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Firefox 26 starts, sucks CPU and memory, no window

  • 6 replies
  • 33 have this problem
  • 25 views
  • Last reply by John99

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I just updated to version 26. When I start Firefox 26 it never opens, but according to Windows 7's Task Manager it is using between 45 and 50% of CPU and about 565,000k of memory. The only change I've made is the update from version 25 to 26.

      • Correction: After an hour the window opened! I closed it without doing any browsing, and when I looked in the Task Manager Processes tab it still held on to 565,140k or memory, though it wasn't using any CPU. After an hour it still hadn't released the memory

I tried a suggestion in another post to remove the rules for Firefox from my Norton Internet Utilities firewall, start Firefox and let the firewall ask for permission. However, Norton added it back to the program rules as Allow without asking for permission.

I use Firefox almost exclusively and have had to use Google Chrome to submit this.
I just updated to version 26. When I start Firefox 26 it never opens, but according to Windows 7's Task Manager it is using between 45 and 50% of CPU and about 565,000k of memory. The only change I've made is the update from version 25 to 26. *** Correction: After an hour the window opened! I closed it without doing any browsing, and when I looked in the Task Manager Processes tab it still held on to 565,140k or memory, though it wasn't using any CPU. After an hour it still hadn't released the memory I tried a suggestion in another post to remove the rules for Firefox from my Norton Internet Utilities firewall, start Firefox and let the firewall ask for permission. However, Norton added it back to the program rules as Allow without asking for permission. I use Firefox almost exclusively and have had to use Google Chrome to submit this.

All Replies (6)

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It is possible that your security software (firewall, anti-virus) blocks or restricts Firefox or the plugin-container process without informing you, possibly after detecting changes (update) to the Firefox program.

Remove all rules for Firefox and the plugin-container from the permissions list in the firewall and let your firewall ask again for permission to get full unrestricted access to internet for Firefox and the plugin-container process and the updater process.

See:

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I had already tried this: "Remove all rules for Firefox and the plugin-container from the permissions list in the firewall and let your firewall ask again for permission to get full unrestricted access to internet for Firefox and the plugin-container process and the updater process."

None of the other links were helpful.

I tried shutting off the firewall, and it took nearly 15 minutes to connect as it chewed up process memory and had 46% of the CPU. It wasn't until it had about 455,900k of the memory that I got the session manager box.

Attached is a screen print of all the extensions installed.

It appears that I'm not the only one with this problem.

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I do experience the same as NotAmish posted

You keep updating Firefox but the more you do, the more it sucks!

I do experience this from both home, Windows 7 home edition, Avast antivirus and work, Windows XP professional, McAfee antivirus.

Firefox won't open or when it opens it will eventually stops responding...

Not mentioning the CPU usage! Scary!

Congratulations you made it worst than Internet Explorer. I can hear the guys from Microsoft laughing from California... I'm living on the East Coast by the way.

I tried every suggestions developpers suggested, installed many pluggins and so, restarted Firefox many times in reset mode. Now I give up!

I tried Chrome and I'm not very impressed.

I might just purchase a McBook and switch to Safari.

Firefox was great until 15.0 afterwards you made it worse and worse.

So after saying good bye Microsoft (I use Open Office) it looks like it is time to say good bye Firefox.

One last thing, if it's ain't broken why trying to fix it?

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Try starting Firefox in Safe Mode. While in safe mode;

=============================

Try disabling graphics hardware acceleration. Since this feature was added to Firefox, it has gradually improved, but there still are a few glitches.

You might need to restart Firefox in order for this to take effect, so save all work first (e.g., mail you are composing, online documents you're editing, etc.).

Then perform these steps:

  • Click the orange Firefox button at the top left, then select the "Options" button, or, if there is no Firefox button at the top, go to Tools > Options.
  • In the Firefox options window click the Advanced tab, then select "General".
  • In the settings list, you should find the Use hardware acceleration when available checkbox. Uncheck this checkbox.
  • Now, restart Firefox and see if the problems persist.

Additionally, please check for updates for your graphics driver by following the steps mentioned in the following Knowledge base articles:

Did this fix your problems? Please report back to us!

Thank you.

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NotAmish

You have quite a few addons. It is possible they do not all work well together. I think another suggestion is likely to be to try Firefox in safemode and with all plugins disabled.


chameau_7

Sorry you are having problems with Firefox.

I assume that you have already and looked at this current thread and any help articles linked from it.

To get a good answer it is probably best to start your own thread
(As the guidelines suggest).

….  do not re-use existing threads started by others, even if they are seemingly on the same subject.   ….
  1. Please use /questions/new
  2. Please try to follow the prompts and include troubleshooting info when you do that. (There is a green button to automate the process. Use that, or if you encounter problems doing so mention that in the new thread.)
  3. You may wish to post back here; afterwards; to confirm you started a new thread. Others may wish to follow it.