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slowness/"not responding" - standard suggestions don't help

  • 10 replies
  • 1 has this problem
  • 1 view
  • Last reply by Pedro

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Using FF52.5.2ESR (32bit) as FF57 sux big time and 56 - which was fine - is tagged as no longer secure.

After almost every keystroke, FF goes inanimate for 20-30 seconds. (Even makes typing this post painful). Cursor moves freely but does nothing, (mouse-) scrolling doesn't work. Often but not always the "Not responding" banner appears. Monitoring resource usage shows FF peaking at about 8% CPU and RAM usage isn't showing as an issue. This is driving me around the bend - the only comic relief is watching England in the Ashes.

Suggestions before I dump FF and try Opera?

Using FF52.5.2ESR (32bit) as FF57 sux big time and 56 - which was fine - is tagged as no longer secure. After almost every keystroke, FF goes inanimate for 20-30 seconds. (Even makes typing this post painful). Cursor moves freely but does nothing, (mouse-) scrolling doesn't work. Often but not always the "Not responding" banner appears. Monitoring resource usage shows FF peaking at about 8% CPU and RAM usage isn't showing as an issue. This is driving me around the bend - the only comic relief is watching England in the Ashes. Suggestions before I dump FF and try Opera?

All Replies (10)

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So which one needs help ?

uninstall Firefox. Then Delete the Mozilla Firefox Folders in C:\Program Files and C:\Program Files(x86) Then restart system. download and install it from this page: https://www.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/organizations/all/ ESR Note : Legacy Extensions will be deleted or removed in any version update after May 2018.

You should make a backup of your Profile before going back and just because: https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/back-and-restore-information-firefox-profiles

https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/export-firefox-bookmarks-to-backup-or-transfer

If running both of these on the same system there is conflicts and sharing the same profile.

Update Video Card Drivers.

Repair System Registry and Files

(FOR DOING Above & Below - WINDOWS All OTHER VERSIONS - Use Search To Find Command Prompt ** Enter CMD.exe to Find COMMAND PROMPT Then Right Click & RUN AS ADMIN)

To run the SFC command use the Windows key + X keyboard shortcut to open the Power User menu and select Command Prompt (Admin). Type "SFC /SCANNOW" (without quotes or copy/paste) and press Enter. For more information on using SFC, please refer to the Microsoft KB: Use the System File Checker tool to repair missing or corrupted system files

Run the Windows Deployment Image Servicing and Management (DISM) and System File Checker (SFC) tools as Administrator. The DISM and SFC tools scan the integrity of the Windows image and all protected system files replaces corrupted, damaged and incorrect versions. (FOR DOING Above & Below - WINDOWS All OTHER VERSIONS - Use Search To Find Command Prompt ** Enter CMD.exe to Find COMMAND PROMPT Then Right Click & RUN AS ADMIN) Type "DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth" (without quotes or copy/paste) and press Enter.

Note : SFC fixes files locally using files found on your system. Note : DISM goes up to Microsoft for new ones.

https://www.howtogeek.com/tag/windows-7/ https://www.sevenforums.com/ https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/forums/f/167/windows-7/

Fyi : Some info to maybe make 57+ less suck https://www.howtogeek.com/333805/how-to-change-or-customize-firefoxs-new-tab-page/ https://www.howtogeek.com/333110/how-to-customize-firefox-quantum-and-remove-the-white-space-around-the-title-bar/ https://www.howtogeek.com/333230/why-firefox-had-to-kill-your-favorite-extension/ https://mozilla.github.io/extension-finder/ https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/extensions/

https://www.howtogeek.com/334716/how-to-customize-firefoxs-user-interface-with-userchrome.css/ http://techdows.com/2017/09/classic-theme-restorer-userchrome-css-modify-firefox-57-photon-ui.html https://github.com/wilfredwee/photon-australis

Please let us know if this solved your issue or if need further assistance.

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Which one needs help? The one I said I'm using - FF52.5.2ESR

I can see this turning into a real c-f. Can't even back up (export) my bookmarks. That linked article states "click the bookmarks button and select 'show all bookmarks' ..."

There simply isn't a bookmarks button in (my) FF52ESR. Where it used to be in FF56 there is a "sidebars" button which allows viewing bookmarks, but that's no help.

Modified by Pedro

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I'm sure the advice offered was well-intentioned, but it looks like a copy-and-paste mish-mash of bits which seem out of sequence and somewhat confusing, for non-geeks at least.

