Slow Firefox

Sorry to have to ask here. The XP groups are not doing very much.
I've tried the Mozilla groups and got nowhere.

Using XP and Firefox 52.5.3 esr 32 bit. I've
been using this version for quite a while.
Only search engine is Google which has always loaded fast, I have
over 100 download speed.
Everyday for the last couple of months Firefox and Google have been taking
over 20 seconds to load. This is very slow to what it used to be.
Once loaded webpages open immediately.
I've done Refresh Firefox and delete Profiles. This works for a few
hours, then Firefox slows down again. Re-downloading Firefox made no
difference.
If I use Revo Uninstaller and clean the Browser, all is fine for a
few hours, then the problem returns. Use Revo again - and all is fine.
Computer is clean.
No cookies and no history. I sort of know how to configure Firefox.
I would appreciate any suggestions.

On Tue, 30 Jan 2018 18:42:09 -0000, "Mr Pounder Esquire"
wrote:

Sorry to have to ask here. The XP groups are not doing very much.
I've tried the Mozilla groups and got nowhere.

Using XP and Firefox 52.5.3 esr 32 bit. I've
been using this version for quite a while.

Only search engine is Google

Do you have a small search bar near the right hand side of the Firefox
window?

If so, move your mouse pointer to the space between the magnifying
glass and the S of Search. A downward arrow should now appear.

Left click this arrow. Do you see other search options ?

Monty wrote:
On Tue, 30 Jan 2018 18:42:09 -0000, "Mr Pounder Esquire"
wrote:

Sorry to have to ask here. The XP groups are not doing very much.
I've tried the Mozilla groups and got nowhere.

Using XP and Firefox 52.5.3 esr 32 bit. I've
been using this version for quite a while.

Only search engine is Google

Do you have a small search bar near the right hand side of the Firefox
window?

Only downloads.

If so, move your mouse pointer to the space between the magnifying
glass and the S of Search. A downward arrow should now appear.

Left click this arrow. Do you see other search options ?

I have loads of other search options, but have not tried them as I prefer
Google.

On 30 Jan 2018, "Mr Pounder Esquire"
wrote in alt.windows7.general:

Sorry to have to ask here. The XP groups are not doing very much.
I've tried the Mozilla groups and got nowhere.

One of my users is having what sounds like the same problem, but on
Win7, 32-bit. Firefox is taking over 1 min to start up and display
Google's search page. This started a week or so ago for no obvious
reason. Disabling the anti-virus doesn't help. My computer running
Win7-64 and 64-bit Firefox doesn't seem to have an issue. I'll be
interested to see what responses you get.


Using XP and Firefox 52.5.3 esr 32 bit. I've
been using this version for quite a while.
Only search engine is Google which has always loaded fast, I have
over 100 download speed.
Everyday for the last couple of months Firefox and Google have
been taking over 20 seconds to load. This is very slow to what it
used to be. Once loaded webpages open immediately.
I've done Refresh Firefox and delete Profiles. This works for a
few hours, then Firefox slows down again. Re-downloading Firefox
made no difference.
If I use Revo Uninstaller and clean the Browser, all is fine for
a few hours, then the problem returns. Use Revo again - and all
is fine. Computer is clean. No cookies and no history. I sort of
know how to configure
Firefox.
I would appreciate any suggestions.

Mr Pounder Esquire wrote:
Sorry to have to ask here. The XP groups are not doing very much.
I've tried the Mozilla groups and got nowhere.

Using XP and Firefox 52.5.3 esr 32 bit. I've
been using this version for quite a while.
Only search engine is Google which has always loaded fast, I have
over 100 download speed.
Everyday for the last couple of months Firefox and Google have been taking
over 20 seconds to load. This is very slow to what it used to be.
Once loaded webpages open immediately.
I've done Refresh Firefox and delete Profiles. This works for a few
hours, then Firefox slows down again. Re-downloading Firefox made no
difference.
If I use Revo Uninstaller and clean the Browser, all is fine for a
few hours, then the problem returns. Use Revo again - and all is fine.
Computer is clean.
No cookies and no history. I sort of know how to configure Firefox.
I would appreciate any suggestions.

