System freeze when opening a link
This just started happening a few days ago. At random, clicking a link in another program to open it in Firefox will just cause my entire system to freeze for anywhere between 15 and 30 seconds. It's not instantaneous, but about 5 seconds after I click the link, any program that I try to click or interact with will freeze up and become entirely unresponsive, including Explorer. After those 20-30 seconds are up, everything will go back to normal and any actions that I made (clicks, key presses, etc) will happen all at once.
I can't open task manager, can't ctrl+alt+del, the system doesn't even respond if another device tries to connect or ping it. It's the most thorough "freeze" that I can imagine, all caused by clicking a link that opens in Firefox.
I tried disabling all addons, didn't work. Tried reinstalling Firefox, didn't work. Tried the various "hang/crash" fixes on Mozilla's website, didn't work. I honestly have no idea what went wrong that this is happening all of a sudden.
All Replies (6)
Hi gotmilk0112, it's always concerning when behaviors are inconsistent. More difficult to troubleshoot, too.
Some questions:
First, does it matter whether Firefox is already running when you click the link?
Normally, while Firefox is running, external links will open in a new tab in the last active window. Are you getting a new tab or a separate window? If you get a separate window, is it consistent with your regular settings or a "factory default" window?
Third, what is the sequence of events: Firefox comes forward with a new tab, page starts loading, system freezes, system unfreezes, page finishes loading? Or does the freeze occur before Firefox does anything?
Thanks.
Firefox is running when this happens, yes. If it changes anything, I'm noticing that this same exact freezing problem happens sometimes when Firefox is first opened. (from being completely closed, that is)
When everything unfreezes, the link opens normally in a new tab, like it always does. Nothing opens in a new window; I have everything set to open in new tabs.
The sequence of events is:
1. Click link in external program (like Discord, for example) 2. Nothing happens at first 3. Programs start freezing one-by-one (Discord, then Explorer, etc) 4. System stays entirely frozen and unresponsive for 20-30 seconds 5. Everything unfreezes, the link opens in a new tab, and everything returns to normal
Unless something is broken with Windows, it should be giving the link to Firefox promptly. So more likely something odd is happening with Firefox's launcher handing off the link to the running instance. I don't know changed in Firefox 68 that might cause that.
Well this just started happening a few days ago, and I didn't change anything (no new addons, etc) to my knowledge, so I can only assume it's something else within Firefox causing it.
I've tried a bunch of things like reinstalling Firefox, updating graphics drivers, disabling hardware acceleration, renaming the "places.sqlite"...all the usual fixes, but nothing seems to be working.
In case it's related: Have you noticed being unable to drag-and-drop from Firefox to your desktop, for example, an image, or the site information icon (i-in-a-circle) to drop a page shortcut?
I've never done that before, but trying it right now, it seems to work just fine.