Firefox issue

I've run into a very weird memory leak issue with firefox, probably caused by flash.

If I use firefox to load up a page which has flash on it, it freezes up completely (CPU usage says firefox is using 0%). Same thing happens with IE, but Safari runs flash content runs fine.

I can close firefox using task manager, and usually restart it. If my computer is on for a while, I can't start up firefox at all (nothing happens but firefox.exe is listed under task manager). If it gets to this point I can load safari or IE but the instant I try to load a page they freeze completely. Some other software (pokerstars / full tilt / MSN) freeze up up this point if I try to run them, but stuff like minesweeper seems to run fine.

Probably related is that whenever I try to open an MP3, there is a delay of about 6 seconds before it will open. If I have a playlist, subsequent mp3s will not have this issue. This issue is independent of the earlier firefox issue.

Logging out and in doesn't fix the problem, only resetting does.

This is pretty frustrating and I wondered if anyone has heard of this before?

OK after reading the FAQ (no idea how I missed it!):

I have long since tried uninstalilng and reinstalling firefox, including manually deleting the profile. I check out google a number of times and have tried updating flash, installing firefox 3 (which immediately shuts down if i try to start it).

I'm pretty competent with computers (can follow basically any instructions) and I could but I really don't want to format, it's such a pain!

I have windows XP, SP2, AMD Athlon 1.25GHz (apparently, I thought it was like 2GHz...) and 512MB of ram.

if IE and safari are fucking up too, along with other software, then just format, no matter how much it sucks. no sense in wasting more time on it.

AMD don't list their actual clock speeds but instead a number that is comparable with an Intel chip.

Eg The AMD Athlon 64 3000 has a clock speed of 1.8Ghz but is called the 3000 because it is supposed to be comparable with an Intel 3ghz.

So it sounds about right that your AMD 2000 would run at an actual speed of 1.25Ghz.

That seems like a pretty old computer - might be an issue with ram or something (at a long shot).

Actually I think the CPU speed is being misread, I'm pretty sure it was like a 2800 AMD (yea I know about how 2800 =/= 2.8GHz.

If I want to reinstall I have to buy myself a dvd writer (CD drive is dead) Thanks for the aid so far, I'll keep putting away at it...

I completely uninstalled firefox. I'm using Safari exclusively. The problem hasn't resurfaced.