cliveone
Level 1 (0 points)

Q: Kernel panics using Firefox

I've had a series of kernel panics recently while using Firefox. I've switched to Safari and they seem to have stopped. Anyone know how to stop Firefox panicking my kernel? I have the latest version of Firefox. Thanks!

PowerBook G3 Pismo, Mac OS X (10.2.x)

Posted on Aug 17, 2015 10:14 AM

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cliveone

Q: Kernel panics using Firefox

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  • Helpful answers

  • by BobHarris,

    BobHarris BobHarris Aug 17, 2015 11:20 AM in response to cliveone
    Level 6 (19,292 points)
    Mac OS X
    Aug 17, 2015 11:20 AM in response to cliveone

    Please post the full panic report

    <http://support.apple.com/kb/ht2546>

  • by cliveone,

    cliveone cliveone Aug 17, 2015 2:49 PM in response to BobHarris
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Aug 17, 2015 2:49 PM in response to BobHarris

    Here is the text of two recent panic reports:

    Kernel Panic #1 – Tues, Aug 4:

    Interval Since Last Panic Report: 22079 sec

    Panics Since Last Report: 1

    Anonymous UUID: 09D8CD53-942E-4885-BEE2-4C92CE8BF3D2

     

    Tue Aug  4 17:00:31 2015

    panic(cpu 1 caller 0x2abf6a): Kernel trap at 0x00982ad9, type 14=page fault, registers:

    CR0: 0x80010033, CR2: 0x00000030, CR3: 0x00101000, CR4: 0x00000660

    EAX: 0x24bd3000, EBX: 0x00000027, ECX: 0x24bd412c, EDX: 0x00000000

    CR2: 0x00000030, EBP: 0x35902b88, ESI: 0x00000000, EDI: 0x0902f800

    EFL: 0x00010206, EIP: 0x00982ad9, CS:  0x00000004, DS:  0x3590000c

    Error code: 0x00000000

     

    Backtrace (CPU 1), Frame : Return Address (4 potential args on stack)

    0x35902918 : 0x21b837 (0x5dd7fc 0x3590294c 0x223ce1 0x0)

    0x35902968 : 0x2abf6a (0x59e3d0 0x982ad9 0xe 0x59e59a)

    0x35902a48 : 0x2a1a78 (0x35902a68 0x0 0x27000000 0x0)

    0x35902a60 : 0x982ad9 (0xe 0x20048 0x2000c 0xc)

    0x35902b88 : 0x56d5c6 (0x902f800 0x5464068 0x3c 0x0)

    0x35902bd8 : 0x56e23c (0x9a5d78 0x902f800 0x5464064 0x0)

    0x35902c28 : 0x56eb59 (0x902f800 0x13 0x35902c70 0x0)

    0x35902d48 : 0x286638 (0x902f800 0x13 0x5464064 0x0)

    0x35903df8 : 0x21dbe5 (0x546403c 0x538f5a0 0x1f7c00 0x14a23)

    0x35903e38 : 0x210a86 (0x5464000 0x0 0x69393b0 0x5436cb0)

    0x35903e98 : 0x216f84 (0x5464000 0x0 0x0 0x0)

    0x35903f18 : 0x295914 (0x35903f44 0x0 0x0 0x0)

    0x35903fc8 : 0x2a20f8 (0x4c56fb4 0x2a20ea 0x4 0x246)

    No mapping exists for frame pointer

    Backtrace terminated-invalid frame pointer 0xbfff7b58

          Kernel Extensions in backtrace (with dependencies):

    com.apple.ATIRadeonX1000(6.3.6)@0x94f000->0x9aafff

                dependency: com.apple.iokit.IONDRVSupport(2.2.1)@0x942000

                dependency: com.apple.iokit.IOGraphicsFamily(2.2.1)@0x920000

                dependency: com.apple.iokit.IOPCIFamily(2.6.5)@0x909000

     