  • If saving (backing up) profile, exporting (backing up) bookmarks is included in that step. Why link to both as separate steps?
  • If uninstalling Firefox, how is it envisaged that we then download it afresh or even source updated video drivers? Another machine? This one has had Internet Exploder gutted to preclude its operation, accidental or otherwise. Should the downloader/stub be obtained before uninstalling? If so, why put uninstall Firefox at the start?
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pedro_2000 said

Which one needs help? The one I said I'm using - FF52.5.2ESR I can see this turning into a real c-f. Can't even back up (export) my bookmarks. That linked article states "click the bookmarks button and select 'show all bookmarks' ..." There simply isn't a bookmarks button in (my) FF52ESR. Where it used to be in FF56 there is a "sidebars" button which allows viewing bookmarks, but that's no help.

Mouse to the top of the Browser and Right Click Menu Bar. You can now do as suggested.

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Every thing above the fyi : Is to be followed and is not a miss mash and is copy paste. How many of these do you think get answered in a day. ?

If you can not follow the fact it says before you do.....then sit and wait for other help. As more waiting for help and not complaining about the information. It is there for you to do. Not me. So follow it or not.

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Since I redid all my reply's after Release of ver 57. You have been the only person to not like the fact that the answer is 1st and the cautionary is 2nd.

When the cautionary is 1st people complain. So 1st to complain for info 1st. I will take that as a great sign then that cautionary 2nd works. Thank You.

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OK so far I have:

  • downloaded the 52.5.0ESR installer
  • saved profile folder
  • uninstalled FF
  • deleted folder in C:/Program Files
  • reinstalled FF52ESR
  • run SFC and DISM
  • from Device Manager->Driver have let Windows check for later driver (too many driver sites are full of shite) and it came back eventually with "the driver currently installed is the latest version"
  • done a "Refresh" and reloaded the three plugins I use.

Currently delays/freezes are far more frequent but about 10-12 secs each time. Things like moving the insert point when typing this is invariably a ten sec delay each time.

Opening a new tab from a link shows the whirly activity thing on the tab frozen until the delay expires.

Edit: and still the "not responding" across the top every couple of minutes.

Modified by Pedro

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Hi

I appreciate that you wish to use Firefox 52, but you will see a significant performance improvement with Firefox Quantum.

You may wish to run the defragmentation tool that is in Windows as a first step, further to wish you may wish to run a "refresh" of Firefox.

The Refresh feature (called "Reset" in older Firefox versions) can fix many issues by restoring Firefox to its factory default state while saving your bookmarks, history, passwords, cookies, and other essential information.

Note: When you use this feature, you will lose any extensions, toolbar customizations, and some preferences. See the Refresh Firefox - reset add-ons and settings article for more information.

To Refresh Firefox:

  1. Open the Troubleshooting Information page using one of these methods:
    • Click the menu button New Fx Menu, click help Help-29 and select Troubleshooting Information. A new tab containing your troubleshooting information should open.
    • If you're unable to access the Help menu, type about:support in your address bar to bring up the Troubleshooting Information page.
  2. At the top right corner of the page, you should see a button that says "Refresh Firefox" ("Reset Firefox" in older Firefox versions). Click on it.
  3. Firefox will close. After the refresh process is completed, Firefox will show a window with the information that is imported.
  4. Click Finish and Firefox will reopen.

Did this fix the problem? Please report back to us!

Thank you.

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If you actually read what I posted above, you would have seen that I did a Refresh after reinstalling FF52ESR.

Furthermore, I do not wish to use FF52 at all. I had been happily using FF56 without any issues, then I "upgraded" to FF57 aka Quantum. But I found it slower than FF56, and that's when my issues started. I reverted to 56 but the issues followed me. When I posted elsewhere in this forum re my 57 experience, I was pointed to FF52ESR as 56 was not considered secure any more. The issues persisted, in fact becoming worse.

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Does this crash info point anywhere relevant?

Problem signature:

 Problem Event Name:	APPCRASH
 Application Name:	firefox.exe
 Application Version:	52.5.2.6549
 Application Timestamp:	5a2841e4
 Fault Module Name:	mozglue.dll
 Fault Module Version:	52.5.2.6549
 Fault Module Timestamp:	5a2841d6
 Exception Code:	80000003
 Exception Offset:	0000f7f0
 OS Version:	6.1.7601.2.1.0.256.1
 Locale ID:	3081
 Additional Information 1:	0a9e
 Additional Information 2:	0a9e372d3b4ad19135b953a78882e789
 Additional Information 3:	0a9e
 Additional Information 4:	0a9e372d3b4ad19135b953a78882e789