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Video driver error

  • 3 replies
  • 1 has this problem
  • 3 views
  • Last reply by guigs

bender01
bender01
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I got a problem, only once but it was a worrisome error: I did a search on YouTube then Firefox froze, then the screen went black, and the resolution was changed, the colors were "bitmap-like" (pixelated and limited) and a window said that there was an error with the ATI driver. I opened Task Manager and saw that Firefox was using 50% of the CPU: I tried to shut down the process but it didn't work. Then I restarted the computer and it was all ok.

Now I noticed in Task Manager that Firefox uses a lot of memory but I'm not sure if the same as before: if Firefox is closed and I open it, with Google being the initial page, the memory is at 250 MB (right now it is at 280 MB). And when I'm playing a YouTube video the plugin-container process takes another 140 MB. I tried with the safe-mode and Firefox takes 170 MB and plugin-container 150 MB while playing a video (approximately). Is it normal?

I have: - Windows XP; - latest version of Firefox (32.0.3); - the only active add-on is AdBlock (+ 2 inactive ones); - the only active plugin is Shockwave Flash, updated (+ 5 inactive ones); - Core2 2.40 GHz and 2 GB of RAM.

I got a problem, only once but it was a worrisome error: I did a search on YouTube then Firefox froze, then the screen went black, and the resolution was changed, the colors were "bitmap-like" (pixelated and limited) and a window said that there was an error with the ATI driver. I opened Task Manager and saw that Firefox was using 50% of the CPU: I tried to shut down the process but it didn't work. Then I restarted the computer and it was all ok. Now I noticed in Task Manager that Firefox uses a lot of memory but I'm not sure if the same as before: if Firefox is closed and I open it, with Google being the initial page, the memory is at 250 MB (right now it is at 280 MB). And when I'm playing a YouTube video the plugin-container process takes another 140 MB. I tried with the safe-mode and Firefox takes 170 MB and plugin-container 150 MB while playing a video (approximately). Is it normal? I have: - Windows XP; - latest version of Firefox (32.0.3); - the only active add-on is AdBlock (+ 2 inactive ones); - the only active plugin is Shockwave Flash, updated (+ 5 inactive ones); - Core2 2.40 GHz and 2 GB of RAM.

All Replies (3)

guigs
guigs
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Please check to make sure that your ATI driver is up to date. You can refer to these troubleshooting steps to make sure that you are on the right track: *http://wer.microsoft.com/responses/Re.../5.1.2600.0.00000000.9.9?SGD=0b228d97-e753-4c23-bd09-4999a1c96cf0#here

You can also make sure it is updated in Firefox:

Does this also happen after updating to version 33?

bender01
bender01 Question owner
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I already have the latest version of the driver for my video card.

The error happened only once, with previous version of Firefox (32.0.3).

guigs
guigs
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Hi bender, I am happy to hear it did not happen again. It seems now the question is if it is normal for the memory to be 250 MB on start up and lower in safe mode. However the plugin container takes more memory in Safe Mode. In Safe Mode, add ons are actually the only disabled type, not extensions.