BleepingComputer.com: Firefox keeps freezing/"Not Responding"

I can open Firefox with no problem, use forums, wikipedia... anything with text and images... but if I try to watch a video on youtube or hulu, or if I try to play a game online, the window freezes. Occasionally, the window will turn completely white.


If I ctrl alt delete and end the firefox process, I can go back to using my computer... I can even successfully reopen firefox... but the moment I try to view a video again, I get this problem.

My Windows Media Player works just fine, and I'm able to play games offline.

I ran a Malwarebytes Anti-Malware scan, and it came up clean.

Please help!

Thanks.

I would suggest you uninstall and reinstall the Flash addon for Firefox. It could be corrupted.

The Mozilla Firefox people in their forums (http://forums.mozillazine.org/viewforum.php?f=49) offer step 1 as:

Clear your cache. Tools --> Options --> Advanced --> Network, Clear Now button.

If you are still having problems delete any cookies that have to do with the site. Tools --> Options --> Privacy, Show Cookies button.


If that doesn't do it, run these steps:

Go to Help, About to see your FF version and check for updates. 3.5.3 is the latest.

Go here to check/upgrade your Flash version:

http://kb2.adobe.com/cps/155/tn_15507.html

See if FF behaves with no add-ons loaded:

Start, Programs, Mozilla Firefox, Mozilla Firefox (Safe Mode)

If still no luck, tell us about your system:

Click Start, Run and in the box enter:

msinfo32

Click OK, and when the System Summary info appears, click Edit, Select All, Copy and then paste
back here.

There will be some personal information (like System Name and User Name), and whatever appears to
be private information to you, just delete from the pasted information.

I tried everything and the problem persists.

Just as before, I could see a few seconds of video, then the image freezes but the sound continues, and eventually stops.


Here's my system info:

OS Name Microsoft Windows XP Professional
Version 5.1.2600 Service Pack 2 Build 2600
OS Manufacturer Microsoft Corporation
System Manufacturer Dell Inc.
System Model Inspiron 700m
System Type X86-based PC
Processor x86 Family 6 Model 13 Stepping 6 GenuineIntel ~1794 Mhz
BIOS Version/Date Phoenix Technologies LTD A06, 10/26/2005
SMBIOS Version 2.31
Windows Directory C:\WINDOWS
System Directory C:\WINDOWS\system32
Boot Device \Device\HarddiskVolume1
Locale United States
Hardware Abstraction Layer Version = "5.1.2600.2180 (xpsp_sp2_rtm.040803-2158)"
Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Total Physical Memory 512.00 MB
Available Physical Memory 132.75 MB
Total Virtual Memory 2.00 GB
Available Virtual Memory 1.96 GB
Page File Space 1.13 GB
Page File C:\pagefile.sys

Have you tried it with another browser? I still think it's a Firefox problem. Trying another browser would confirm that one way or another.

Doesn't work with IE either.

Though here's something I didn't see before... because IE asked me to download a flash player (though I had done that already with firefox) and the Adobe Download Manager gave me this error:

The process terminated unexpectedly.

IE and Firefox use seperate versions of Flash.

frankp316, on Oct 14 2009, 07:15 AM, said:

I still can't figure out why I can get at least 10 seconds out of it before it goes screwy... and often the sound will continue for a short while, before either stopping entirely or becoming entirely choppy. Meanwhile, I can't hit the stop button or close the tab.. I have to ctrl alt delete in order to exit firefox.

Is there a way to fix this?

It could be your security or firewall settings. That's going to take some trial and error to figure out. It's never an easy fix.

frankp316, on Oct 14 2009, 11:28 AM, said:

Speaking of trial and error...

I was trying out IE again, and I am able to use it to watch videos.

The problem is a firefox problem. I wish I knew what other information I should give that would help resolve this problem, because I don't want to stop using firefox.

If I provide a list of plugins. Maybe someone can help me figure out what the problem is.

Again... videos play for only a few seconds before the page "hangs". I looked through the firefox website and I'm not able to figure out how to solve my problem.

Here's the list:

ActiveTouch General Plugin Container 2.6.0.12
Adobe Acrobat 8.1.0.137
AOL Media Playback Plugin 1.0.0.1
DivX Player Netscape Plugin 6.1.0.0
DivX Web Player 1.5.0.52
DivX Content Upload Plugin 1.2.1.12
DNA Plug-in 2.7.3.0
getPlusPlus for Adobe 16248 1.6.2.48 (disabled)
Java™ Platform SE 6 U10 6.0.100.33
Java™ Platform SE 6 U10 6.0.200.33
Microsoft DRM 9.0.0.3250 (DRM Netscape Network Object)
Microsoft DRM 9.0.0.3250 (DRM Store Netscape Plugin)
Mozilla Default Plug-in 1.0.0.15
QuickTime Plug-in 7.5.5 7.55.90.70
RealJukebox NS Plugin 1.0.3.46
RealNetworks Rhapsody Player Engine 1.1.0.1130
RealPlayer Version Plugin 6.0.12.46
RealPlayer G2 LiveConnect-Enabled Plug-In (32-bit) 6.0.12.46
Shockwave Flash 10.0.32.18
Shockwave for Director 11.0.0.429
Windows Media Player Plug-in Dynamic Link Library 3.0.2.629

I don't think anyone can really tell you which one is corrupted. You have to tinker around with them. The one thing I can suggest is maybe uninstall and reinstall the Flash plugin for Firefox. If that doesn't work, go through the other plugins systematically.

frankp316, on Oct 14 2009, 07:31 PM, said:

My next question is: is that the answer? A corrupt plugin?

You're not going to know unless you tinker around with it. The one thing you do know is the problem is with Firefox. It's hard to tell from there.

I downloaded Adblocker Plus... at it seems to be working.


Thank you.