firefox 23 causing system reboots???
Started about 2 weeks ago. Windows 8 system. Normal usage is boot, go to desktop, review e-mails, and normally select one or more and links in them to open FF. As I read a page most of the time the system WILL reboot. Sometimes it will happen once I either try to change tabs or close FF. On a few occasions I've just had the system lock, and twice the display was corrupted with many multi-colored lines. Both of these require a manual power off and on.
Interestingly, once this happens the system is SOLID the rest of the day and it doesn't happen again until the next day.
My wife's computer (different system) basically locks up once a day when using FF 23. Doesn't happen again until the next day, but it doesn't happen every day?
Very confused.
I've run Dell diagnostics on both computers, no errors. I've replaced the network and video drivers. I've updated the MS updates again yesterday. Ran Malware checks and Norton ISS 2013 protects this computer.
If my wife didn't have a FF problem I'd be suspecting h/w problems, but on both systems?
Irv S.
Chosen solution
Well, it was a 'heat' issue...
Could NOT determine the true cause however. A lot of possible culprits. Fans, CPU (and heatsink/fan), or case fans. Even possibly a loose cable (suspect power). Unfortunately, it usually occurred when FireFox was being used.
Basically I decided to open the case (desktop, never moved) and look at the connectors. Saw a LOT of dust on the PSU intake fan, both intake and exhaust fan on the case, the CPU fan and caked dust on the part of the heatsink I could see. Video card installed made it impossible to see the fan. I used compressed air to clean what I could see.
Left the case open, turned on the computer and it DID not drop and reboot... Good...
Got a program that read the fan speeds and temps. Video card read 80C and CPU 48C. Both I thought were hot compared to a similar system my wife has (different CPU, only a few degrees cooler, and different video card, significantly cooler).
After 2 days of working fine with the case open and knowing the temps, I decided to remove the CPU fan and intake cowl. The heatsink was completely blocked by caked dust. Brushed that clean. Removed the video card so I could clean its duct and fan. Put that back, powered up and checked temps. CPU is 5 - 7C cooler and matches my wife's computer. No change on the Video card temp?
Program, AIDA64, will also stress the system or components and graph temp and fan speed. Did that and the video did show the temp go up and down between 79C and 85C with the fan speed changing to make those changes. I've seen others with these high temps on an ATI HD 4780, so I accepted it as working.
Left the case open for a few days and watched when using FF, but it didn't seem to change any temps of fan speeds?
OK, closed the system up, and since then NO DROPS... SOLVED... do not know the specific problem/fix thought other than to say it was 'heat related'.
Thanks for the help attempts though.
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Boot your SYSTEM in Safemode by Holding the F8 key and check whether its related to Hardware or Firefox.
How would I know the difference? W8 is also 'tough' to get to safemode, have to boot to normal mode first.
I did see a reference to the USE H/W ACCELERATION possibly causing this? I had it on, as did my wife's system. I've reset them and will see tomorrow?
Chosen Solution
Well, it was a 'heat' issue...
Could NOT determine the true cause however. A lot of possible culprits. Fans, CPU (and heatsink/fan), or case fans. Even possibly a loose cable (suspect power). Unfortunately, it usually occurred when FireFox was being used.
Basically I decided to open the case (desktop, never moved) and look at the connectors. Saw a LOT of dust on the PSU intake fan, both intake and exhaust fan on the case, the CPU fan and caked dust on the part of the heatsink I could see. Video card installed made it impossible to see the fan. I used compressed air to clean what I could see.
Left the case open, turned on the computer and it DID not drop and reboot... Good...
Got a program that read the fan speeds and temps. Video card read 80C and CPU 48C. Both I thought were hot compared to a similar system my wife has (different CPU, only a few degrees cooler, and different video card, significantly cooler).
After 2 days of working fine with the case open and knowing the temps, I decided to remove the CPU fan and intake cowl. The heatsink was completely blocked by caked dust. Brushed that clean. Removed the video card so I could clean its duct and fan. Put that back, powered up and checked temps. CPU is 5 - 7C cooler and matches my wife's computer. No change on the Video card temp?
Program, AIDA64, will also stress the system or components and graph temp and fan speed. Did that and the video did show the temp go up and down between 79C and 85C with the fan speed changing to make those changes. I've seen others with these high temps on an ATI HD 4780, so I accepted it as working.
Left the case open for a few days and watched when using FF, but it didn't seem to change any temps of fan speeds?
OK, closed the system up, and since then NO DROPS... SOLVED... do not know the specific problem/fix thought other than to say it was 'heat related'.
Thanks for the help attempts though.