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Scroll very slow on v.40 and very fast on v.39

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Linux Mint 17.3 Mate 32 bit Intel P4 3Ghz Noveau or Nvidia drivers doesn't change anything Firefox from scratch, zero addon, plus reset to be sure, and tested also with -safe-mode

PROBLEM: Firefox v.39 is perfect. Firefox from v. 40 is unusable because scrolling a simple html page takes ages. Even the scrolling of the source of the page. But no problem in scrolling the page about:config

What has been added in v.40 that wasn't in v.39? Is there any new feature I can disable to regain the speed of v39? NB: I've already tried the normal options such as those in the advanced tab.

Linux Mint 17.3 Mate 32 bit Intel P4 3Ghz Noveau or Nvidia drivers doesn't change anything Firefox from scratch, zero addon, plus reset to be sure, and tested also with -safe-mode PROBLEM: Firefox v.39 is perfect. Firefox from v. 40 is unusable because scrolling a simple html page takes ages. Even the scrolling of the source of the page. But no problem in scrolling the page about:config What has been added in v.40 that wasn't in v.39? Is there any new feature I can disable to regain the speed of v39? NB: I've already tried the normal options such as those in the advanced tab.

All Replies (11)

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I've also tested Chromium 48.0.2564.116 and no problem. The only application on this computer that has problem scrolling is Firefox 40+

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Firefox 45.0b10 still have this problem but Firefox Developer 46.0a2 is working properly! :-)

So: FF 39 = ok FF 40 = bugged ..... FF 450b10 = still bugged FF 460a2 = OK

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Thank you for the information. Unfortunately this does not help me as the only update available if V45 which does NOT solve the problem

Can anyone, please, suggest how to restore responsiveness? My FF is jerky and unresponsive when I open many tabs on websites like eBay, Amazon, etc.

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At the moment I don't have any other solution. A magic about:config property would be great but I haven't.

However, keep in mind that the problem I'm talking about is quite evident even with a single tab and with a very basic html page. If you notice the problem only with many tabs maybe it's another problem.

Basically at the moment I only know 2 ways: V46 or V39. You can find both in here https://ftp.mozilla.org/pub/firefox/releases/

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ascanio1

By all means follow this thread you may find answers to your problem. However it would be much better simply to ask your own question.

  1. Please use the link /questions/new
  2. Try to follow the prompts to add troubleshooting information.
  3. If you like post in this thread again just to confirm you have posted your own question.

Hi Rik, Sorry it has taken so long to give you any sort of an answer. Ordinarily I could say try testing by turning off hardware acceleration. That is not usually recommended, but sometimes helps

However your initial comments suggest you have already tried safe mode.

I notice from your last question that you are a developer. You may find some of the built in tools useful.

You will already have some sort of test case as you say

is quite evident even with a single tab
and with a very basic html page

Developers have a utility that allows regressions to be found. Basically you set up some sort of simple test and run the mozregression utility. You choose a date range. The utility downloads and starts up Firefox builds, gives you a chance to run your test, asks whether pass/fail. It bisects the range and repeats the cycle until you find the regression point. Now you may file a bug and know what specific changes caused the problem.

Of course it is worth testing first of all on a current Nightly. If that works as it my well given Aurora/Developer Edition does, try to file a bug against Firefox 45. However the problem with that is that you will be filing a bug for something that is actually currently fixed from a Firefox developers perspective.

It probably worth testing with Mozilla Firefox ESR, that's still based on updated Fx38 like Debians Iceweasel and may well scroll and be secure.


P.S. forgot to add the link

Modified by John99

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I did post the question (https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/questions/1101014?utm_campaign=questions-reply&utm_medium=email&utm_source=notification) but although many offered advice, none helped. The last advice that I did not test is to start Windows too (!!) in safe mode. But since I don't experience jerkiness and unresponsiveness with Chrome and IE, I don't want to go to that extent. I'm really upset because I really don't want to revert to IE (that I hate) or Chrome. I'm quit fond of the FF open source concept and idea.

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Hi John,

I already knew what you've talked about but I didn't know about the mozregression; Nice tool! I'll take it into account for the next time (since I've already found the version range good/bad using https://ftp.mozilla.org/pub/firefox/releases/ )

The tools for profiling are in this case useless because even a blank html page scroll at a snail's pace now. It's not a matter of page, it's a matter of something wrong in FF code from V40+.

