Firefox question.

[Orrex]

At least once per browsing session, Firefox locks up for a long time while it's apparently thinking about something.

The length of time varies, but it's seldom less than a minute, and once lasted a full six minutes, during which I couldn't bring up the task manager and didn't want to do a cold power-down.

At the end of the delay, I get a popup that announces a script is causing Firefox to run slowly, and would I like to end that script.


WTF?


Why is it even a choice? I can imagine no circumstance in which I'd prefer to wait five minutes while I refresh DU, for instance. Why doesn't Firefox simply look at the delay and shut down scripts that are rendering the system unusable?

[HarveyDarkey]

1. If you have several tabs open, and one is Facebook, that's your problem

It's not a Firefox problem, it's a Facebook problem. I have my 'puter set to automatically power down after 30 minutes of non-use. I get that message every time it powers back up, although it never lasts that long, a few seconds usually. On a side note, I'm using Firefox while running Linux, if that makes a difference.
I'm off now to the Iowa Craft Beer Festival and will be offline the rest of the day, so I won't be responding to this.

[Orrex]

3. Good suggestion

I've noticed that Firefox takes a preposterously long time to load the first time I load it after turning on my laptop, but I don't usually leave FB running on a second tab.

[Chan790]

2. It's one of your extension or add-ons.

Disable them all and re-enable them one-by-one until you identify the problematic script. Leave that one off.

I'm going to tell you though ~90% of the time it's one ad-blocker or another. Ad designers are constantly on the hunt for code to break end-user's ad-blocking software so they'll have to disable it.

Edit: or as Harvey pointed out, it can be a Facebook issue tied to the automatic reloading and expansion of content. It's also a script problem, it's just a different kind and easier to fix. Run Facebook in its own window.

[Orrex]

4. Ah! I'll bet it's my Adblock Plus

Last edited Sat Jun 22, 2013, 10:18 AM - Edit history (1)

I'd hate to disable it, even though it's a pain in the butt when the delay happens. Still, if it keeps my screen mostly free of ads, it might still be worth it.

Thanks!

[GoCubsGo]

7. I have similar issues with script errors, but...

I think part of the problem is a memory issue. I run a very ancient desktop and 6 mo. old laptop. Both have Firefox, with pretty much the same add-ons. I see fewer script errors and other freeze-ups on the laptop. I'm assuming that's because the processor is way faster, and it has more RAM than the desktop. Whatever the reason, it drives me nuts.

Another problem: Fucking Google Chrome and Windows updates. They hog a ton of resources on my desktop. That causes everything (or nearly everything) to freeze, as well. I turned off the automatic update for Chrome, yet it still goes off and updates on its own. I am considering just uninstalling the damn thing.

[TorchTheWitch]

5. This hapens to me ALL the time

Several times a day. It's only been in the last couple of months, too. But for a couple of years it's been freezing/crashing at least once a day. Also recently it's been massively sucking up usage as well... I'll have two windows open and AVG pops up and tells me Firefox is overburdened and I should close some stuff - with friggin' TWO windows open??? I only use the adblock add-on with no other bells and whistles which I've done for ages, so it isn't some add-on weirdness that's doing this.

[pintobean]

6. That happens to me, too.

I just close Firefox, re-open it, and get back to where I was through the history. It's annoying, but I prefer to not disable any ad-ons. I figure it will eventually be fixed in an update.

[RebelOne]

8. I have that problem with Safari but not with Firefox.

In fact, Safari has been acting up lately and I have to keep restarting my computer. I don't know if it is Safari or my computer. I do not like Firefox because it is too difficult to navigate. But I have to use it to access my Comcast e-mail because I can't get in Safari.