    BSD process name corresponding to current thread: firefox

     

    Mac OS version:

    10K549

     

    Kernel version:

    Darwin Kernel Version 10.8.0: Tue Jun  7 16:33:36 PDT 2011; root:xnu-1504.15.3~1/RELEASE_I386

    System model name: MacBookPro1,1 (Mac-F425BEC8)

     

    System uptime in nanoseconds: 22334878414388

    unloaded kexts:

    1. com.apple.driver.AppleFileSystemDriver                  2.0 (addr 0xcf0000, size 0x12288) - last unloaded 218434677279

    loaded kexts:

    1. com.apple.filesystems.autofs                   2.1.0 - last loaded 38325066121
    2. com.apple.driver.AppleHWSensor           1.9.3d0
    3. com.apple.driver.AppleHDA    2.0.5f14
    4. com.apple.driver.AppleUpstreamUserClient           3.5.7
    5. com.apple.driver.AppleMCCSControl     1.0.20
    6. com.apple.driver.SMCMotionSensor      3.0.1d2
    7. com.apple.kext.ATIFramebuffer                6.3.6
    8. com.apple.driver.AudioAUUC                   1.57
    9. com.apple.Dont_Steal_Mac_OS_X           7.0.0
    10. com.apple.driver.AudioIPCDriver             1.1.6
    11. com.apple.driver.AirPort.Atheros21       425.14.7
    12. com.apple.driver.AppleIntelYonahProfile                 14
    13. com.apple.driver.ACPI_SMC_PlatformPlugin          4.7.0a1
    14. com.apple.driver.AppleLPC     1.5.1
    15. com.apple.ATIRadeonX1000  6.3.6
    16. com.apple.driver.AppleBacklight              170.0.46
    17. com.apple.kext.AppleSMCLMU                1.5.2d10
    18. com.apple.driver.AppleUSBTrackpad      201.6
    19. com.apple.driver.AppleUSBTCKeyEventDriver         201.6
    20. com.apple.driver.AppleUSBTCKeyboard                   201.6
    21. com.apple.driver.AppleIRController        303.8
    22. com.apple.iokit.SCSITaskUserClient         2.6.8
    23. com.apple.BootCache              31.1
    24. com.apple.AppleFSCompression.AppleFSCompressionTypeZlib            1.0.0d1
    25. com.apple.iokit.IOAHCIBlockStorage       1.6.4
    26. com.apple.driver.AppleSmartBatteryManager         160.0.0
    27. com.apple.driver.AppleAHCIPort             2.1.7
    28. com.apple.driver.AppleIntelPIIXATA        2.5.1
    29. com.apple.driver.AppleFWOHCI               4.7.3
    30. com.apple.driver.AppleUSBHub               4.2.4
    31. com.apple.iokit.AppleYukon2                   3.2.1b1
    32. com.apple.driver.AppleUSBEHCI              4.2.4
    33. com.apple.driver.AppleUSBUHCI             4.2.0
    34. com.apple.driver.AppleEFINVRAM           1.4.0
    35. com.apple.driver.AppleRTC     1.3.1
    36. com.apple.driver.AppleHPET   1.5
    37. com.apple.driver.AppleACPIButtons       1.3.6
    38. com.apple.driver.AppleSMBIOS                1.7
    39. com.apple.driver.AppleACPIEC                 1.3.6
    40. com.apple.driver.AppleAPIC    1.4
    41. com.apple.driver.AppleIntelCPUPowerManagementClient    142.6.0
    42. com.apple.security.sandbox   1
    43. com.apple.security.quarantine                 0
    44. com.apple.nke.applicationfirewall           2.1.14
    45. com.apple.driver.AppleIntelCPUPowerManagement               142.6.0
    46. com.apple.driver.DspFuncLib                   2.0.5f14
    47. com.apple.iokit.IOFireWireIP   2.0.3