In v40 they have added: - "Improved scrolling, graphics, and video playback performance with off main thread compositing (GNU/Linux only)"

- "Graphic blocklist mechanism improved: Firefox version ranges can be specified, limiting the number of devices blocked"

Maybe there is something wrong with one of such points. They tried to improve scrolling and on the contrary something went wrong on some other configurations like mine. However not a real problem for me, it's only a spare old computer I use for testing stuff just because it's old age let me see performance problem I cannot spot on my workstation.

Nice meeting you, Rik

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ascanio1 Ahh, Sorry. I noticed two questions against your name, but somehow thought one related to this thread when it was in fact your own question thread, but with a few other people in it.

Ok so it is best to try to stick to that thread.

Please try starting in Windows safemode as was suggested. Note that is fairly easy usually just needing you to press the F8 key about twice a second as you try to boot the computer. It is not in itself anything risky, or permanent it is just a troubleshooting step that helps us rule out (or in ) certain issues you my have with a computer.

Also more detail of the problem.

  • How bad is it, what do you mean by not smooth or jerky. I it freezing up or unable to move for a fraction of a second, or stopping for a few seconds.
  • Is it noticeable on all sites, nearly all sites or only on a few, such as ones with a lot of pictures or very long pages.
  • Have you tried to look at CPU and Memory use while you have this problem ?
  • Have you tried with just Firefox open on you computer,an with only a single tab open on Firefox.

Please actually answer this in the other thread, where I will repeat this question.

Thanks, and sorry if it is is bit inconvenient and repeating things. I am just trying to make the questions easier to follow.

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OK Rick, nice meeting you too & thanks for posting back with the additional information.

Firefox often has changes which cause problems on multiple versions. As an example there have been quite a few shutdown/startup issues over recent versions, currently that's hitting those that clear history automatically. Sometimes changes have knock on effects sometimes we manage to identify the issues better and faster. Telemetry - on by default - in Developer & Nightly reports metrics including startup times. Long hangs as shutdown now trigger crashes and so get picked up in our crash stats.

There will have been quite a lot of changes relating to OMTC so it is probably not surprising that there were sporadic issues on different versions. Linux got it last of all.

The problem is currently fixed from a Firefox viewpoint, and hopefully on the Fx46 Release will be fixed on your problem machine.

We tend not to linked directly to bugs on this forum as it may lead to bug spam with well meaning people posting me too comments or unrelated and superfluous information.

If you do come across something that does not work in Release and Nightly then it is hitting users now, and will continue to do so. In such cases please file a bug. The mozregression tool, is a hidden gem, it narrows the range down with high precision, to change sets, not just releases or point releases and saves a lot of effort compared with trying to do it manually. It's probably still too much to expect the average Firefox user to expend the time and effort to use it so again it is not mentioned much on the support forum.

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No problem, I'm a fan of Firefox. I was one of the guys who helped Firefox 3 to enter the Guinness World Record in the Download Day (17/6/2008) :-) and I always advise my customers to use Firefox. Firefox banners everywhere (even on the company paper).

Developing I always favour Firefox performance when there are multiple JS choices and I know the one that has better performance on FF and slower on other browsers :-) (I prefer to keep silent about internet explorer because I'm bordering on sabotage :-) ).

So, long life to Firefox, the best browser/team out there (or in here) :-) !

See ya!

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John99 said

ascanio1 Ahh, Sorry. I noticed two questions against your name, but somehow thought one related to this thread when it was in fact your own question thread, but with a few other people in it. Ok so it is best to try to stick to that thread. Please try starting in Windows safemode as was suggested. Note that is fairly easy usually just needing you to press the F8 key about twice a second as you try to boot the computer. It is not in itself anything risky, or permanent it is just a troubleshooting step that helps us rule out (or in ) certain issues you my have with a computer. Also more detail of the problem.
  • How bad is it, what do you mean by not smooth or jerky. I it freezing up or unable to move for a fraction of a second, or stopping for a few seconds.
  • Is it noticeable on all sites, nearly all sites or only on a few, such as ones with a lot of pictures or very long pages.
  • Have you tried to look at CPU and Memory use while you have this problem ?
  • Have you tried with just Firefox open on you computer,an with only a single tab open on Firefox.
Please actually answer this in the other thread, where I will repeat this question. Thanks, and sorry if it is is bit inconvenient and repeating things. I am just trying to make the questions easier to follow.

Thank you for helping! I will reply in my thread.