407647 - Firefox often freezes, especially with emails because of Linkscanner

Status: RESOLVED WORKSFORME

(Firefox :: General, defect)

Description

[ezra]

User-Agent:       Opera/9.24 (Windows NT 5.1; U; en)
Build Identifier: Firefox 2.0.0.11

Firefox often freezes, especially with emails, with message:
"We're experiencing technical difficulties that may prevent your chats from being sent" and often
"Error!
Could not connect to remote server

You tried to access the address https://bugzilla.mozilla.org/post_bug.cgi, which is currently unavailable. Please make sure that the Web address (URL) is correctly spelled and punctuated, then try reloading the page."
However, on going to other sites, e.g. www.websudoku.com, I have no problems.

I then open Opera or IE, and entering the email (gmail or hotmail) continue without problems. Although i prefer the layout and operation of Firefox over Opera or IE, I am considering using them as my referred browser

Reproducible: Sometimes

Steps to Reproduce:
1. Open Firefox
2. Open an internet email
3. Without warning, I get the message of "techincal difficulties"
Actual Results:  
The repoducibility above is not quite accurate- I would say, "happens OFTEN, but not always"

Expected Results:  
the same- often freezes

I use XP home, am an expereinced used, teach others the use of the computer, though am not a developer.

Comment 1

[Mats Palmgren (inactive)]

Does the problem occur also in Firefox Safe Mode?
(it temporarily disables add-ons and themes, this test will help us narrow
down the cause of the problem) --  See http://kb.mozillazine.org/Safe_Mode

Comment 2

[Harry]

"We're experiencing technical difficulties that may prevent your chats from
being sent" is GMail's own error message, not one of Firefox's.

Comment 3

[ezra]

Since using Firefox in Safe-Mode, Firefox has not crashed. I will continue for another few days in Firefox safe-mode. 
Assuming there are no crashes, I will then start eliminating the various add-ons one by one, and working in normal mode, to identify which one is causing the CRASH problem. As far as I remember, I have no chosen themes.

Comment 4

[ezra]

Since disabling all add-ons, not even one crash.
The five add-ons I have are:

Gmail space 0.5.90 Gspace. 
Grease Monkey 0.7.20070607.0; a user script manager for firefox
Talk-back -sends information of program crashes to Mozilla.
Iconix for firefox 3.30.1
XPL linkscanner for firefox 2.6:  guard against clicking malicious links 

Apart from going through one by one, any suggestions as to which is the likely culprit?
Thanks, ezrab

Comment 5

[Matthias Versen [:Matti]]

It can`t be talkback and I know that linkscanner seems to be on the topcrash list.
( can you confirm that a searchshield.dll comes with linkscanner ?)

Comment 6

[ezra]

It is now over a week, and I have had only two crashes. However, the last one was directly after installing the latest version of Irfanview, so guess it is because of one of the options opted for.
After reverting to the older edition, no further crashes.

BUT, although i have deleted the Linkscanner addon in Firefox, to the great benefit of (almost) no crashes, I do get a pop-up noting that "linkscanner is now protecting my computer." Well I can live with that. Linkscanner is definitely not functioning as a context link, so deleting Linkscanner from the addons has eliminated using LS as a permanent option.

Thanks for helping
ezra

Comment 7

[Matthias Versen [:Matti]]

If you uninstalled linkscanner with the firefox addon manager and you still have th epopup you can do this :
Uninstall Firefox (all addons and userdata as bookmarks will be still remain) and delete the c:\program Files\Firefox directory except the Plugins subdirectory.
After that reinstall Firefox.
It's possible that linkscanner dropped some .dlls in the Firefox directory which it didn't remove with the uninstallation of the addon.

Can we close this bug now because it works for you after you removed linkscanner ?

Comment 8

[ezra]

Yes, Matthias, the bug (Firefox crash/linkscanner) is solved- thanks again
ezra