When I load Firefox (3.0.12) my computer slows to a crawl.
Before it got that bad, the browser was working, but Roboform was not, nor Cooliris. I believe the profile is corrupt, but I am unable to fix it following the online directions Ive tried in the past. Sooner or later Im stymied by a step that assumes knowledge I just dont have.
If you are interested in this question, I would like to know (1) how to fix the profile, step by step, and (2) a bit about how the various parts interact with each other. By parts I mean the basic browser, the profile, bookmarks, history, chrome, and other things you think I should be aware of.
1) Currently I have Firefox 3.0.12. Even if I upgrade to 3.5, I still have to fix the profile, right?
2) Are we going to be working with the existing profile, or is it a matter of deleting and starting fresh?
3) In the future, WHAT CAN I DO TO AVOID CORRUPTING THE PROFILE?
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1. What OS are you running? - Windows XP Professional - SP 3
2. Can you provide a list of add-ons that you have installed in your firefox profile? (Not Critical.) - Heres a (very) partial list from memory:
Roboform
Cooliris
Tab Mix Plus
3. Do you have A Backup of your existing Profile? Actually, I have a MozBackup of two profiles. They are designated August 08 Profile and Sorayuth and Cooliris. I believe this is a major problem, right? (Of course I had no idea what I was doing at the time I decided to add a second profile.)
4. What security programs do you have installed on this machine? Norton Internet Security 2009 and Windows Defender Firewall
5. At what point are you getting confused in the Create A New Profile process? Its been some time and I dont remember where I lost the thread, but if you will give me a link to Create A New Profile, I will work through it until I hit a snag.
http://kb.mozillazine.org/
Following the instructions will not overwrite your existing profile.
If you have any questions during the process, just ask.
The hardest part is getting the Profile Manager to start, but I have found if you installed Firefox to it's Default Location the easiest way to get it started is to hit the Windows Start button, go to Run, and enter this in the field and hit Enter. The first thing to do from there is to Uncheck the "Don't Ask at Startup" box so you will be prompted every time you launch Firefox until we get this straightened out.
Boyce,
So you've gotten to the Profile Manager but you haven't actually started firefox yet, correct?
Have you tried creating a new profile while in the profile manager? doing that should create a new unadulterated profile. If THAT one slows your computer to a crawl, then we'll need to consider other options, like confirming your machine is clean and free of virus/malware.
A brand new profile shouldn't slow down your system.
And I thought that Norton 2009 was supposed to be much better in handling system resources. Although perhaps it is Checking too much. Have you given Firefox the OK for internet access through Norton's?
MTZ, that's correct: I haven't started Firefox yet.
1) A new profile sounds good. At what point do I delete the two that are already there?
2) I have not used Firefox since I installed Norton 2009. The 2009 has been upgraded to 2010 (the gold and black graphics are dazzling, by the way). How do I green-light Firefox for internet access through Norton's?
3) I'm pretty sure there's no virus/malware problem, but am I correct that the two profiles could be the culprit?
Sorry, I must have missed your last response in my inbox.
Having multiple profiles will not slow down your internet, no.
Norton's, however certainly may (it definitely has in the past for a multitude of users). Personally I have not used Norton's in over ten years. It's the very first thing I uninstall when I go to someone's house to help them. But if you like it, that's your choice.
That being said, I don't know how to Green light a program in Norton's. Have you looked through the Norton Help File, yet?
I did find this on their Support pages.
Modify the Firewall Program Rules
1 Start Norton Internet Security.
2 In the Network pane, click Settings.
3 Under Smart Firewall, next to Program Control, click Configure.
4 On the Program Rules window, in the Program column, scroll through the list until you find the executable file for the program that you cannot use.
For example, if you cannot use Yahoo! Messenger, scroll through the list until you find the entry for Yahoo! Messenger. The rule for Yahoo! Messenger will be listed like:
Yahoo! Messenger
C:\Program Files\Yahoo!\Messenger\Yah
5 Do one of the following:
* If you find the entry for the executable file of the program, change the Access to Allow and go to line 16.
