My version of FF no longer works with FB (and quite a few other sites)
Today I see that FB fails to load my profile photo album. I get a spinning circle, description and comments section to the right is blank (or photo loads but no description). I check my connection activity, it's basically at 10 kbps. I run some speed tests, no problem.
So I go to MS Edge, everything on FB loads in an instant.
So the problem is FF. And that's on top of the 50%-100% of CPU that every click on FB produces. I compared it with Edge, 5%-50% of CPU.
So before I give up on FF and switch to Edge, can someone recommend another version of FF that is relatively lightweight for a low spec laptop? The latest version is a no go, as I understand it needs at least 8-16 GB of memory (!).
Thank you.
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At least you need to download the full installer and do a custom install in a different folder if you want to keep the old 52 version.
- https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/custom-installation-firefox-on-windows
- https://www.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/all/#product-desktop-release
What is wrong with setting the new version as the default browser or do you only want to use it for cases like this where 52 doesn't work ?
Firefox usually asks if you want to set Firefox as the default browser, so you can decline if you do not want to set the new version as the default browser.
You need to start Firefox at least the first time with the -P switch to get the Profile Manager and create a new profile. The new Firefox version should remember this choice and you can start it without using the Profile Manager (i.e. remove the -P command line switch). To be sure that Firefox 52 isn't using the new profile you need to start Firefox 52 once with the -P switch and make sure that you tick the box to always use this profile.
- https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/profile-manager-create-remove-switch-firefox-profiles
- https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/dedicated-profiles-firefox-installation
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I forgot to mention, the version I'm using is 52.8.1
It is quite possible that Facebook no longer supports Firefox 52. On a 32-bit platform you can only have 4 GB memory and Firefox should still work properly on such a platform. Recent Firefox versions should still work on Windows 7, so maybe try Firefox 78 ESR with a new profile. Firefox 78.3.1 ESR:
- https://www.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/all/#product-desktop-esr
- https://www.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/78.3.1/releasenotes/
- https://www.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/78.3.1/system-requirements/
You can possibly limit the number of content processes to 1.
Thank you. That's what I was looking for, a specific updated version.
Now the question is, how do I run a new version of FF, leaving the original version (and folders) intact. That's not so simple, having just researched the topic. For one thing, Windows registry treats the newly installed version as the default browser.
I'm going to find out more, from this topic: http://forums.mozillazine.org/viewtopic.php?f=23&t=2249039 One solution might be to start the new version from the command C: prompt (oh boy).
I replied, but it has to be "approved" by a moderator.
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At least you need to download the full installer and do a custom install in a different folder if you want to keep the old 52 version.
- https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/custom-installation-firefox-on-windows
- https://www.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/all/#product-desktop-release
What is wrong with setting the new version as the default browser or do you only want to use it for cases like this where 52 doesn't work ?
Firefox usually asks if you want to set Firefox as the default browser, so you can decline if you do not want to set the new version as the default browser.
You need to start Firefox at least the first time with the -P switch to get the Profile Manager and create a new profile. The new Firefox version should remember this choice and you can start it without using the Profile Manager (i.e. remove the -P command line switch). To be sure that Firefox 52 isn't using the new profile you need to start Firefox 52 once with the -P switch and make sure that you tick the box to always use this profile.
Thank you.
Out of curiosity, what happens if I choose not to create a new profile (as in my case there's really no problem with extensions, no troubleshooting etc)? The new version will take and use my existing profile? And if I uninstall the new version later?
It is not possible to downgrade a profile used by Firefox 81.0.2 to Firefox 52. Once used by Firefox 81.0.2 then this profile won't work properly in 52. If you want to keep the option to return to 52 or want to use both versions then you need a separate profile for each version.
Thanks so much. Very helpful info.
Btw, the reason I want to keep FF as my primary browser is its bookmarks capability. Second to none. I use them and organize them a lot.
Just a heads up. I updated to 68.12 ESR and I notice improvement, memory usage went slightly up (about 1 GB for 2 tabs, FB and Yahoo mail), but CPU usage went down to 0%-50%. No more overheating fan going on constantly.
I'll wait and see if I should update to 78 ESR.
One thing though, I see FF did away with "Description" in Bookmarks. Not "Keyword" or "Tags", the extra "description" for each bookmark. People used that to add notes to certain bookmarks and it was very helpful (example, you apply to job ads and could put notes of when, replies etc.) Perhaps I'll post that question in a separate thread.