A couple of things to try:
turn off hardware acceleration
turn off restore after crash
(I'm not on my FF machine so can't tell you exactly where to find these...
tools for accel.)
If that does not fix it then post back on mozilla.support.firefox.
Your messages there may have been overlooked.

On Tue, 30 Jan 2018 18:42:09 -0000, "Mr Pounder Esquire"
wrote:

Sorry to have to ask here. The XP groups are not doing very much.
I've tried the Mozilla groups and got nowhere.

I reverted to Firefox v41 and turned off update nagging.

It runs much faster now, and only crashes once a fortnight instead of
7 times a day.

But every time I run it it tells me how much faster the latest version
is. So much for truth in advertising.


--
Steve Hayes
http://www.khanya.org.za/stevesig.htm
http://khanya.wordpress.com

Paul in Houston TX wrote:
Mr Pounder Esquire wrote:
Sorry to have to ask here. The XP groups are not doing very much.
I've tried the Mozilla groups and got nowhere.

Using XP and Firefox 52.5.3 esr 32 bit. I've
been using this version for quite a while.
Only search engine is Google which has always loaded fast, I have
over 100 download speed.
Everyday for the last couple of months Firefox and Google have been
taking over 20 seconds to load. This is very slow to what it used
to be. Once loaded webpages open immediately.
I've done Refresh Firefox and delete Profiles. This works for a few
hours, then Firefox slows down again. Re-downloading Firefox made no
difference.
If I use Revo Uninstaller and clean the Browser, all is fine for a
few hours, then the problem returns. Use Revo again - and all is
fine. Computer is clean.
No cookies and no history. I sort of know how to configure Firefox.
I would appreciate any suggestions.

A couple of things to try:
turn off hardware acceleration
turn off restore after crash
(I'm not on my FF machine so can't tell you exactly where to find
these... tools for accel.)
If that does not fix it then post back on mozilla.support.firefox.
Your messages there may have been overlooked.

I did the Revo trick to give it a fresh start, then I turned of hardware
acceleration.
Not done the restore after crash part, it looks a bit tricky and I have to
say that Firefox has never crashed on me. I'll see how it goes.
Thanks for your tips.

In message , Wolf K
writes
On 2018-01-31 01:19, Steve Hayes wrote:
On Tue, 30 Jan 2018 18:42:09 -0000, "Mr Pounder Esquire"
wrote:

Sorry to have to ask here. The XP groups are not doing very much.
I've tried the Mozilla groups and got nowhere.
I reverted to Firefox v41 and turned off update nagging.
It runs much faster now, and only crashes once a fortnight instead
of
7 times a day.
But every time I run it it tells me how much faster the latest
version
is. So much for truth in advertising.

FF 52.6.0 ESR, no problems, Win8.1 Home 64bit, no auto-updating for
anything.

With my XP Pro, 32-bit, FF 52.6.0 ESR now takes at least a minute to
'get up to speed' after launch. It's often not too happy with those
websites that carry a lot of additional baggage. It usually helps if run
with the addons disabled.

I also find it helps to have a dummy (unused) session of FF running -
and if I then launch another session, that starts quite quickly.




--
Ian

On 30 Jan 2018, Nil wrote in
alt.windows7.general:

One of my users is having what sounds like the same problem, but on
Win7, 32-bit. Firefox is taking over 1 min to start up and display
Google's search page. This started a week or so ago for no obvious
reason. Disabling the anti-virus doesn't help. My computer running
Win7-64 and 64-bit Firefox doesn't seem to have an issue. I'll be
interested to see what responses you get.

I did the "Refresh" procedure where a new profile is created and it
seems to have fixed the problem. Load times went to well over a minute
to maybe 6 seconds. I know you said you did it and it only worked
temporarily, but it's been about half a day and so far so good. I'm
monitoring the situation.

