also as a side note. I did have to remove flash just to verify that it was not the culprit. I even did a fresh install of windows installed only the antivirus and firewall. I installed firefox 3.6.6 rebooted and the crashes started all over again. So This tells me that it has to be the install of fire fox causing the problems. The fresh install doesn't include anything at all but the drivers firewall anti-virus. I don't install anything else unless it is what i am checking.

Doug, Not a solution at all but just a curiosity........

Do you have any problems when using 3.6.3, the last version before the container plugin came along?

No I did not. I Think the problem may just be something wrong with the installation it is doing. I didn't even have any problems with 3.6.4 The problems started with 3.6.6

Ok, Doug. First it was plugin-container. Now it is Firefox 3.6.6 installation process.

You say Firefox 3.6.4 worked with no problem. Here is what changed between Firefox 3.6.4 and 3.6.6:

What’s New in Firefox 3.6.6 Firefox 3.6.6 modifies the crash protection feature to increase the amount of time that plugins are allowed to be non-responsive before being terminated. And that, Doug, is the whole story. Source: https://www.mozilla.com/en-US/firefox/3.6.6/releasenotes/ (click on "What's new in Firefox 3.6.6").

If you click on "complete list of changes" just below that you get this: https://bugzilla.mozilla.org/buglist.cgi?quicksearch=ALL%20status1.9.2%3A.6-fixed

One item in the configuration file (about:config), dom.ipc.plugins.timeoutSecs , was changed from 10 seconds to 45 seconds and that makes your computer crash???

No more responses from me. Maybe some other volunteer will step in.

as I stated it has something to do with the installation. I installed 3.6.6 copied the files to another folder uninstalled it installed 3.6.4 copied the files to the folder it works fine. It has something wrong with the installation.

Also be advised I am not one to sit while others try to figure out what my problems are I am busy on this end trying different things to diagnose what is going on. If it has something to do with just my computer I will post it here. But so far everything points to just the installation process.

Well, I disabled the plugin container using the advice from above. Starting up firefox with nothing running flash causes it to use about 100mb of memory. Once I started running something using flash, it kept climbing until I ended the process when it hit 500mb. After closing the tab, the mem dropped to about 234mb and hasn't moved since. However, I can run that process on a laptop with the same version of flash (as well as the same version of firefox) without it using anywhere near as much memory. Also, this was not a problem until i did a system restore.

I did another complete restore reinstalled firefox 3.6.6 the problem was fixed. I don't even have a problem with plugin container anymore. You might want to see if removing cleaning all firefox information out of your registry helps. This was the 4th time doing a complete restore. This was the first without installing a previous version first.

use google chrome i wont take a look back at firefox. mozilla has took a good browser and made it into crap.

tony Firefox user

use google chrome i wont take a look back at firefox. mozilla has took a good browser and made it into crap.

Good idea. I took your advice and tried Chrome. It's fine.

John Former FireFox user

john glad you like it i love it and am never using mozilla firefox again :) welcome aboard to a stable browser.

Firefox is too bloated. It has been deteriorating, but I still prefer it to Chrome ... and IE is about as secure as an open barn door.

Running noscript considerably improves performance and reduces crashes, but it still grinds along. I run multiple machines, all with firefox, and on different connections / networks. So this is 'not imagined'

Plugincontainer.exe makes this worse, although theory is sound.

Perhaps, a suggestion, is of someone has a good stable low memory use config for those of us running normal P4s and P3s not in the giga and tera stratosphere (that's most of us at work or on notebooks)... they could post it.

It's impossible to make softwae fit everyone. but perhaps a lightweight normal browser with plugins you can add would be ideal. This is what Firefox WAS. So a sort of 'renaissance' Firefox code base.

This may exist. But it would be nice if we could find it. I for one don't really want Google and MS to control everything...!

Can't believe Mozilla blundered this badly. Between Firefox and plugin-container.exe hogging my CPU, my 'puter barely runs. It's like having an old 1980s Commodore, for crying out loud. Much as I don't want to, I'm off to IE or Google.

FIX IT OR I AM GOING TO REMOVE IT! IT CRASHES MY SYSTEM EVERY TIME I PLAY FARM TOWN OR ANY OTHER GAME.

Thanks for the link AHappyFoxUser, I'll definitely have to try that one.

I notice that it's not so much crashes that I'm having a problem with as much as hangs. Before plug-in container crashes something (or protects firefox from being crashed when a plug-in crashes) that the browser hangs for at least 10 minutes before this happens and 15 - 20 minutes (at least) afterward.

Does anyone know what to do about this short of disabling plug-in container? Because I like the theory of it, just not the fact.

i no how to fix it remove the crappy browser from computer.

To be fair, I've used Chrome and it's pretty dull and basic. I like the options that Firefox has. BUT I refuse to recommend it to anybody until this memory hogging issue is resolved. Thank you, and have a nice day.