* If you cannot find the entry for the executable file, click Add and go to line 6.
6 Browse and select the executable file for the program that you want to configure, and click Open.
7 Click Manually configure Internet access (Recommended) from the drop-down list and then click OK.
8 Click Allow, and then click Next.
9 Click Connections to and from other computers, and click Next.
10 Click Any computer, and click Next.
11 To apply this rule to all ports, click All types of communication (all ports, local and remote), and click Next.
12 Click Create a Security History log entry, and click Next.
13Type in a description for this rule, and then click Next.
14Review the information about the rule. If it is correct, click Finish.
If it is incorrect, click Back to go back to a previous steps and make changes.
15Click OK.
16In the Program Control window, click OK.
17In the Settings window, click OK.
18Try to use the application or device that you face problem with.
Then I found this one. This page might help as well. My computer runs slowly after upgrading to Norton 2010..
http://www.symantec.com/no
You wrote: Personally I have not used Norton's in over ten years. It's the very first thing I uninstall when I go to someone's house to help them. But if you like it, that's your choice.
Don't like it or dislike it--it's just there by force of habit.
So, first things first. I uninstall it, and replace it with what?
On the other thing: it's a home computer.
Don't uninstall it just yet. As I said previously I read good things about Norton's now a days. If you paid for it, lets try to get your moneys worth.
If this were my machine this is what I would try. You mention you haven't used Firefox in quite a while, so the first thing I would do is go to Add/Remove programs and uninstall any Firefox programs installed. Then I would go to http://www.mozilla.com/en-
The reason I asked if personal or business, is some businesses block install of Firefox for some strange reason.
Let me know how it goes.
I followed your suggestions and, in NASA-speak, everything is "nominal," the space agency's slightly coy way of saying "exactly as advertised/promised--we are nothing if not over the moon."
This EE website on which I am writing is running on Firefox 3.5.5.
The old Profile folder was moved to the Desktop before I installed the new Firefox.
During setup, I created a new profile, called "Default User Firefox 3.5.5 from 11.9.09." (I DO understand that the profile continues on through subsequent Firefox updates: the "3.5.5" is just to make sure I know which is which, since I have now a total of four of them.)
My RoboForm is working again!
Are we now at the stage where I can retrieve the bookmarks and tags and history that are stored in the other three profiles?
Great.
It would be great to be able to look at Norton's note that popped up too quickly to read. That doesn't sound too good for the end user, if it fades before acknowledgment, although I think they are trying to do things better and not be so intrusive. Maybe there is a Log Viewer, you could look at to see if it was giving you a warning.
Anyways, the important thing to remember when copying things from previous profiles to new profiles is "Make sure Firefox is not running while you work in the Profiles Folder(s)" unless of course, you are using Firefox's tools to Import, however I'm going to walk you through manually, unless you don't have the correct files.
#1, have you added any bookmarks to your new profile yet? If yes, I don't want to over write them, so open Firefox's new profile, go to Bookmarks->Organize Bookmarks, and select Import and Backup-> and select Export html. This will make an html copy of your existing, new bookmarks, put it someplace safe.
1B) What about passwords, have you made, saved any in your new profile, if so, the only way to make sure we don't over write any is to manually write them down on paper, or within a notepad or file. To view them, Open Firefox, go to Tools->Options->Security-> and select Saved Passwords, then select View Passwords. I don't believe you can copy/paste from there, or even take a screenshot, but make your copy somehow, even if you need to type out the passwords in a new text file. This will insure you have them.
#2. Make sure you can View Hidden Files and Folders, within Windows. To do that, in Windows XP, open My Documents, go to Tools->Folder Options->View tab and (I'm sorry I don't have Windows running right now) make sure Hidden Files and Folders is set properly so you can View them. While you're there, make sure to uncheck the "Hide file extensions for known file types."
We're going to do this in stages to see if something in your History or home page perhaps, caused the slowdown.
#3. Make sure all Firefox are closed.
#4. Open two explorer Windows and direct one of them to your oldest profile, and the other to your newest profile. Detail List view is best so you can look at them side by side.
