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Firefox RAM usage creeps up as I watch

  • 4 replies
  • 1 has this problem
  • 1 view
  • Last reply by NLKnox

NLKnox
NLKnox
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Running FF 57.0.1 64 bit on a Win7 Pro 64 system with 12GB RAM. Since the recent updates, FF has been running exceptionally slow and, when certain pages are open, RAM usage increases to virtually all available RAM, locking up the computer. Yesterday, 12-5-17, I saw 10.9 GB RAM usage out of 12 GB, with only 3 tabs open and QuickBooks running. One tab was a blog, second tab was Pandora and home tab was Foxnews.com. Fox seems to be the major culprit here, in not playing nice with FF, and I've basically had to sh!t-can viewing it. Odd thing is that I have about the same set-up on my laptop, FF 57.0.1 64 with Win7 Pro 64, yet with 5-8 tabs open, including Foxnews, I have NO problems with RAM usage. Anyone have any clue as to what's going on? FF has been my go-to browser since ver. 2 or 3, and I really hate to dump it, but I will if he keeps behaving like this. Don't really want to use Chrome, but I have no other real option since IE is as bad as it's ever been.

Oh, plug-ins, and add-ons are minimal. Flash is installed, but on-demand only. I have uBlock Origin installed and running. Also, Widevine Decryption by Google and OpenH264 video codec by Cisco and running.

Running FF 57.0.1 64 bit on a Win7 Pro 64 system with 12GB RAM. Since the recent updates, FF has been running exceptionally slow and, when certain pages are open, RAM usage increases to virtually all available RAM, locking up the computer. Yesterday, 12-5-17, I saw 10.9 GB RAM usage out of 12 GB, with only 3 tabs open and QuickBooks running. One tab was a blog, second tab was Pandora and home tab was Foxnews.com. Fox seems to be the major culprit here, in not playing nice with FF, and I've basically had to sh!t-can viewing it. Odd thing is that I have about the same set-up on my laptop, FF 57.0.1 64 with Win7 Pro 64, yet with 5-8 tabs open, including Foxnews, I have NO problems with RAM usage. Anyone have any clue as to what's going on? FF has been my go-to browser since ver. 2 or 3, and I really hate to dump it, but I will if he keeps behaving like this. Don't really want to use Chrome, but I have no other real option since IE is as bad as it's ever been. Oh, plug-ins, and add-ons are minimal. Flash is installed, but on-demand only. I have uBlock Origin installed and running. Also, Widevine Decryption by Google and OpenH264 video codec by Cisco and running.

All Replies (4)

Mkll
Mkll
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Let's give it a refresh!

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.

NLKnox
NLKnox Question owner
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Tried all the suggestions already listed; looking for NEW solutions.

Mkll
Mkll
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Perhaps turn off Multi-process:

To disable e10s/multiprocess go to about:config by typing it in your URL bar. Search for browser.tabs.remote.autostart using the search box on about:config. There may be multiple results. Set them all to false and restart the browser.

NLKnox
NLKnox Question owner
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2 instances of browser.tabs.remote.autostart; both at false already.