    48. com.apple.driver.AppleProfileReadCounterAction                  17
    49. com.apple.driver.AppleProfileTimestampAction    10
    50. com.apple.driver.AppleProfileThreadInfoAction    14
    51. com.apple.driver.AppleProfileRegisterStateAction                   10
    52. com.apple.driver.AppleProfileKEventAction            10
    53. com.apple.driver.AppleProfileCallstackAction        20
    54. com.apple.iokit.IOSurface        74.2
    55. com.apple.iokit.IOBluetoothSerialManager             2.4.5f3
    56. com.apple.iokit.IOSerialFamily                  10.0.3
    57. com.apple.iokit.IOAudioFamily                 1.8.3fc2
    58. com.apple.kext.OSvKernDSPLib               1.3
    59. com.apple.driver.AppleHDAController   2.0.5f14
    60. com.apple.iokit.IOHDAFamily 2.0.5f14
    61. com.apple.iokit.IO80211Family               320.1
    62. com.apple.iokit.AppleProfileFamily         41
    63. com.apple.driver.IOPlatformPluginFamily                4.7.0a1
    64. com.apple.driver.AppleBacklightExpert  1.0.1
    65. com.apple.iokit.IONDRVSupport             2.2.1
    66. com.apple.kext.ATI1600Controller          6.3.6
    67. com.apple.kext.ATISupport     6.3.6
    68. com.apple.iokit.IOGraphicsFamily           2.2.1
    69. com.apple.driver.AppleSMC    3.1.0d5
    70. com.apple.driver.CSRUSBBluetoothHCIController                   2.4.5f3
    71. com.apple.driver.AppleUSBBluetoothHCIController               2.4.5f3
    72. com.apple.iokit.IOBluetoothFamily         2.4.5f3
    73. com.apple.driver.AppleUSBMergeNub   4.2.4
    74. com.apple.iokit.IOUSBHIDDriver              4.2.0
    75. com.apple.driver.AppleUSBComposite   3.9.0
    76. com.apple.iokit.IOSCSIMultimediaCommandsDevice              2.6.8
    77. com.apple.iokit.IOBDStorageFamily         1.6
    78. com.apple.iokit.IODVDStorageFamily      1.6
    79. com.apple.iokit.IOCDStorageFamily         1.6.1
    80. com.apple.driver.XsanFilter     402.1
    81. com.apple.iokit.IOATAPIProtocolTransport             2.5.1
    82. com.apple.iokit.IOSCSIArchitectureModelFamily    2.6.8
    83. com.apple.iokit.IOAHCIFamily                   2.0.6
    84. com.apple.iokit.IOATAFamily   2.5.1
    85. com.apple.iokit.IOFireWireFamily             4.2.6
    86. com.apple.iokit.IOUSBUserClient             4.2.4
    87. com.apple.iokit.IONetworkingFamily       1.10
    88. com.apple.iokit.IOUSBFamily  4.2.4
    89. com.apple.driver.AppleEFIRuntime          1.4.0
    90. com.apple.iokit.IOHIDFamily   1.6.6
    91. com.apple.iokit.IOSMBusFamily               1.1
    92. com.apple.kext.AppleMatch   1.0.0d1
    93. com.apple.security.TMSafetyNet             6
    94. com.apple.driver.DiskImages  289.1
    95. com.apple.iokit.IOStorageFamily              1.6.3
    96. com.apple.driver.AppleACPIPlatform      1.3.6
    97. com.apple.iokit.IOACPIFamily 1.3.0
    98. com.apple.iokit.IOPCIFamily    2.6.5

    Model: MacBookPro1,1, BootROM MBP11.0055.B08, 2 processors, Intel Core Duo, 2 GHz, 2 GB, SMC 1.2f10

    Graphics: ATI Radeon X1600, ATY,RadeonX1600, PCIe, 256 MB

    Memory Module: global_name

    AirPort: spairport_wireless_card_type_airport_extreme (0x168C, 0x86), Atheros 5424: 2.1.14.6

