Firefox 2.0.0.3 (#2): Poor performance; downgrading; site rendering issues
The latest troubleshooting reports for Firefox 2.0.0.3: poor performance, site rendering issues and more.
Poor performance Several users are lamenting poor performance after updating to Firefox 2.0.0.3.
Possible fixes
Make sure application is not running in Rosetta If you are using an Intel-based Mac, follow these steps to ensure Firefox is not running in Rosetta (PowerPC translation) mode:
- Quit Firefox if it is running
- Using the Finder, locate the FIrefox application (generally in the /Applications folder) and select it.
- Go to the "File" menu and choose "Get Info."
- Make sure that the "Open using Rosetta" box is not checked (see screenshot to the right)
Use processor-optimized version Some users find better performance with the processor-optimized builds of Firefox 2.0.0.3, available from Neil Lee.
Use 3.0 alpha We've also received several notes indicating enhanced performance from the alpha release of Firefox 3.0, available from a Mozilla download directory.
If you have any feedback on the Firefox 3.0 alpha release, please drop us a line.
Downgrade See instructions below
Downgrading Firefox Note that older versions of Firefox, including 2.0.0.2, are available from: http://releases.mozilla.org/pub/mozilla.org/firefox/releases/. If you are experiencing significant issues after updating and wish to downgrade, simply download the older release then drag Firefox 2.0.0.3 to the Trash. Next, drag the (newly downloaded) older release to the /Applications folder.
Site rendering issues Some users are reporting site rendering issues under Firefox 2.00.3.
MacFixIt reader Ted Grigg writes:
"Buttons do not render showing frequent broken links and inferior page rendering making the program unusable for me. I now use Camino and Safari (and occasionally OmniWeb) instead of Firefox."
Another reader adds:
"I installed Firefox 2.0.0.3, nd now I'm uninstalling it. It can barely load one page - it's got a serious hang problem. Not sure what's going on."
Feedback? Late-breakers@macfixit.com.
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