I'm not sure what you mean by Virtual Game. Is it a browser game? Most browser games are hosted either in the Flash plugin or in the Java plugin. One way to tell is to click the plugin notification icon in the address bar (looks like a small Lego block), which usually reports what plugins the page is using. (The address bar is not available if you full screen the Flash plugin.)

If it is not a browser game, it's hard to understand why there would be an interaction.

Did this problem being recently (e.g., Firefox 33 or 34) or have you had it for a while? Does it make any difference if Firefox is running in its Safe Mode? That's a standard diagnostic tool to deactivate extensions, hardware acceleration, and some other advanced features of Firefox. More info: Diagnose Firefox issues using Troubleshoot Mode.

You can restart Firefox in Safe Mode using either:

• "3-bar" menu button > "?" button > Restart with Add-ons Disabled
• Help menu > Restart with Add-ons Disabled

Not all add-ons are disabled: Flash and other plugins still run

After Firefox shuts down, a small dialog should appear. Click "Start in Safe Mode" (not Reset).

Any difference?

It sounds that the virtual game is a separate application and that there is a bad interaction with switching between the two applications when Firefox is in full (or very large) screen mode.

You can try to disable hardware acceleration in Firefox.

• Tools > Options > Advanced > General > Browsing: "Use hardware acceleration when available"

You need to close and restart Firefox after toggling this setting.

• https://support.mozilla.org/kb/Troubleshooting+extensions+and+themes
• https://support.mozilla.org/kb/upgrade-graphics-drivers-use-hardware-acceleration

THANKS for the replies fellas, I'm really at wits end on this issue. .

• This problem has been going on for over a year now, I'm pretty much fed up with this freezing and now looking for answers, not possibilities, to get rid of it. The game is more important to me than FireFox.
• Hopefully Mozilla understands that they can not use a PC's resources to the max. Not everyone has the bucks these days to go buy a new PC every time some program has the need of more resource use.
• Granted my PC is a bit aged but this was not a problem just over a year ago. As I mentioned the PC hardware and software has not changed and has been the same for about 3 years now.

.

• The Virtual Game is a separate program, not in a browser.
• There are no browser extensions loaded.
• Adobe and Flash are not installed. (Terrible controlling software)
• Installed on a fresh reformatted partition. Windows XP-3, FireFox and the game. This eliminates anything not associated with graphics, memory and HDD issues.
• Hardware acceleration has been tested, On and Off, no difference.

. Most of your statements and questions were answered in my first post. I totally forgot to mention the game is its own program. If you know it, Virtual Pool 4 by Celeris. My PC is well withing the games requirements to run properly. As I mentioned, I am still working with them as to why the game is utilizing 95% to 99% CPU when the game is minimized. B.T.Y., this is opposite of what FireFox does, again something odd there. .

• All I know is as PC's get newer, programs are written with OODLES (Gig-Bytes) of different code to run and the older PC's can not keep up. Many more of us these days are on fixed incomes or loosing income due to the HORRENDOUS economics of the past 7 years. Understandable not your concern but still a viable point when new issues like this crop up.

. Again thanks for the replies. FM

Forgot to test, 'Safe Mode'. No change, it still freezes up.

I can't think of anything that's different when the Firefox window uses 2/3 of the screen ("restored" or "resizable" window) vs. 3/3 of the screen (maximized window). Does the same heavy CPU use occur if you switch from the game to Firefox when the Firefox window is resizable -- and then maximize the Firefox window?

You last line: No difference on 'X' size to max. . 2/3 window size vs. 99% size confounds me also. The CPU, graphics & memory use should be the same. What I read online is, at 100% the resources are less but it's creating the issue. . I just received a message from the game mfg. About the time my issue started, they had a issue with "Texture memory management". But they claim they tested it in major browsers and passed. Also, I'm the only player with this problem. (GRRrrrr, I've chatted with others who have this issue) . My feeling is the PC (DELL), GeForce 9400 GT and the problematic software are all interacting and causing something like a Macro making an endless loop. . I think I'm out of luck on getting this fixed. Unless you find some other adjustments withing FireFox, I guess this will be all that can be done.

I do thank you for the insight and time. FM