Now, if you oldest profile has a places.sqlite, this should be pretty painless, just copy it from your oldest to your newest and let it over write. (Firefox is closed, correct?)
If you don't have a places.sqlite, that's not a bad thing, however I think you do, cause you mentioned you had 3.0.12 working at one point. However if you don't, you could then look at the second oldest Profile, however it seemed to me like you never actually got that one running, so you probably wouldn't have anything in it. Compare File sizes of places.sqlite from your new one to the second oldest one.
Once you have copied one of the places.sqlite to your new profile, close both explorer windows and then start Firefox in it's new profile. How does it run? Check your History? Should be more there. Check your Bookmarks. Does it look like you have all of them? If yes, great, we can move on to Passwords, if not, we still have one more step, (this step is not necessary if you already have your bookmarks) pretty easy, while in Firefox newest profile, go to Bookmarks->organize Bookmarks->Import and backup-> and select Import HTML and the resulting window point it to your oldest profile folder and have it select the bookmarks.html file in it.
Wanted to Submit that, before I lost it. :-)
How did the profile work for you? Any slowdowns at his point in time? Any errors or warnings from Norton's?
If not we can proceed, if so, pause and let me know about them.
Now for passwords, Close all instances of Firefox.
Open your two explorer windows again, one to the New profile, one to your old profile.
This one MAY not work, cause I just read version 3.5 actually uses a new format for passwords, but we'll give it a try.
However, to be safe, let's make another backup of this profile now before we move on. COPY the entire New Profile folder to a new location, so you can bring it back if we destroy anything.
The most important file you need is
key3.db
Copy it from your oldest profile to your newest profile.
Next you also need to copy any
signons.txt
file(s). There may be a signons.txt, a signons2.txt, or a signons3.txt
Grab them all. Chances are you'rs will just have signons3.txt.
Once you have that, close the windows, and Open Firefox with your new profile and see if they were incorporated to your new profile. They didn't make an Import function for passwords, so I can't walk you through that.
Worst case, if they don't show up, you COULD try just running Firefox Profile Manager and see if the old profile would work at this point in time, however I think it was corrupt, so it might just slow down your system again, or Norton's will leave it alone.
Let me know how it goes.
Sorry to be so long posting this responseI've been unusually busy since Wednesday.
I checked Norton Security History for the day Firefox was downloaded. In the column headed "Date & Time"Monday, November 09, 2009, 10:30 AM / "Activity"Download Insight analyzed Firefox%20Setup%203.5.5[2]
I'm going to submit this post now and then start moving bookmarks into the new profile.
mtz, please disregard--I'm just testing the formatting system.
Formatted with buttons on comment box: It would be great to be able to look at Norton's note that popped up too quickly to read. That doesn't sound too good for the end user
<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"><meta name="ProgId" content="Word.Document"><m
P
mtz, in short, my hundreds of bookmarks are back, including favorites imported from I.E. Thank you for making it pretty darn painless.
Im going to list my questions here and then reply in a separate post to items you mentioned in your previous two comments.
1) The other two profiles have a small number of bookmarks. Is there a way to add them new profile?
2) Should the three old profiles be copied to a safe place and then deleted from the profile manager?
3) When can I set the profile manager to Do not ask each time Firefox starts ?
4) Is there a way to recover the tags from the old profiles?
5) Is there a way to recover the Search Engine Plugins / Search Providers?
6) What is urlclassifier3.sqlite for? The new profile lists its size as 31.6 MB, second behind the 73.9 MB in places.sqlite, and nothing else even close.
7) What is the purpose of the bookmarkbackups folder?
1. Easiest way is to open each profile in Firefox, go to Bookmarks->Organize bookmarks delete any multiple that you already have, then Export as Html.
Then open your good profile, go to Bookmarks->organize and Import the html you just made, it will not over write, it adds them, however it also adds duplicates.
2. If you think you need the 3 old profiles, yes you can copy them to a safe place and then delete them, OR Once you have your Good Profile set up, you will click that "Do Not Ask each time Firefox Starts" and you won't see them again.
