Well, I've dumped Firefox for the time being.

[deucemagnet]

I've been having trouble with certain websites ever since the 2.0.0.15 to 2.0.0.16 auto-update, and updating to 3.0 didn't solve the problem. It seems I'm not the only one experiencing this, either. Oh, well. Until Firefox pulls its shit together, it's SeaMonkey for me. It's not quite as customizable, but at least it works.

[mreilly]

1. I have a love-hate relationship with Firefox

I use version 3.0 with a few add-ons and when all is running well I do like it better than IE... but I have been plagued by performance problems with Firefox since I started using it 2 years ago and frankly it doesn't seem like those will ever get resolved. I use the default theme and as few add-ons as I can manage so as to not muck it up, but that yields only marginal results on the performance scale.

Even though version 3 was touted as being faster and less of a memory hog, I've found that simply untrue (currently using 167 Mb of RAM!!) and if my machine is taxed with lots of open programs and I need to get online very quickly to look something up (I work in IT) I will always use IE - simply don't have the patience to wait 25-30 seconds or more for Firefox.

I've also been frustrated by the fact that versions of Firefox prior to 3 allow you to simply copy your bookmarks.html file to back up your bookmarks or transfer them from machine to machine. Version 3 uses an entirely different mechanism to store bookmarks (the places.sqlite file, which is a database file) and I haven't had much luck trying to automate the copying/backup of my bookmarks with this file; have had to export and import bookmarks manually. You can change some settings in about:config to address this and I've done a little of that with confusing results. I thought the old method of bookmark usage was fine; it's somewhat irritating when you encounter the "change for the sake of change" phenomena in new software versions.

So what will happen invariably is that Firefox will start acting up, getting slow, and freezing my machine and I will be within a hair of simply dumping it and going back to IE (I honestly don't feel IE is significantly less secure if you have adequate antivirus/antimalware protection) - and then it will resume operating "normally" at which point I'll forget the whole thing... until next time anyway.

Unfortunately there is no browser (nor operating system) to which I am completely loyal and with which I am entirely satisfied. It's just a matter of mixing and matching things I like to get the best possible results.

On edit: Oh, and after every single Firefox update I've ever seen, when opening an internet shortcut using Firefox as my default browser I am invariably given the error: "Windows cannot find . Make sure you typed the name correctly, and then try again. To search for a file, click the Start button, and then click Search." This requires a registry edit to change some keys that Firefox apparently keeps on stubbornly reverting back to the default with every upgrade. This is a known problem with lots of complaints but it never gets addressed, apparently. I have to import saved registry settings after every Firefox update (and there are far too many bloody updates, which is also annoying if you need to get online quickly) to fix this.

[deucemagnet]

2. I'm still hoping Firefox gets their shit together before they do...

...themselves irreparable harm, if they haven't already done that by releasing a somewhat buggy 3.0 with a "repaired" memory leak on a record download day.

Anyway, I've got the two most important add-ons working on SeaMonkey (NoScript and Ad Block Plus). I kind of miss some Forecastbar Enhanced and the Littlefox theme, but I'll do without them if I have to. SeaMonkey even seems a little bit faster, but that difference might be in my head.

[truedelphi]

Can I ask what system you are using??

I am using WIndows XP for the Home version, and I have this feeling that i will experience the types of problems you are talking about if I try and use it.

[deucemagnet]

16. I'm using Vista Home Premium.

I'm inclined to think it's a Firefox problem though, since Internet Explorer and SeaMonkey work just fine and Firefox worked just fine before the 2.0.0.15 to 2.0.0.16 auto-update.

[mreilly]

17. Windows XP Pro on one decent machine and one superfast machine

My home PC is OK (2 Gz CPU, 1.5 Gb RAM) but my work PC is much faster (2.8 Ghz dual-processor, 3.25 Gb of RAM) and I see the same performance issues from Firefox on both systems.

[NJmaverick]

3. Have you tried removing all the add ons

and seeing how it performs? I suspect that some poorly written add ons, could cause serious problems. I have seen that happen with other open source software.

[deucemagnet]

4. I've done a complete uninstall and reinstall of Firefox 3.0 and all addons.

No dice. In one of the forums I searched an IT professional described the symptoms I'm encountering to a tee, and he's stumped. I'll see if I can find that post again.

On edit: Here's a link. The poster "carnivore69us" (about halfway down the page) describes my symptoms exactly.

http://forums.mozillazine.org/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=599939

[NJmaverick]

6. Do you have a firewall program?

[deucemagnet]

7. Just the standard Vista firewall.

I tried the fix suggested on Mozilla's website (delete Firefox from firewall exceptions, restart Firefox, add Firefox to exceptions when prompted), but after deleting it from exceptions and restarting, I never get a prompt to add it again, even though my firewall setting say I should.

