Firefox Processes Launching

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Trevor Chandler

Trevor Chandler

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Jul 4, 2020
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#1
Hello CINners,

Got a question for the Windows 10 Elite!

When I power-up my computer, or wake it up from sleep mode, I will often times see
a couple (anywhere from 2 to 4) of Firefox processes running in Task Manager. Now,
the processes don't run indefinitely, and no actual browser is opened. However, just
the running of those Firefox processes consumes vital resources (CPU and Memory)
for the duration that they do run.

My question: Why do those Firefox processes launch automatically like that? If you do
know the why, are you able to guide me on how to prevent this from happening?

Remember, this is a question for the Windows 10 Elite, not the petite (i.e. neophytes or
casual users)!!!

Many thanks CINners.
 
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#3
precious said:
Maybe it is running background tasks like updates or preloading for speed. You can try to disable 'Fast Startup' or stop it from auto-launching in Task Manager.
Click to expand...
I could certainly understand it preloading for speed if I manually launched it, but preloading for speed each time my machine is starting up? I'm not saying you're not right, cause I'm not qualified to do that. I'm just commenting because of how perplexing that is, if you are indeed correct. You've probably never been more right in your life with your assessment!!!!

Interestingly enough, Firefox doesn't even appear in my list of apps in the Startup tab. That's something that I looked at a while back.

Where is this "Fast Startup" exactly, so that I can have a look at disabling that?
 
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#4
Trevor Chandler said:
Hello CINners,

Got a question for the Windows 10 Elite!

When I power-up my computer, or wake it up from sleep mode, I will often times see
a couple (anywhere from 2 to 4) of Firefox processes running in Task Manager. Now,
the processes don't run indefinitely, and no actual browser is opened. However, just
the running of those Firefox processes consumes vital resources (CPU and Memory)
for the duration that they do run.

My question: Why do those Firefox processes launch automatically like that? If you do
know the why, are you able to guide me on how to prevent this from happening?

Remember, this is a question for the Windows 10 Elite, not the petite (i.e. neophytes or
casual users)!!!

Many thanks CINners.
Click to expand...

From Task Manager > check the startup tab, see what applications are running.
It is possible that there is a startup task that requires firefox to run, i.e. check for updates.
 
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#5
Trevor Chandler said:
I could certainly understand it preloading for speed if I manually launched it, but preloading for speed each time my machine is starting up? I'm not saying you're not right, cause I'm not qualified to do that. I'm just commenting because of how perplexing that is, if you are indeed correct. You've probably never been more right in your life with your assessment!!!!

Interestingly enough, Firefox doesn't even appear in my list of apps in the Startup tab. That's something that I looked at a while back.

Where is this "Fast Startup" exactly, so that I can have a look at disabling that?
Click to expand...
Sure its a try and error.........Control Panel > Power Options > Choose what the power buttons do. Then click on Change settings that are currently unavailable and uncheck Turn on fast startup.........Also some extensions might have background processes that run even when Firefox isn't actively open.
 
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#6
jarrelrivera said:
From Task Manager > check the startup tab, see what applications are running.
It is possible that there is a startup task that requires firefox to run, i.e. check for updates.
Click to expand...
Great.......It's a good idea to check the Startup tab to see if any Firefox-related tasks are set to run on startup
 
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#7
Trevor Chandler said:
I could certainly understand it preloading for speed if I manually launched it, but preloading for speed each time my machine is starting up? I'm not saying you're not right, cause I'm not qualified to do that. I'm just commenting because of how perplexing that is, if you are indeed correct. You've probably never been more right in your life with your assessment!!!!

Interestingly enough, Firefox doesn't even appear in my list of apps in the Startup tab. That's something that I looked at a while back.

Where is this "Fast Startup" exactly, so that I can have a look at disabling that?
Click to expand...
You can also get a look

Why does firefox have so many processes?
Disable Multiple Firefox Processes Running In The Background!
 
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#10
Trevor Chandler said:
My question: Why do those Firefox processes launch automatically like that? If you do
know the why, are you able to guide me on how to prevent this from happening?
Click to expand...
Well, here's what you do -

Hold the Windows key, press R.
Type "appwiz.cpl"
Find Firefox in the list of installed apps.
Click Uninstall.

Reboot system.

Problem solved.

/r
 
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#13
Rick Butler said:
Well, here's what you do -

Hold the Windows key, press R.
Type "appwiz.cpl"
Find Firefox in the list of installed apps.
Click Uninstall.

Reboot system.

Problem solved.

/r
Click to expand...
Mr. Butler, if I follow your suggestion, that will remove the app altogether. I don't want to wipe the app from system. I do want to be able to use it occasionally! I just don't want any Firefox processes firing up, without my manually launching the browser. I'm paranoid that something nefarious is happening when I see these processes. I would expect to see those Firefox processes when I manually launch Firefox, just like I see the processes for Edge and Chrome.

Anyway, outside of blowing up the Firefox app completely, might you have any ideas as to why these 2, 3, or 4 Firefox processes voluntarily start? They don't run indefinitely - maybe 3 or 4 minutes, then they disappear. Still, 2 seconds is too long for me, considering that I've done nothing to launch the Firefox browser.
 
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#14
precious said:
Ah, the 'nuclear option'—effective.........Does this means that there is no solution while it's installed?
Click to expand...
It's my "Fedora-approved" solution - I'm not much a fan for Firefox, I'm afraid, so I thought I'd do Trevor a solid and spare him the pain.
Trevor Chandler said:
Mr. Butler, if I follow your suggestion, that will remove the app altogether.
Click to expand...
Yeahhhh.,..that's the point.

Trevor Chandler said:
I do want to be able to use it occasionally! I just don't want any Firefox processes firing up, without my manually launching the browser. I'm paranoid that something nefarious is happening when I see these processes. I would expect to see those Firefox processes when I manually launch Firefox, just like I see the processes for Edge and Chrome.

Anyway, outside of blowing up the Firefox app completely, might you have any ideas as to why these 2, 3, or 4 Firefox processes voluntarily start? They don't run indefinitely - maybe 3 or 4 minutes, then they disappear. Still, 2 seconds is too long for me, considering that I've done nothing to launch the Firefox browser.
Click to expand...
Well, okay then - I think someone mentioned that if you go into the Startup Apps area within Task Manager, you can look in there and see if FF has something there...I think there is also a Maintenance widget that is also loaded with Firefox - not sure what happens if you uninstalled that... again, it's been ages since I last looked at Firefox in a meaningful way.

Or, if you have a thing for pain, you can dig in the startup keys in the system registry:
Computer\HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
Computer\HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run

/r
 
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