Why does firefox freeze and then doesn't fully release from memory, but I have to End Process from Task Manager?

Frequently, Firefox for Windows (Vista) freezes up. I click on a link or try to go to another web page and nothing happens. The icon in the tab is just spinning, with Connecting. but it never connects. Then when I close it - if it lets me. I click to open it again and a window pops up saying that Firefox is already running, to please close it before launching it again. I have to go to Task Manager and End task from the Processes tab. It is also a resource hog including the Plug-In Container.

The pluging container opens up unnecessary copies as the cookies/history are cleared, this is a known issue, it might be what you are seeing, and it is hoped to be fixed in some future release of firerox.
There are some hangs affecting some users, with symptoms being high cpu usage, occurring as bookmark changes or syncing is in progress, there is a work around for that.
Firefox hanging as you close it see:
*[[firefox hangs]]
* [[firefox is already running but is not responding]]

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FFox 3.6.8. Repeated problem. I close it, then hours later try to relaunch it, and it says it's still running. So I have to End Process in Task Mgr. Also, plug-container keeps running and takes LOTS of memory. Ergo, 3.6.8 is a step backward.

FFox 3.6.8. Repeated problem. I close it, then hours later try to relaunch it, and it says it's still running. So I have to End Process in Task Mgr. Also, plug-container keeps running and takes LOTS of memory. Ergo, 3.6.8 is a step backward. I wish I hadn't upgraded. What can be done?
== This happened ==
Every time Firefox opened
== I upgraded to 3.6.8. Not before.

See http://kb.mozillazine.org/Firefox_hangs and [[Firefox hangs]] (Hang at exit)

Why does FireFox freeze and the only way to unfreeze it is to open the task manager and close the plugin-container.exe file??? It has been happening more and more often and it is getting VERY AGGRAVATING!!!!!

When Firefox does freeze (not responding appears in parentheses in the page tab) I am not able to access any of the webpages (the entire webpage is hidden behind a vaguely white transparent foreground) and more often than not any files I might be downloading are stopped before the entire file has been transferred - which means that I have to start those downloads from the beginning AGAIN. This has been happening for quite some time and I AM SICK AND TIRED OF IT HAPPENING!!
If it continues to happen for much longer I will swear off FireFox FOREVER!!!!! Either a program works or it does not work and lately Firefox has not worked worth a damn...........
The ONLY way to force Firefox to allow me to access it is for me to end the plugin-container.exe file process using Task Manager. Clearing there is a SERIOUS problem here that has not been resolved - why not???

The pluging container opens up unnecessary copies as the cookies/history are cleared, this is a known issue, it might be what you are seeing, and it is hoped to be fixed in some future release of firerox.
There are some hangs affecting some users, with symptoms being high cpu usage, occurring as bookmark changes or syncing is in progress, there is a work around for that.
Firefox hanging as you close it see:
*[[firefox hangs]]
* [[firefox is already running but is not responding]]

Firefox froze up. So I removed from computer and reloaded. If I close Firefox, can't restart by clicking on the icon. Have to end process in Task Manager. It then starts. Some links on some web pages won't work.

Hi,
As I say in the question I don't know what happened but Firefox just stopped operating and then became erratic. So I removed the firefox programme from my computer and reloaded Firefox.
It now runs normally but I can't run Firefox on two tabs, only one, and if I close it down during a session I can't reopen it using the desk top icon. I go to task manager, processes, and end process for Firefox - then I can start it using the icon on the desktop.
I have also noticed that some links on a web page won't work - javascript is involved.
Thanks for your herlp,
Mike FD

It sounds like you are getting in a hurry.
If you force Firefox to close in a hurry, then it won't normally start until you re-start the computer. There are ways around this, but I'm not going to go into them right now.
None-force way to close Firefox down: Close the program and wait. Do something else. Firefox appears as if it is closed, but it's not. Firefox cleans out cookies and it's cache after you close it. That takes a few minutes. You can't restart it while it's doing house cleaning.
After it is done, then you can restart Firefox normally. You can watch it in the Task Manager.
The same applies if you are installing javascript. You have to wait a few minutes.
As for running it with multiple tabs, I usually have 5 or 6, or more, tabs open at a time. Have no idea what the problem is there. Firefox needs special permission by use of a pop-up option to close with multiple tabs open.

Why does Firefox freeze and/crash shortly after I install "updates"?