3. Once you have your Good Profile set up, you will click that "Do Not Ask each time Firefox Starts"
4. Tags, i think, but don't know for sure, are part of the places.sqlite. I don't see a way to recover them, unless they came with your import.
http://support.mozilla.com
5. Search engines, perhaps.
http://kb.mozillazine.org/
6. urlclassifier3.sqlite is the Phishing protection database. You ca ndelete if you would like, it will just be updated as you go along again and will grow in size.
7. The Bookmarks Backup folder is where Firefox stores it's automatic backups on a daily basis. Do not delete it.
http://kb.mozillazine.org/
mtz, HERE ARE THE ITEMS YOU MENTIONED PREVIOUSLY:
8. It would be great to be able to look at Norton's note that popped up too quickly to read. That doesn't sound too good for the end user . . .
DOES THIS STILL LOOK LIKE A PROBLEM, SINCE EVERYTHING SEEMS TO BE FINE?
9. We're going to do this in stages to see if something in your History or home page perhaps, caused the slowdown.
LOOKS LIKE A MOOT POINT, NOW. NO SLOWDOWNS.
10. Detail List view is best so you can look at them side by side.
THIS WAS NOT AN ESSENTIAL STEP, BUT IT REALLY WAS A GREAT CONVENIENCE AND A TIP THAT WILL BE USEFUL IN THE FUTURE. I CERTAINLY APPRECIATE YOUR TAKING THE TIME TO MENTION IT.
11. start Firefox in it's new profile. How does it run?
RUNNING FINE.
Check your History? Should be more there.
I HAVE NO HISTORY OLDER THAN THIS MONTH. SHOULD THERE BE MORE?
How did the profile work for you? Any slowdowns at his point in time? Any errors or warnings from Norton's?
PROFILE SEEMS FINE. NO SLOWDOWNS. NOTHING FROM NORTON.
12. I just read version 3.5 actually uses a new format for passwords . . .
IM USING ROBOFORM FOR PASSWORDS, SO I DONT THINK I HAVE ANYTHING MUCH TO RECOVER.
13. The most important file you need is key3.db.
THE NEW PROFILE DOES HAVE THIS FILE.
14. There may be a signons.txt, a signons2.txt, or a signons3.txt
Grab them all. Chances are yours will just have signons3.txt.
Once you have that, close the windows, and Open Firefox with your new profile and see if they were incorporated to your new profile.
I HAVE SIGNONS2.TXT AND SIGNONS3.TXT, BUT I DONT KNOW WHAT THESE ARE. HOW CAN I TELL IF THEY WERE INCORPORATED?
14. There may be a signons.txt, a signons2.txt, or a signons3.txt
Grab them all. Chances are yours will just have signons3.txt.
Once you have that, close the windows, and Open Firefox with your new profile and see if they were incorporated to your new profile.
I HAVE SIGNONS2.TXT AND SIGNONS3.TXT, BUT I DONT KNOW WHAT THESE ARE. HOW CAN I TELL IF THEY WERE INCORPORATED?
You will only know if they were incorporated IF you know whether or not you actually had any saved passwords from previous profiles, however since you mentioned that you never actually started a couple of those profiles, you should not have any passwords in them, so don't worry about them. You would only have passwords if you told Firefox to Save your passwords.
If you are using Roboform, then you didn't need to bother with Firefoxes passwords.
mtz, I wrote my comments in Word and pasted them into the EE comment box. Is that why the apostrophes show up as hieroglyphics?
I don't know. I don't write or understand the code that handles this website.
Thanks for points and the nice comments.
Business Accounts
Answer for Membership
by: mtz1of4Posted on 2009-10-10 at 14:42:26ID: 25543943
stcroix103,
For us to try to help, can you give us more info?
1. What OS are you running?
2. Can you provide a list of add-ons that you have installed in your firefox profile? (Not Critical.)
3. Do you have A Backup of your existing Profile?
4. What security programs do you have installed on this machine?
5. At what point are you getting confused in the Create A New Profile process?
I will be able to give you step by step if I know these things.