    Bluetooth: Version 2.4.5f3, 2 service, 19 devices, 1 incoming serial ports

    Network Service: AirPort, AirPort, en1

    Serial ATA Device: WDC WD3200BEVT-00ZCT0, 298.09 GB

    Parallel ATA Device: MATSHITADVD-R   UJ-857

    USB Device: Built-in iSight, 0x05ac  (Apple Inc.), 0x8501, 0xfd400000 / 2

    USB Device: Apple Internal Keyboard / Trackpad, 0x05ac  (Apple Inc.), 0x0218, 0x1d200000 / 2

    USB Device: IR Receiver, 0x05ac (Apple Inc.), 0x8240, 0x5d200000 / 2

    USB Device: Bluetooth USB Host Controller, 0x05ac  (Apple Inc.), 0x8205, 0x7d100000 / 2

     

    Kernel Panic #2 – Weds Aug 12:

    Interval Since Last Panic Report: 78798 sec

    Panics Since Last Report: 1

    Anonymous UUID:                    09D8CD53-942E-4885-BEE2-4C92CE8BF3D2

     

    Wed Aug 12 10:25:42 2015

    panic(cpu 0 caller 0x2abf6a): Kernel trap at 0x3593bad9, type 14=page fault, registers:

    CR0: 0x80010033, CR2: 0x00000030, CR3: 0x00101000, CR4: 0x00000660

    EAX: 0x23d50000, EBX: 0x00000027, ECX: 0x23d5112c, EDX: 0x00000000

    CR2: 0x00000030, EBP: 0x2ebaab88, ESI: 0x00000000, EDI: 0x0591c800

    EFL: 0x00010206, EIP: 0x3593bad9, CS:  0x00000004, DS:  0x2eba000c

    Error code: 0x00000000

     

    Backtrace (CPU 0), Frame : Return Address (4 potential args on stack)

    0x2ebaa918 : 0x21b837 (0x5dd7fc 0x2ebaa94c 0x223ce1 0x0)

    0x2ebaa968 : 0x2abf6a (0x59e3d0 0x3593bad9 0xe 0x59e59a)

    0x2ebaaa48 : 0x2a1a78 (0x2ebaaa68 0x0 0x663ca000 0x0)

    0x2ebaaa60 : 0x3593bad9 (0xe 0x20048 0x2000c 0xc)

    0x2ebaab88 : 0x56d5c6 (0x591c800 0x4395c68 0x3c 0x0)

    0x2ebaabd8 : 0x56e23c (0x3595ed78 0x591c800 0x4395c64 0x0)

    0x2ebaac28 : 0x56eb59 (0x591c800 0x13 0x2ebaac70 0x0)

    0x2ebaad48 : 0x286638 (0x591c800 0x13 0x4395c64 0x0)

    0x2ebabdf8 : 0x21dbe5 (0x4395c3c 0x3f6a5a0 0x1f7c00 0x10f93)

    0x2ebabe38 : 0x210a86 (0x4395c00 0x0 0x6594650 0x5db4420)

    0x2ebabe98 : 0x216f84 (0x4395c00 0x0 0x0 0x0)

    0x2ebabf18 : 0x295914 (0x2ebabf44 0x0 0x0 0x0)

    0x2ebabfc8 : 0x2a20f8 (0x3d8107c 0x2a18cc 0x8 0x246)

    No mapping exists for frame pointer

    Backtrace terminated-invalid frame pointer 0xbfff7b58

          Kernel Extensions in backtrace (with dependencies):

    com.apple.ATIRadeonX1000(6.3.6)@0x35908000->0x35963fff

                dependency: com.apple.iokit.IONDRVSupport(2.2.1)@0x3510b000

                dependency: com.apple.iokit.IOGraphicsFamily(2.2.1)@0x3518d000

                dependency: com.apple.iokit.IOPCIFamily(2.6.5)@0x2e99a000

     