Recently, after I have installed a newer version of Firefox, or updates you have provided my system freezes, won't open sites I access. This also affects my e-mail accounts!
It's almost enough to make me reluctantly revert to Ineternet Explorer.'''bold text'''

Does it help if you disable the plugin-container process?
See http://kb.mozillazine.org/Plugin-container_and_out-of-process_plugins

Why does Firefox, like others, feel it's so important that their updated browser have a "brand new look"? I don't want a "brand new look." I'm happy with the look as it is. So I will NEVER go to Firefox4.

Why does Firefox, like others, feel it's so important that their updated browser have a "brand new look"? I don't want a "brand new look." I'm happy with the look as it is. So I will NEVER go to Firefox4.

Firefox is highly customizable and you can customize Firefox 4 to look like Firefox 3.6, for details see http://www.computertechtips.net/64/make-firefox-4-look-like-ff-3-6

Why does Firefox freeze every time I try to install Adobe Flash player? I have uninstalled it and reinstalled it with and without the plugin container.

When I have Adobe Flash player installed and I open Firefox it will freeze up as soon as I open an additional tab other than my home page tab. In order to close Firefox after it freezes I have to use my Windows Task Manager to end process. As soon as I uninstall Adobe Flash player and reboot and then open Firefox it works fine.

Does it help if you disable the plugin-container process?
See http://kb.mozillazine.org/Plugin-container_and_out-of-process_plugins

Firefox freezes and then greys out

After a short period of normal use Firefox freezes and when I try to click onto a new page the picture greys out partially. On the top of my screen it says that Firefox is not responding. My only course of action is close the program down. When I do that a small window opens Saying Firefox is not responding and gives the option of closing the program or waiting for it to respond.
I have tried removing Flash 11.3 and installing 10.3 - no change.
Tried removing and reinstalling Firefox - no change.
Disabling all plugins - no Change.
Tried restoring PC to an earlier point - No change

Note that a "Reset" creates a new profile and tries to import some settings from the old profile leaving the old profile intact, including the cache folder (about:cache) that can take up to 1 GB.
*http://kb.mozillazine.org/Profile_folder_-_Firefox
It is always best to first try some basic steps if web pages aren't working properly.
Clear the cache and the cookies from sites that cause problems.
"Clear the Cache":
*Tools > Options > Advanced > Network > Cached Web Content: "Clear Now"
"Remove Cookies" from sites causing problems:
*Tools > Options > Privacy > Cookies: "Show Cookies"
Start Firefox in <u>[[Safe Mode|Safe Mode]]</u> to check if one of the extensions or if hardware acceleration is causing the problem (switch to the DEFAULT theme: Firefox/Tools > Add-ons > Appearance/Themes).
*Don't make any changes on the Safe mode start window.
*https://support.mozilla.org/kb/Safe+Mode

Why does firefox stop loading then when i close it and try to open it up again I keep getting this message:Firefox is already running, but is not responding. To open a new window, you must first close the existing Firefox process, or restart your system

Firefox will just stop loading/ connecting to the internet. The gray circle will just continually move but it never turns green to load the pages. I know it's not my internet because my internet explorer works just fine while this is happening to firefox. So I close firefox and then try to re open it but I get the message: Firefox is already running, but is not responding. To open a new window, you must first close the existing Firefox process, or restart your system. So I wait a little bit then try and re open it and still get the same message. I then go into my windows task manager and try and end the firefox proccess but it won't end. So I restart my computer and firefox eventually starts acting up again.

For possible causes of this error, and how to troubleshoot it see [[Firefox is already running but is not responding]].

IMac Freezes and then doesn't startup

I have a 600Mhz G3 iMac, and from some time ago, it is giving some problems.
At first, it freezes and when restarting, after the normal chime a blinking "?" folder appeared. I'm a old Mac user (15 years)...and i know that is a "No System to startup" problem...probably HD problem. But the iMac, after waiting some minutes, restarts and works fine.
Now, the problem is bigger. It freezes from time to time, and when restarting there is no normal starting sound, no Apple icon, no blinking folder...just a gray screen....and from time to time, 2 or 3 little and short beeps. It stays like that. After waiting some minutes (or even a day)..it restarts normal, as always.
Any idea what it can be? My first idea was to change the HD...but, if it is the HD, why after waiting some time (cooling??) it starts OK?
Even more, if the HD is the problem...it should sound and appear the ? folder. The starting chime should sound always, even without a HD.
So...mother board, graphic card, HD? one, 2 of 3, all of them...?

