Firefox optimization and troubleshooting thread

[lovinglinux]

The objective of this tutorial is to provide a simple, but comprehensive, list of optimizations for Firefox and help with troubleshooting common issues.

The tutorial is currently hosted on my web site, but you can find the table of content below, which links to each corresponding section. For questions and support is preferable that you post on this thread, but you can also post comments on the site. I monitor both on a daily basis.

The tutorial can be viewed on-line using the Table of Content below, or you can be downloaded to view off-line. It is saved using MHTML (MAFF and MHT) archiving formats, which can be opened by your web browser.

DOWNLOAD


Table of Content

Benchmarks

• Performance
• Bandwidth
• Page Loading

Profiles
Backups
Database Optimization
Extensions Optimization
Speed Optimization

• Extensions
• Firefox Preferences Tweaks

Flash Optimization

• Removing Conflicting Plugins
• Flash Tweaks
• Compiz, Xorg and Graphics Tweaks
• Blocking Flash Content
• Flash Replacements

Running Profiles From RAM
Installing Other Versions

• Installation Methods
  • #1 – Manual installation of fresh final releases from Mozilla
  • #2 – Automatic installation of fresh final releases from Ubuntuzilla
  • #3 – Installation from PPA repositories
  • #4 – Installing Non-Default and Alternative Browsers
• Method Comparison
  • Method #1 Details
  • Method #2 Details
  • Method #3 Details
  • Method #4.1 Details
  • Method #4.2 Details
  • Method #4.3 Details
• Extension Compatibility

Troubleshooting

• Firefox doesn't start through regular command/menu but starts using "sudo firefox" - [FOT001]
• Firefox covers the entire screen and you can’t minimize or close it - [FOT002]
• Addons page is blank - [FOT002]
• Some toolbars are missing - [FOT002]
• All bookmarks have disappeared and backups cannot be restored - [FOT003]
• Bookmarks changes are reverted after restart - [FOT003]
• Back and forward buttons are greyed out or doesn’t work - [FOT003]
• The Home Page is blank no matter what you put in the settings - [FOT003]
• Address bar does not work - [FOT003]
• Browser history does not work - [FOT003]
• Can’t play streaming flash videos - [FOT004]
• Flash videos display only a symbol and won’t start - [FOT004]
• Web sites keeps loading but never show up - [FOT005]
• Firefox can’t connect to any sites, but other browsers work - [FOT005]
• Firefox can connect to sites only using the IP number - [FOT005]
• Connections settings are reset after restart - [FOT005]
• No text on some webpages - [FOT006]
• Text on web pages is too small - [FOT006]
• Some images are displayed with weird colors - [FOT007]
• Firefox 3.5 crash when viewing YoutTube on fullscreen - [FOT008]
• No sound on YouTube or Hulu videos - [FOT009]
• Streaming video sound goes really fast sometimes - [FOT009]
• Firefox becomes unresponsive (grey) frequently - [FOT010]
• Firefox lock up with no apparent reason, even when left alone - [FOT010]
• Lost my bookmarks and settings after upgrade to Ubuntu Karmic 9.10 - [FOT011]
• Firefox display weird fonts, with greenish-blue shadows, after update - [FOT012]

Compiling Firefox

• Compilation and Installation
  • Removal
  • Manual Installation and Removal
  • Compiling with Profile-Guided Optimization

[xzero1]

Great thread! When I first started testing firefox 3.5 using an alpha version of Jaunty (3 maybe 2) it seemed much faster. It seems something happened to Jaunty that slowed it down. I did not add or change firefox. Did anyone else get the same impression?

[v1nsai]

I've been having an issue with firefox reverting to backed up bookmarks on close, I wasn't able to find a profiles folder (I assume all this is in .mozilla right?), but I did find many files labled as such: places.sqlite-#.corrupt, and there were 83 of them numbered 1-83 in the folder .mozilla/firefox/kmhbvuwv.default . I also saw a filed called profiles.ini sitting in .mozilla/firefox but other than that no profiles folder.

I deleted all the .corrupt places.sqlite files that I found, but all that happened was the icons next to all my bookmarks were lost, and still reverted back to the backup

[lovinglinux]

Originally Posted by v1nsai I've been having an issue with firefox reverting to backed up bookmarks on close, I wasn't able to find a profiles folder (I assume all this is in .mozilla right?), but I did find many files labled as such: places.sqlite-#.corrupt, and there were 83 of them numbered 1-83 in the folder .mozilla/firefox/kmhbvuwv.default . I also saw a filed called profiles.ini sitting in .mozilla/firefox but other than that no profiles folder. I deleted all the .corrupt places.sqlite files that I found, but all that happened was the icons next to all my bookmarks were lost, and still reverted back to the backup

The profile folder is .mozilla/firefox/kmhbvuwv.default

Delete all places.sqlite-#.corrupt just in case, but the one that is important is the places.sqlite without #.corrupt in the name. Just delete it and start Firefox again. It should fix the problem.

The file profiles.ini has nothing to do with your problem. It is the file that lists all profiles you have, but I think you have just one. Anyway, don't delete it.

[v1nsai]

Ah, I see. Anyway, I deleted places.sqlite about 3 times now, created a new bookmark, then closed and reopened and my bookmark has yet to make it through the restart. I've noticed that my history disappears every time I delete it, but my bookmarks still revert. Would deleting the cached .json file that I restored from do anything?

[v1nsai]

I think I solved it, I mv'ed my .mozilla folder to .mozillabak and then restored my bookmarks from the recent backup and then added a few new ones. Everything has persisted, even through a full system startup.

Weird...but solved. What does places.sqlite do?

[lovinglinux]

Originally Posted by v1nsai I think I solved it, I mv'ed my .mozilla folder to .mozillabak and then restored my bookmarks from the recent backup and then added a few new ones. Everything has persisted, even through a full system startup. Weird...but solved. What does places.sqlite do?

Just for the record, you could have moved/renamed/deleted only the firefox folder inside .mozilla and the effect would be the same. All Mozilla applications, like Thunderbird or Sunbird, stores their profiles inside .mozilla, so deleting/moving the entire .mozilla folder is not recommended/needed, because it would reset all Mozilla program settings, not only Firefox.

The places.sqlite file is a database where bookmarks and browsing history are stored.

[mattsimis]

For the "Font too small.." problem (issue on big Plasmas and projectors typically), I recommend the "NoSquint" addon, with it set to apply a 20% increase on all pages (NoSquint's default mode is to remember specific pages).
http://urandom.ca/nosquint/

This is better than changing the font size as it scales the whole page (images too), making it less likely to have overlapping or truncated text.



Now, if anyone could advise how to get Backspace working as a "Back" button like on other platform FF builds, I would be happy.

[kevdog]

I haven't tried really anything in this thread yet, however just wanted to thank your for the time that went into preparing the advice in the guide. Very informative and a job well done!

[kromagg]

The "general system optimization" tips section in there is completely superfluous. It also happens to be full of misinformation, I'd just remove it or splice it out to another thread if I were you.