Basic "not responding" question

Victoria_Meldrew

9 times out of 10 when I try to open a browser I get a message in top left-hand corner saying Google Chrome/Mozilla not responding. Often nothing happens except for the green circle going round and round and I have to switch the computer off and start again. Is this likely to be a broadband problem or a problem with my computer? I'm pretty clueless so don't know what's causing it or how to prevent it. Also my computer is incredibly slow but I guess that's another ball game? Any advice much appreciated.

wongataa

That will most likely be a computer problem.

JJ_Egan

I would see if your problem browser has a help/tool button .With this you can usually open with add ons disabled .
I would also be clearing history and cookies .
Test your broadband speed vie speedtest.net.

grumbler

Change the browser, e.g. to Chrome.
FF is notorious for struggling to cope with over-complicated websites with far too many scripts. This is gets more noticeable if the computer lacks memory or processing power.

GunJack

if the pc is slow when not browsing, I suspect a bl00dy-good cleanup/disinfect/tweak is in order. OP, if you open the task manager without a browser open, how many processes/cpu useage/memory useage is showing? And what spec is the machine?

kirkatronics

It's much more likely to be your computer causing the problem.
What operating system is it on? I'll give you some instructions to speed it up.

System

Hi

When you can get a connection, I suggest the download and use of
Piriform CCleaner
Piriform Dfraggler

These can/will help with a general spring clean (currently the correct season) and they are fairly intuitive. Which will help the overall machine and your web browsers especially.

I can offer a batch file that may help with internet connectivity. You copy and paste into Notepad, Save As; and then double click to open, and then run thru the numbers 0 - 9.
Perfectly safe as lots of other here would agree.
Numbers 2 - 5 particularly relevant.

:: NetFix.bat, Copy, Paste and Save As
:: using a text editor like Notepad.
:: You can edit the file to your needs.
:: EG-Removing the :: in front of
:: ::ipconfig -all >>IPs.txt to create
:: a text file called IPs.txt to read.
@ECHO THIS MIGHT HELP TO REPAIR/RECTIFY
@ECHO SOME SIMPLE NETWORK DIFFICULTIES.
@ECHO NetFix.bat, based on work by
@ECHO Kevin Arrows, Jim Eshelman et al.
@ECHO ....................................
@ECHO.
@ECHO THE RESULTS MAY VARY ACCORDING TO
@ECHO YOUR CONFIGURATION AND USER LEVEL
@ECHO A RESTART SHOULD BE MADE AFTER
@ECHO THE RUNNING OF THE ABOVE TESTS
@ECHO ....................................
:MENU
@ECHO.
@ECHO ....................................
@ECHO.
@ECHO TYPE IN THE RELEVANT MENU NUMBER
@ECHO.
@ECHO ....................................
@ECHO.
@ECHO 0 - GET_MAC Obtain MAC address(es)
@ECHO 1 - GET_IPs Lists all IP addresses
@ECHO 2 - ADDRESS Force/Renew IP address
@ECHO 3 - DNS_FIX Flush and Register DNS
@ECHO 4 - WINSOCK Reset to remove errors
@ECHO 5 - IPV4_V6 Reset to remove errors
@ECHO 6 - PING_LO Ping tests to Loopback
@ECHO 7 - NETSTAT All Network Statistics
@ECHO 8 - SYS_SUM System Summary Windows
@ECHO 9 - EXITNOW Close this Command Box
@ECHO.
@ECHO ....................................
@ECHO OFF
COLOR F1
SET /P M= Choose from 0 - 9, then press ENTER:
IF %M%==0 GOTO GET_MAC
IF %M%==1 GOTO GET_IPs
IF %M%==2 GOTO ADDRESS
IF %M%==3 GOTO DNS_FIX
IF %M%==4 GOTO WINSOCK
IF %M%==5 GOTO IPV4_V6
IF %M%==6 GOTO PING_LO
IF %M%==7 GOTO NETSTAT
IF %M%==8 GOTO SYS_SUM
IF %M%==9 GOTO EXITNOW
::
:GET_MAC
getmac |more /c
:: getmac >> getmac.txt
GOTO MENU
::
:GET_IPs ipconfig -all | more /c
:: ipconfig -all >>IPs.txt GOTO MENU
::
ADDRESS
ipconfig /release
ipconfig /renew
GOTO MENU
::
DNS_FIX
ipconfig /flushdns
ipconfig /registerdns
GOTO MENU
::
:WINSOCK
netsh winsock reset catalog
GOTO MENU
::
:IPV4_V6
netsh int ipv4 reset reset.log
netsh int ipv6 reset reset.log
GOTO MENU
::
:PING_LO
ping LOOPBACK
GOTO MENU
::
:NETSTAT netstat -e -r -s | more /c
:: netstat -e -r -s >> netstat.txt
GOTO MENU
::
:SYS_SUM
msinfo32
GOTO MENU
::
:EXITNOW
EXIT

bluesnake

From the site http://kb.mozillazine.org/Safe_mode

Safe Mode is a debugging startup mode available in Firefox, where all added extensions are disabled, the default theme is used, and default localstore settings (toolbar settings and controls) are used. Safe Mode also disables hardware acceleration, the Just-in-time (JIT) JavaScript compiler, and any changes made via userContent.css and userChrome.css. Any changes made to preference settings remain in effect in Safe Mode, however, and all available plugins are used. To summarize:

Safe Mode temporarily affects the following:

All extensions are disabled.
The default theme is used, without a persona.
The Just-in-time (JIT) JavaScript compiler is disabled.
The userChrome.css and userContent.css files are ignored.
The default toolbar layout is used.
Hardware acceleration is disabled.