PS - This problem actually stems more from the way the browser handles Adobe Flash 10.

@TXGuy and KurosakisTwin first i will debate TXGuy little post on how a hacker created a plug in to exploit chrome. first and for most any browser that uses plugins can have a program created to steel passwords. that is why it is crucial that you now and trust the artist creating the program. research and time to look at its contents of his plug in before you use it. that said even mozilla plugins can take out your browser. now at KurosakisTwin the issue you speak of is most likly chromes multi-process architecture. and also chrome tabs are another instance of the browser hint is why you see multiple chrome.exe in your task manager it is by design.

FIX that issue and fast!

Hello everyone.

Issues of this sort are, unfortunately, more common and the we'd like them to be. However, they tend not to be cause by Firefox itself, but rather by software that is running either inside or alongside it, such as add-ons or firewalls. Since these issues have a broad span of possible causes, you need to diagnose your problems before fixing them. Follow these instructions to the line, as they'll probably help you diagnose and fix the problems you're having.

1. run Firefox in safe-mode to disable all extensions, themes and plugins. If this fixes your problem, be it with RAM or CPU usage, then you know it's a problem with add-ons (plugins, themes or extensions). Proceed to number 2. If safe-mode doesn't fix your problem, then read bellow, after this list;
2. update all extensions (go into Tools > Add-ons > Extensions > Find Updates), themes and plugins (see this page in your Firefox. If this doesn't solve the issues, proceed to the following number;
3. disable all extensions, themes and plugins in your Firefox (not running safe-mode). This is temporary and for diagnostic purposes only. Being certain that, as in safe-mode, the problems you're having have gone away, enable one plugin at a time. You should be certain that you actually want that plugin to be enabled. It's best to keep the overall number of enabled plugins as low as possible. When you encounter problems, you know you've found a problematic plugin, so disable it for good. Keep enabling all plugins (except problematic ones) until you've gone through them all. If you need support for a problematic plugin, you need to contact its author for support;
4. enable one extension at a time. Again, be certain that you actually want that extension to be enabled. As with plguins, it's best to keep the overall number of enabled extensions as low as possible. Also, try the theme you want to have installed so see if that is what's causing the problem. When you encounter problems, you know you've found a problematic extension/theme, so disable it for good. Keep enabling all your extensions (except problematic ones) until you've gone through them all. Just the same as with plugins, if you need support for a problematic extension/plugin, you need to contact its author;
5. if you've followed my instructions above, you're done! You've fixed your problems with problematic add-ons. If you want to keep using those problematic add-ons, please contant their authors for support.

Ok, now... If disabling all extensions and plugins through safe-mode didn't work to fix your problems (or, in other words, if you've just read number 1 on the list above and come straight here), then you have different issue. The most likely scenario is that you have a third party software running on your computer that is messing with Firefox. Detecting which program it is may be tricky, but the following list should help you. Make sure you follow it carefully. Don't forget to answer the question on the last point, if nothing else helps.

1. try reinstalling Firefox. No data will be lost. You can get the latest version (for free, as always) at getfirefox.com. Make sure you uninstall Firefox prior to reinstalling it. For help installing Firefox, see this support article. If that doesn't fix the problem, proceed;
2. do a virus/malware check on your computer. See this support article for help on this point. This is a very important step, so please pay attention to it. If your problem is not due to viruses/malware, proceed;
3. disable all software running in the background that you don't want to have running in the background (in Windows operating systems, this is done by pressing WINDOWS+R in your keyboard, typing msconfig and pressing Enter; now, under the Startup tab, you can uncheck the software you don't want, and reboot your system for changes to take effect; if you're unsure of what software you want running, ask someone with more experience). If this doesn't fix your issues with Firefox, proceed;
4. check if your firewall/antivirus/security suite is conflicting in any way with Firefox's normal behavior. Check for enabled functions/features that you don't want and/or may be causing problems with Firefox. You'll find that these features are most likely tied to Internet Security features, such as link scanners or URL checkers and the like. If you're not sure they are conflicting with Firefox, simply try to disable them temporarily to see whether or not that's true. If this doesn't solve the issues, proceed to the following number;
5. check your operating system security options, mainly advanced options that are not configured by default. While it's very unlikely that this may be the cause of the problem, it's remotely possible. If this doesn't work, proceed to the following point;
6. update your modem/router software. There have been some reports that some modem/router software may cause Firefox and other browsers to loose performance and/or stability. If updating doesn't fix your issue, try other versions of the software, if possible. If you need support with this, contact your modem/router manufacturer. If this doesn't help, proceed;
7. if you are using a Windows operating system, clean up your OS registry using appropriate software. There have been reports that badly maintained Windows Registries may case problems with Firefox. If this doesn't help, see the following point;
8. please try creating a new temporary Firefox profile (managing profiles) and see if the issues persist. Please report the results, so we can help you further.