Ian Jackson wrote:
In message , Wolf K
writes
On 2018-01-31 01:19, Steve Hayes wrote:
On Tue, 30 Jan 2018 18:42:09 -0000, "Mr Pounder Esquire"
wrote:

Sorry to have to ask here. The XP groups are not doing very much.
I've tried the Mozilla groups and got nowhere.
I reverted to Firefox v41 and turned off update nagging.
It runs much faster now, and only crashes once a fortnight instead
of
7 times a day.
But every time I run it it tells me how much faster the latest
version
is. So much for truth in advertising.

FF 52.6.0 ESR, no problems, Win8.1 Home 64bit, no auto-updating for
anything.

With my XP Pro, 32-bit, FF 52.6.0 ESR now takes at least a minute to
'get up to speed' after launch. It's often not too happy with those
websites that carry a lot of additional baggage. It usually helps if
run with the addons disabled.

I also find it helps to have a dummy (unused) session of FF running -
and if I then launch another session, that starts quite quickly.

Well, I followed Paul's advice and turned off hardware acceleration in
Firebox (it's in "Advanced" and is easy to ignore) and all has been fine
all day long. I tried youtube, no problems.
Tonight I have just turned off and on computer twice. Firefox/Google has
loaded like lightning, like it used to do.
Also, believe it or not, this old computer seems to have booted up a lot
faster, and I don't understand why.
I just hope it lasts. Touches wood .............
Many thanks to Paul.
Are you the guy that helped me out with a television aerial a few years ago?

Nil wrote:
On 30 Jan 2018, Nil wrote in
alt.windows7.general:

One of my users is having what sounds like the same problem, but on
Win7, 32-bit. Firefox is taking over 1 min to start up and display
Google's search page. This started a week or so ago for no obvious
reason. Disabling the anti-virus doesn't help. My computer running
Win7-64 and 64-bit Firefox doesn't seem to have an issue. I'll be
interested to see what responses you get.

I did the "Refresh" procedure where a new profile is created and it
seems to have fixed the problem. Load times went to well over a minute
to maybe 6 seconds. I know you said you did it and it only worked
temporarily, but it's been about half a day and so far so good. I'm
monitoring the situation.

Refresh only worked for me for a short time, as did deleting Profiles.
Try disabling hardware acceleration. Thanks to Paul this seems so far to
have worked for me. Dunno why.
Tools/ Options/ Advanced/ take the tick out of Use Hardware Acceleration
When Available.

On 31 Jan 2018, "Mr Pounder Esquire"
wrote in alt.windows7.general:

Refresh only worked for me for a short time, as did deleting
Profiles. Try disabling hardware acceleration. Thanks to Paul this
seems so far to have worked for me. Dunno why.
Tools/ Options/ Advanced/ take the tick out of Use Hardware
Acceleration When Available.

I had tried disabling Hardware Acceleration before I did the Refresh
and it didn't make any difference. Maybe we had two different issues
with similar symptoms.

"Mr Pounder Esquire" wrote

| Well, I followed Paul's advice and turned off hardware acceleration in
| Firebox (it's in "Advanced" and is easy to ignore) and all has been fine
| all day long. I tried youtube, no problems.

XP here. Hardware accel enabled. No problems
once it loads, but it does take maybe 4-6 seconds
for first load, which is ridiculous on a modern
computer.

I also can't remember last time I saw a crash.
Years ago. But I do what I can to run lean
and safe. Script disabled by default. No local
cache allowed. ("Supercookies".) NoScript to
allow script when absolutely necessary. Cache set
to 0. (Most sites don't benefit anymore, anyway.
With sites building pages dynamically a 304 response
("you already have this file") is very rare.
I also disable prefetching and most other recent
nonsense they've added.
I disable updates and delete the update files.
I also don't enable any kind of calling out, like
"health" reports or the "warn you about dangerous
websites" ninny service.

I maintain a decent HOSTS file, which blocks most
3rd-party crap. That saves on load times. I see most
pages load almost instantly.