    BSD process name corresponding to current thread: firefox

     

    Mac OS version:

    10K549

     

    Kernel version:

    Darwin Kernel Version 10.8.0: Tue Jun  7 16:33:36 PDT 2011; root:xnu-1504.15.3~1/RELEASE_I386

    System model name: MacBookPro1,1 (Mac-F425BEC8)

     

    System uptime in nanoseconds: 22982815444211

    unloaded kexts:

    1. com.apple.driver.AppleFileSystemDriver                  2.0 (addr 0x34a34000, size 0x12288) - last unloaded 180230885720

    loaded kexts:

    1. com.apple.driver.AppleHWSensor           1.9.3d0
    2. com.apple.driver.AudioAUUC                   1.57
    3. com.apple.driver.AppleUpstreamUserClient           3.5.7
    4. com.apple.driver.AppleMCCSControl     1.0.20
    5. com.apple.driver.AppleIntelYonahProfile                 14
    6. com.apple.kext.ATIFramebuffer                6.3.6
    7. com.apple.Dont_Steal_Mac_OS_X           7.0.0
    8. com.apple.ATIRadeonX1000  6.3.6
    9. com.apple.driver.AudioIPCDriver             1.1.6
    10. com.apple.driver.AppleHDA    2.0.5f14
    11. com.apple.driver.SMCMotionSensor      3.0.1d2
    12. com.apple.driver.AirPort.Atheros21       425.14.7
    13. com.apple.driver.ACPI_SMC_PlatformPlugin          4.7.0a1
    14. com.apple.driver.AppleLPC     1.5.1
    15. com.apple.driver.AppleBacklight              170.0.46
    16. com.apple.kext.AppleSMCLMU                1.5.2d10
    17. com.apple.iokit.AppleYukon2                   3.2.1b1
    18. com.apple.filesystems.autofs                   2.1.0
    19. com.apple.driver.AppleUSBTrackpad      201.6
    20. com.apple.driver.AppleUSBTCKeyEventDriver         201.6
    21. com.apple.driver.AppleIRController        303.8
    22. com.apple.driver.AppleUSBTCKeyboard                   201.6
    23. com.apple.iokit.SCSITaskUserClient         2.6.8
    24. com.apple.BootCache              31.1
    25. com.apple.AppleFSCompression.AppleFSCompressionTypeZlib            1.0.0d1
    26. com.apple.driver.AppleUSBHub               4.2.4
    27. com.apple.driver.AppleEFINVRAM           1.4.0
    28. com.apple.iokit.IOAHCIBlockStorage       1.6.4
    29. com.apple.driver.AppleFWOHCI               4.7.3
    30. com.apple.driver.AppleIntelPIIXATA        2.5.1
    31. com.apple.driver.AppleHPET   1.5
    32. com.apple.driver.AppleAHCIPort             2.1.7
    33. com.apple.driver.AppleUSBEHCI              4.2.4
    34. com.apple.driver.AppleUSBUHCI             4.2.0
    35. com.apple.driver.AppleRTC     1.3.1
    36. com.apple.driver.AppleSmartBatteryManager         160.0.0
    37. com.apple.driver.AppleACPIButtons       1.3.6
    38. com.apple.driver.AppleSMBIOS                1.7
    39. com.apple.driver.AppleACPIEC                 1.3.6
    40. com.apple.driver.AppleAPIC    1.4
    41. com.apple.driver.AppleIntelCPUPowerManagementClient    142.6.0
    42. com.apple.security.sandbox   1
    43. com.apple.security.quarantine                 0
    44. com.apple.nke.applicationfirewall           2.1.14
    45. com.apple.driver.AppleIntelCPUPowerManagement               142.6.0
    46. com.apple.driver.AppleProfileReadCounterAction                  17 - last loaded 51969232518
    47. com.apple.driver.AppleProfileTimestampAction    10