Safe Mode has no effect on the following:

The status of plugins is not affected.
Custom preferences are not affected.

Safe Mode also includes a number of troubleshooting options that allow you to make certain changes upon restarting your Mozilla application.

Starting Safe Mode

In current versions of Firefox, Thunderbird, and SeaMonkey 2, you can restart in Safe Mode via "Help -> Restart with Add-ons disabled...". A Safe Mode options window will appear when they restart (see below). [1] [2]

To enter Safe Mode in previous versions (or if you can't open your Mozilla application to use the Help menu) you must first make sure Firefox is not running in the background (including all windows like the Download Manager that open in a separate window) before following the instructions given below. Check using Task Manager.

Windows

Use one of these methods to start your Mozilla application in Safe Mode.

In current Mozilla application versions, hold down the Shift key while double-clicking the Firefox icon. (If the Profile Manager opens, select a profile and then hold down the Shift key again while clicking the "Start Firefox" button.) [3] [4]

In older versions, use the "Mozilla Firefox (Safe Mode)", shortcut in the Mozilla Firefox, program folder on the Windows Start Menu.

As an alternative method, press "Windows key Image:Windows_Key.png + R" on the keyboard to open a Run dialog (or click "Start → Run..." on Windows XP) and enter the following in the Run box:

For Firefox, one of these:

firefox -safe-mode
"C:\Program Files\Mozilla Firefox\firefox.exe" -safe-mode
"C:\Program Files (x86)\Mozilla Firefox\firefox.exe" -safe-mode

Adjust the path accordingly based on the actual installation directory (e.g., on 64-bit Windows, use "Program Files (x86)" instead of "Program Files") or if you installed your Mozilla program in a different location than shown above.


Give the free version of Malwarebytes a run through too on your system.


I have to say that creating a bootable linux usb stick is often very beneficial, because from it you can boot your PC, and in most cases surf straight away. Pre-installed word processor and spreadsheet which to a large extend is ms office compatible. You can install a virus checker on it and run this from the stick to scan your windows hard drive. You can copy to and from your disk (if your disk is not too far gone). You can use it to chkdsk your drive, but although not recommended, may prove to be useful in some circumstances. If your drive fails, for the week that you are waiting for a new once to be delivered, it can be a lifesaver.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S0gLlSIqKwU

pendragon_arther

grumbler wrote: »

Change the browser, e.g. to Chrome.
FF is notorious for struggling to cope with over-complicated websites with far too many scripts. This is getting more noticeable if the computer lacks memory or processing power.

That's why I moved from FF to Slimjet browser. I got tired of the 'firefox is not responding' or 'firebox plug-in has stopped working' or 'this is embarrasing'... Also it updated itself when I didn't want it to even after ticking the box to prevent it. The new browser is a slimmed down version of Chrome and you can even have the left sidebar showing with bookmarks which Chrome doesn't have (why?).

djmsemcgrath

I've got to say, aimed at someone who is self-confessed clueless, people posting in here about Safe Mode, Java compilers, and Linux bootable disks is a little unnecessary and overcomplicating matters.

To the original poster - I had the same issue a while back, and it was simply my router needing resetting. Try taking the power out of the router for 30 seconds and then plugging it back in. Wait a little bit then try reconnecting to the internet on your computer.

If that doesn't solve your problem, then I'd recommend some cleaning tools. CCleaner, as previously mentioned, is a good start. So is Malwarebytes. And an anti virus check from something from AVG or Avira. All of them are free downloads.

After all of that, it's worth seeing if it's a computer problem or an internet problem. Do you have any other devices? Do they get the same error? If yes, then it might be an internet problem rather than a computer problem. It'd be worth posting your answers in here and we can assist further.

artyclarty

Just to be able to give you a definative answer, it would help if you could give us the operating system and specs for the PC. This is found by right clicking "My Computer" or on newer versions of Windows "This PC" and selecting properties. (its been a while since I used XP, I think this is how to get there still!)

For example heres mine:

Operating System: Windows 10 home
System:
Processor - Intel Core i5 650 @3.20GHZ
Installed Memory (RAM) - 8.00GB
System type - 64bit operating system x64 based processor

Can you also tell us how full your C drive is? - just double click on "My Computer"/"This PC.

Mine for example, displays at 151GB free of 201GB