Problem loading pages unless in IE tab

I have slow dial-up. For the last few months, I've noticed that sometimes Firefox won't load pages, and my internet icon shows no activity. I can use the IE tab to load the page, but Firefox alone takes forever. What could be the problem and how can it best be handled?

 

What version of FF are you using? Have you tried in Safe Mode with Networking?

 

Sorry for the late response, but I never received the instant notification I requested.

I am using FF 17.0.1. I haven't attempted it in Safe Mode, yet, but will see if I can get to that within a day or two.

Thanks

 

Unfortunately, this problem is too inconsistent to test it in Safe Mode. Any other thoughts?

 

1) Same problem in a different browser, (such as IE or Chrome)?

2) What's your Download/Upload speed?

 

I've only observed this problem with FF, not IE or Opera, though those browsers have their issues, also. My download speed for FF & Opera is .02MB, while the upload speed for FF is .09MB and for Opera is .08MB. Maybe the problem will go away when I upgrade to high speed access in May.

 

No doubt. That ".02" is horrendous.

The average size of today's webpage is close to 1 MegaByte. 1 MegaByte times 8 bits in a byte equals a total of 8 Megabits. 8 Megabits divided by your .02 Megabits per second equals 400 seconds, divided by 60 seconds in a minute equals

6.66 minutes to download a single webpage. ​

 

For the most part, it doesn't take that long to load pages, unless I am attempting to open something like a hotmail account. That will take 7+ minutes to download. It makes no sense to me, as something like hotmail doesn't need to be that data intensive. I don't know who Microsoft is trying to impress, but it doesn't impress me. The same site only gets more difficult to download, over time. I wish all sites provided a basic option, for people with dial-up. When I want my email, I want my email and nothing else. All the pretty pictures on sites just keep me from those sites. I do see a significant difference between my computer and the library's computer, and look forward to having higher speed access. I just can't afford the extra cost, till my lease is up.

 

Try Gmail. (Less 'noise').

 

I agree, though I have long-standing email accounts for work and such, so I just suffer through hotmail, till I can get high speed. I don't understand the need for hotmail to be more data intensive than gmail. I also have difficulty believing that Google won't find some way to make money off of my personal data.

 

Probably something to do with money.

Outlook.com?