[NJmaverick]

9. I would try turning it off and seeing what happens

It would help narrow down where the problem is.

[deucemagnet]

11. I've already tried that, as well.

I'll try again, just to be sure.

On edit: I just remembered that my wireless router is firewalled as well. I disabled both firewalls, and still experienced the same problem with Firefox.

[NJmaverick]

12. I would do a reboot after shutting off the firewall

then try. If you still have a problem, it's not in the firewall. I would also try removing all add ons and seeing what happens. Again if that doesn't help, then you know the problem is else where.

[deucemagnet]

13. Thanks, I'll have to try rebooting after disabling the firewalls later.

I'm involved in an online poker tourney right now, so I won't be rebooting for awhile. :P

[deucemagnet]

24. Interesting.

I disabled both firewalls, restarted, and still had the same problem. I uninstalled all add-ons, and it actually WORKED! Now I'm reinstalling the add-ons one at a time and checking a "problem website" after each installation. I'll post again when I've isolated the bad add-on.

[UndertheOcean]

5. Never had a problem with it , but don't use add-ons at all

[Kire]

14. some of them are great

but if you add on too many, then it gets really slow

most of them I don't even know what they do

I go around between Firefox, IE and Safari. When I get frustrated with one, I just go to another one.

[Kutjara]

8. Have you tried disabling IPv6 compatibility?

I had trouble getting Firefox to load some common web pages, and discovered the problem lay with my ISP, which couldn't handle the way Firefox transmitted header information. Specifically, the ISP's routers hadn't been updated to the latest IPv6 spec, so they interpreted Firefox's headers as gibberish.

To disable IPv6 compatibility (which will have no adverse effects, since no servers are exclusively IPv6; all of them still run IPv4):

Type "about:config" (without quotes, of course) in the URL bar and hit Enter.
Type "IPv6" in the Filter bar
Flip the "false" to "true" in the "network.dns.disable.IPv6 entry.
Check if you can access the formerly unavailable pages.

Your problem may be different, but it's worth trying this out to see if it's really being caused by your ISP.

[deucemagnet]

10. Yep, that's one of the first things I tried.

No luck. x(

[Breeze54]

15. I thought 3.0 was still in Beta Testing?

I have the 2.0.0.16 vs. and I haven't had any issues with it.

Did you check to see if 2.0.0.16 and 3.0 are compatible with your OS?

Sorry you're having problems.

[deucemagnet]

18. Well I don't see my OS specifically listed on their webpage,

but I assume that an OEM version of Vista Home Premium falls under the umbrella of "Windows". :shrug:

[Breeze54]

20. I checked and it is compatible..... see my post below this one. --->

Firefox 3.0 System requirements

http://www.mozilla.com/en-US/firefox/system-requirements-v3.html

Windows
Operating Systems

* Windows 2000
* Windows XP
* Windows Server 2003
* Windows Vista

Minimum Hardware

* Pentium 233 MHz (Recommended: Pentium 500MHz or greater)
* 64 MB RAM (Recommended: 128 MB RAM or greater)
* 52 MB hard drive space

[Breeze54]

19. You probably saw this but just in case you didn't.....

Error loading websites

This article offers solutions to errors you may receive in Firefox or Mozilla Suite/SeaMonkey
when attempting to connect to some or all websites. Error messages may include "The document
contains no data" and "The connection was refused when attempting to contact..." or an error'
page may tell you that the server could not be found or that the connection has timed out.

If you can't get any website to load immediately after updating your browser, it is almost
certainly your firewall or other security software blocking the connection.

http://kb.mozillazine.org/Error_loading_any_website

snip-->

Error loading some websites

If Firefox or Mozilla Suite/SeaMonkey can connect to some websites, but not others:


* If you receive an error message from a website, the error message may be cached

Attempts to reload the site may yield only the cached error message.

To force a reload from the Internet, hold down the <Shift> key and press the Reload button. <8>

* Clear the browser cache:

o Firefox 3: "Tools -> Options -> Advanced -> Network / Offline Storage -> Clear Now"

Delete any stored cookies for the problem site <9> and also make sure that cookies from the website are not being blocked.

You may be infected with malware, such as a variant of the Vundo/Virtumonde trojan, which can cause search engines to fail or prevent certain websites from loading. <11> Scan your system for malware and visit a forum specializing in malware removal (see above for recommendations).

More.........

[CatholicEdHead]

21. I am holding at 2.x right now because of Lenovo

They have a password manager add-on which all they have to do is change the version number, but I am still waiting for an update before I update to 3.x.

[Madrone]

22. Seamonkey IS as customizable - most Firefox extensions also work on it.

Just FYI. I prefer it to Firefox - always have.

[sniffa]

23. I'm about ready to do that too

My computer is absolute shit every since 3.0 was installed. x(