The only extensions I have are for fixing broken
things like status bar, etc. I have no plugins. I
don't use tabs and try not to let browser windows
gather without cleaning them up.

One last note: If you have more problems specifically
with startup, try Process Monitor (procmon) from
sysinternals. With that you can see what FF is doing
before it opens. It could be something you didn't
suspect, like a corrupt file or too many fonts.

There's no excuse for slow browsers, but these days
they have a big job. If you don't limit script and maintain
a HOSTS file then on the average commercial webpage
you're loading dozens of images, a dozen giant scripts,
and maybe 200 KB of webpage. It's really a midsize
software program. (To get an idea, try downloading
"webpage complete" from some of the sites you visit.
Only a few years ago, 100 KB was too big. Now 2-3
MB of downloads is not unusual. It's a wonder that
browsers can work at all with such bloat.)

In message , Mayayana
writes:
[]
I also can't remember last time I saw a crash.

I don't remember when I last saw what most people refer to as a crash -
something going wrong, and an entry in Firefox's crash logging system. I
do occasionally see a disappearance: the Firefox window just disappears,
extremely rapidly - usually when it's got into that mode (a) it happens
once I've typed about four characters into a box [including the URL
bar], (b) it stays in that mode on restart, (c) - and this is the
oddest! - I know I can cure it by pasting some text into a box in it
rather than typing. It's then fine for another few hours or even days.
(Actually, it _tends_ to only happen not too long after I've started FF
- once it's been going a while, it doesn't get into sudden-disappear
mode.)
[]
I maintain a decent HOSTS file, which blocks most
3rd-party crap. That saves on load times. I see most
pages load almost instantly.

I too have a hosts file, but I still sometimes see FF waiting for a site
that I've got blocked there (google-analytics being one I notice a lot);
I can only presume that's because some script that _is_ running is
trying to interrogate that site, and I have no control over that. (Any
thoughts, other than blocking _all_ scripts?)

The only extensions I have are for fixing broken
things like status bar, etc. I have no plugins. I
(Yes, I have that one.)
[]
There's no excuse for slow browsers, but these days
they have a big job. If you don't limit script and maintain
a HOSTS file then on the average commercial webpage
you're loading dozens of images, a dozen giant scripts,
and maybe 200 KB of webpage. It's really a midsize
software program. (To get an idea, try downloading
"webpage complete" from some of the sites you visit.
Only a few years ago, 100 KB was too big. Now 2-3
MB of downloads is not unusual. It's a wonder that
browsers can work at all with such bloat.)

Yes, lazy programmers - not just web-page builders, but the creators of
the tools that builders use - have a lot to answer for.

--
J. P. Gilliver. UMRA: 1960/1985 MB++G()AL-IS-Ch++(p)Ar@T+H+Sh0!:`)DNAf

"Address the chair!" "There isn't a chair, there's only a rock!" "Well, call
it a chair!" "Why not call it a rock?" (First series, fit the sixth.)

"J. P. Gilliver (John)" wrote

| I too have a hosts file, but I still sometimes see FF waiting for a site
| that I've got blocked there (google-analytics being one I notice a lot);
| I can only presume that's because some script that _is_ running is
| trying to interrogate that site, and I have no control over that. (Any
| thoughts, other than blocking _all_ scripts?)
|

I don't know what goes on there. I just tried
an experiment, loading numerous webpages, because
I know I've seen the kind of thing you describe.
All loaded almost instantly except one that showed
it was calling fonts.googleapis.com for about 1
second. I have that domain in my HOSTS file. So
why did it try to reach that domain? I've seen the
theory that the problem is using 127.0.0.1 and that
127.0.0.0 is better, but I've never tried that.

Or was it just that the status bar didn't update
quickly? The page was loaded while it seemed to be
waiting on Google. I don't know the explanation.
But I don't think I've ever seen it pause for more
than about 1 second.

It can't be script because I block all script most
of the time. (I use Pale Moon with all sorts of things
disabled for most activity. I use FF with NoScript
only when I need to allow interaction. That's not
actually very often.)