I would start the trouble-shooting by installing a new battery, unless that is, you have a fairly new (< 2 years) one.

Why does Firefox 4 and 5 not ask anymore, it should safe all open tabs before quitting the program as it did in the 3.x versions?

Is there a way to make Firefox 5 ask when quitting the program weather it should safe all open tabs for the next time. In versions 3.x it always asked and reopened the same tabs on next program start.
I could not find the preference to get this very useful feature back or did the programmers take it out of the new versions?

See item #31 (#tabslost) in the following
-- you can turn option on at end and then tabs will be restored whether you do or don't or don't restore tabs at end you still have the same chance through the History menu. to restore your previous session and then to restore previous windows
You can make Firefox 4.0.1 and '''Firefox 5.0''' look like Firefox 3.6.17, see numbered items 1-10 in the following topic [http://dmcritchie.mvps.org/firefox/firefox-problems.htm#fx4interface Fix Firefox 4.0 toolbar user interface, problems (Make Firefox 4.0 look like 3.6)]

Why does Firefox freeze my computer when I click on an email address or link to a page that asks for contact information?

when i click on an email link, my computer freezes and firefox will open new tabs until i force quit the application. i downloaded the latest version of firefox for a mac, but it did not help. how do i correct this problem?

Mozilla/5.0 (Windows; U; Windows NT 5.1; en-US; rv:1.9.2.14) Gecko/20110218 Firefox/3.6.14
When I click on a mailto: link, Firefox freezes. This is new for me as of 3.6.14 (not sure if it existed in prior versions because I hadn't clicked a mailto: in a while).

Why does Firefox request and attempt to update to 35.1 REPEATEDLY?

I have followed the prompts to upgrade to 35.1 which appears to have been downloaded and installed. It prompts me to restart, yet after restarting, the prompt starts all over again.

Hello Steve_rn, please try to download a fresh copy firefox from the next full installer link, and then install that copy over your current :
https://www.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/all/
see also : [https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/how-download-and-install-firefox-windows#firefox:win7:fx35 How to download and install Firefox on Windows]
thank you

Why does firefox freeze my AOL connection to install updates?

per the question (this has happened several times).

Mozilla/5.0 (Windows; U; Windows NT 5.1; en-US; rv:1.9.2.14) Gecko/20110218 Firefox/3.6.14
When I click on a mailto: link, Firefox freezes. This is new for me as of 3.6.14 (not sure if it existed in prior versions because I hadn't clicked a mailto: in a while).

In Address Book, why does Apple let you create custom fields in the Template cards but not have them available for importing?

I open Address Book, go into Preferences, select Template and under the Names field (friend, assistant, father, etc) I add a custom field called "Principal".
I also add two more custom fields in the Email area.
Quit Address Book then relaunch. Add a new contact and the new custom fields, Principal, etc. are there. All good so far.
I have a Now Contact file with about 200 contacts in it. I export all fields as a Text file, Tab delimited. No problems there. With Address Book launched, select Import, pick the text file, leave Text Encoding on Automatic and click Open.
The window that shows the fields for Address Book and fields for the text file side by side opens. This is where you match up the correct fields for importing. If I go to one of the fields from the text file that I created a custom field for, click under the Address Book heading on the Do not import, scroll thru the Apple choices of fields, none of the custom fields show up. Only the original Apple ones are there. Why does Apple let you create them in the Template area but not have them available for importing? Does anyone have suggestions on getting around this?

While most likely not of interest to you, Spotlight can also tell you where the files it finds are located
Hover the mouse pointer over the name, and press Command-Option and the path to the file will be displayed.
As for opening a terminal session in the directory where a file is located, there is Applescripts that do just that as well as specific features in Lion/Mountain Lion terminal:
<http://stackoverflow.com/questions/420456/open-terminal-here-in-mac-os-finder>
<http://hints.macworld.com/article.php?story=20110729034827358>
<http://www.macworld.com/article/1047793/folderinterm.html>
<http://www.macworld.com/article/1161876/open_finder_folder_in_terminal.html>
<http://www.macobserver.com/tmo/article/os_x_lion_open_a_folders_location_in_term inal>

Why does firefox freeze and then doesn't fully release from memory, but I have to End Process from Task Manager?

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