Search Support

Avoid support scams. We will never ask you to call or text a phone number or share personal information. Please report suspicious activity using the “Report Abuse” option.

Learn More

Firefox Browser constantly freezes, MUST move pointer/mouse to make it work.

  • 10 replies
  • 1 has this problem
  • 5 views
  • Last reply by sgb827

more options

The title says it all. I have been using Firefox for over 2 months now, and have just run its 'refresh' program, it did nothing. I use to use Firefox till I got this Dell computer 4 years ago, a PC, with i think Internet Explorer 10 or 9 in it. I used it till 2 months ago when it screwed up, and Microsoft wont help me without a 'warranty'.

It keeps showing a dialog box that says 'internet Explorer has stopped working, windows will contact you if it finds an answer....' never found an answer and i try to download IE11, and it says that I am running a NEWER version than that already! So i went back to Firefox.

BUT now Firefox wont do anything if I dont CONSTANTLY move my pointer/mouse on the screen. Whatever i am looking at just freezes. If i put in a new website address it wont go unless i move the pointer, if I am looking at a video on YouTube, it stops after like 5-10 seconds, but starts back up once I move the mouse/pointer. I'm go on EBay looking at things and it stops moving. I go to any page and it just freezes up. What is going on? Anyone know? Everything works ok....as long as i move the mouse/pointer. but thats a pain in the neck!

The title says it all. I have been using Firefox for over 2 months now, and have just run its 'refresh' program, it did nothing. I use to use Firefox till I got this Dell computer 4 years ago, a PC, with i think Internet Explorer 10 or 9 in it. I used it till 2 months ago when it screwed up, and Microsoft wont help me without a 'warranty'. It keeps showing a dialog box that says 'internet Explorer has stopped working, windows will contact you if it finds an answer....' never found an answer and i try to download IE11, and it says that I am running a NEWER version than that already! So i went back to Firefox. BUT now Firefox wont do anything if I dont CONSTANTLY move my pointer/mouse on the screen. Whatever i am looking at just freezes. If i put in a new website address it wont go unless i move the pointer, if I am looking at a video on YouTube, it stops after like 5-10 seconds, but starts back up once I move the mouse/pointer. I'm go on EBay looking at things and it stops moving. I go to any page and it just freezes up. What is going on? Anyone know? Everything works ok....as long as i move the mouse/pointer. but thats a pain in the neck!

All Replies (10)

more options

This issue can possibly be caused by malware on your computer.

Do a malware check with several malware scanning programs on the Windows computer. Please scan with all programs because each program detects different malware. All these programs have free versions.

Make sure that you update each program to get the latest version of their databases before doing a scan.

You can also do a check for a rootkit infection with TDSSKiller.

See also:

more options

Thanks for this reply, but i have a great anti virus program running 24/7 and just ran a 'deep scan' and found no issues. Not a cheap anti virus program,cost a lot and read it is rated the second best that a consumer can buy, the 'first' was like over $100 to buy. I have had it for 1 year, Kaspersky. If i try and download all those programs and scan ,ill be here for days. i have found these 'free' programs ADD the Malware,not filter Malware out. Thats why i bought this Kaspersky finally, it got rid of tons of problems when i installed it. And these free ones tend to add tons of 'junk' to my computer. I have used some of them and they did nothing, or want money before they will do anything, so i bought my program and have had no issues till 2 months ago. Any other ideas?

more options

You can at least give AdwCleaner a try.

Note that there is no single anti-virus program that covers all types of malware, so you shouldn't be that confident.

more options

Thank you again for the reply i downloaded this one ran it and now i cant see YouTube videos at all. And the screen still freezes. I am going to go and try to uninstall it now.

more options

Did AdwCleaner create a log of what changes were made?

If using various malware scanners does not fix it or if you are blocked from installing those scanners then ask advice at a forum that specializes in malware removal.

Does it work with the Flash player on YouTube in case you currently use the HTML5 media player?

more options

i deleted that Adwcleaner and didnt save the files it said it installed. I have just tried to download IE11 again, this time it installed! but still didnt ix my IE9 or 10 that i have. I installed IE 11 and it still wont run past the homepage,. My Firefox is working, mybe ill install Chrome. Or I will live with having to move the pointer i guess. I cant do half the things you are asking to do. I cant even 'copy and paste'. I dont know how to do simple things like that. I just do email and Ebay and look around at websites like YouTube,but now i cant even do that, the video wont play! I JUST started to go there a few weeks ago, and now im out of that. I give up.

more options

You may have had an addon that was creating the issues somehow ,either by incompatibility or otherwise, and adwcleaner may have removed that addon

more options

Did you recently make a firefox update? Automatically?

more options

If firefox updates can be so buggy, I think that option should be automatically set to ask you before firefox updates

more options

no i didnt downloads any ad-ons or update FireFox i dont add ad ons unless for some reason it is sent to me from like Microsoft to update my Windows program.