Uninstall And Install Firefox? Ie Unstable?

I had gone to Firefox for a while, but began getting the malware "Critical update" There were also times like now, when I would click on the icon and it would say Firefox is already running, please close to open. And I would get the same thing. So I'm back to using IE because there is a program with IE I have to use to get remote access at work. As far as browsing, it is terrible. It is slow, and sites frequently freeze up and I get the "not responding" message. Is this what is meant as unstable? So my question is, should I completely uninstall Firefox and reinstall and try again? Will I be able to find the favorites I had been saving under Firefox originally? Thanks. -I'm running windows 7

 

Try Palemoon - I find it is very good
http://www.majorgeeks.com/files/details/pale_moon.html

 

Silvelae69
The other question you asked- favorites
https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/export-firefox-bookmarks-to-backup-or-transfer

 

Uninstalling and reinstalling Firefox does not change or remove the Firefox Profile folder - it does not change or remove any of that Profile data.
If you are using Windows 7 32 bit then install this new version of Firefox - Firefox Quantum 57.01 32 bit
If you are using Windows 7 64 bit then install this new version of Firefox - Firefox Quantum 57.01 64bit
It is faster and smoother than any Fx version in years.
https://www.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/

 

another vote for quantum (FF 57) here. I've always loved firefox, but since Quantum update, it's REALLY fast and there is no way I'm replacing it any time soon.

 

I ran a malware program and also the iola mechanix program. Deleted Firefox and reinstalled. Worked for a little while, but got the message about Firefox still running in the background. Going to task manager, end firefox processes did not help. The problem is when I went to shut down, the blue circle just kept spinning, it would not shut down. There were no programs to force close. What should I do about this? I had to manually hold down the button on the tower to shut it down to restart.

 

silverlake69...any chance an single extension was both before you deleted FF and then added also after you reinstalled FF? I have run into malware extensions. They are out there for sure and can cause performance issues. This is especially true of cryptominer software which uses browser connection permissions to scour the internet for bitcoins. They are then sent to the hacker via the extension and using the same permissions. It can all be done in memory...

BTW, did you switch to FF 57? It's exceptionally better than before, and I would say better than Chrome. It does much better for me with a large number of tabs than Chrome. That might help with some of the problems you are seeing with FF. All the junk is gone completely. No plugin-container, no plugin-hangs. No comparison to the prior version imo...

 

I'm not sure how to check on the extensions. The FF program installed is 57.0.2. I've read that the Iola mechanix program is actually not well reviewed. Is there a better recommended system tool program?

 

If you don't know how to find extensions, you haven't added any. Only thing I can say is that this FF is using alot of RAM. I have seen it go up to 3 GB or so and that on a 4 GB system. When the RAM gets really high I have been restarting it, and I have noticed that it does take a very long time to close.

The good news is that it is dumping ALL the RAM, unlike Chrome, another RAM hog. It will only dump part of what it was using...or at least the RAM won't go down to where it was when Chrome was opened. Not the case with FF thankfully. So far this is what I am seeing.

Keep an eye on the % of RAM being used by the system when you are using FF. Also, keep in mind that Mozilla will be likely working on RAM usage (I say so based on what I have been seeing...fairly confident there will be comments from users). Don't think you would have any problems at any rate using FF for 4-6 or more hours in a row. However, closing it and waiting for the close to finish (the circle) will reset the system RAM. When you restart FF should you need to do so, it will be back down to a reasonable level.

 

Unfortunately, those add-on's can get installed behind your back -particularly when downloading, and installing from a web site- unlike majorgeeks, where it is often reminded that you watch what comes up, and do not click too quickly before checking each part of the process.

 

When you uninstall firefox you have to make sure that you delete the Folder in the %appdata% folder.Because even though you uninstall firefox there are still left overs.

 

Then he'll be deleting his profile.

 

Profile does not matter.You can reset every thing clean.

 

Sometimes I find this is the answer, starting fresh eliminates corruption at the base-basically just loses the favourites/bookmarks, if any.

 

https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/restore-bookmarks-from-backup-or-move-them

 

The app data file is profile only. It has nothing to do with the core program at all. So unless the problem is in the profile folder itself - and the user has already saved any logins and passwords first - telling people to do that is very very bad advice.
There is a very simple way to run Firefox in a troubleshooting manner that will show whether the problem exists there without losing data.
In Firefox it is very very easy to see, straight away, what extensions and plugins are already installed via Options > Add ons > 'extensions' and/or 'plugins'.
If a user merely wishes to start using a later version or different version of Firefox, there is never ever any need to mess about with the app data file.

 

Yes you can restore your book marks i do it all the time.

Max if the app data becomes corrupt in any way it needs to be removed.Yes the profile is in the folder.But if the profile has become corrupt than there is need to remove all bits of firefox.As a fresh install.

 

You have to have them (bookmarks, logins and passwords) backed up FIRST. The user can then do what they like with the program and the profile folder.
You really need to consider what you're posting before typing it.
App Data is a Windows term for a folder. Profile corruption will only be known and established after standard troubleshooting and not before and it is exceptionally bad advice to simply tell people to delete it. Your knowledge of using Firefox is clearly insufficient for you to give any safe advice. There is very rarely a need to do a clean and total uninstall of Firefox.

 

Opinions seem to vary , here.
Time is usually my reason to get rid of everything when an application plays up - I tend to find it quicker and easier to remove everything (I use Iobit Uninstaller)
Then a clean installation seems to answer it.