option may not be fully and openly documented at the moment but use, I think:

If you make a habit of deleting and therefore rebuilding the places.sqlite database at least take the precaution of manually backing up your bookmarks before doing that