    48. com.apple.driver.AppleProfileThreadInfoAction    14
    49. com.apple.driver.AppleProfileRegisterStateAction                   10
    50. com.apple.driver.AppleProfileKEventAction            10
    51. com.apple.driver.AppleProfileCallstackAction        20
    52. com.apple.iokit.IOSurface        74.2
    53. com.apple.iokit.IOBluetoothSerialManager             2.4.5f3
    54. com.apple.iokit.IOSerialFamily                  10.0.3
    55. com.apple.driver.DspFuncLib                   2.0.5f14
    56. com.apple.iokit.IOAudioFamily                 1.8.3fc2
    57. com.apple.kext.OSvKernDSPLib               1.3
    58. com.apple.kext.ATI1600Controller          6.3.6
    59. com.apple.kext.ATISupport     6.3.6
    60. com.apple.iokit.IOFireWireIP   2.0.3
    61. com.apple.iokit.AppleProfileFamily         41
    62. com.apple.driver.AppleHDAController   2.0.5f14
    63. com.apple.iokit.IOHDAFamily 2.0.5f14
    64. com.apple.iokit.IO80211Family               320.1
    65. com.apple.driver.IOPlatformPluginFamily                4.7.0a1
    66. com.apple.driver.AppleBacklightExpert  1.0.1
    67. com.apple.iokit.IONDRVSupport             2.2.1
    68. com.apple.iokit.IOGraphicsFamily           2.2.1
    69. com.apple.driver.AppleSMC    3.1.0d5
    70. com.apple.iokit.IONetworkingFamily       1.10
    71. com.apple.driver.CSRUSBBluetoothHCIController                   2.4.5f3
    72. com.apple.driver.AppleUSBBluetoothHCIController               2.4.5f3
    73. com.apple.iokit.IOBluetoothFamily         2.4.5f3
    74. com.apple.iokit.IOUSBHIDDriver              4.2.0
    75. com.apple.driver.AppleUSBMergeNub   4.2.4
    76. com.apple.driver.AppleUSBComposite   3.9.0
    77. com.apple.iokit.IOSCSIMultimediaCommandsDevice              2.6.8
    78. com.apple.iokit.IOBDStorageFamily         1.6
    79. com.apple.iokit.IODVDStorageFamily      1.6
    80. com.apple.iokit.IOCDStorageFamily         1.6.1
    81. com.apple.driver.XsanFilter     402.1
    82. com.apple.iokit.IOUSBUserClient             4.2.4
    83. com.apple.iokit.IOATAPIProtocolTransport             2.5.1
    84. com.apple.iokit.IOSCSIArchitectureModelFamily    2.6.8
    85. com.apple.iokit.IOFireWireFamily             4.2.6
    86. com.apple.iokit.IOATAFamily   2.5.1
    87. com.apple.iokit.IOAHCIFamily                   2.0.6
    88. com.apple.iokit.IOUSBFamily  4.2.4
    89. com.apple.driver.AppleEFIRuntime          1.4.0
    90. com.apple.iokit.IOHIDFamily   1.6.6
    91. com.apple.iokit.IOSMBusFamily               1.1
    92. com.apple.security.TMSafetyNet             6
    93. com.apple.kext.AppleMatch   1.0.0d1
    94. com.apple.driver.DiskImages  289.1
    95. com.apple.iokit.IOStorageFamily              1.6.3
    96. com.apple.driver.AppleACPIPlatform      1.3.6
    97. com.apple.iokit.IOACPIFamily 1.3.0
    98. com.apple.iokit.IOPCIFamily    2.6.5

     

    Here's the info from system profiler:

    Hardware Overview:

     

      Model Name: MacBook Pro

      Model Identifier: MacBookPro1,1

      Processor Name: Intel Core Duo

      Processor Speed: 2 GHz

      Number Of Processors: 1

      Total Number Of Cores: 2

      L2 Cache: 2 MB

      Memory: 2 GB

      Bus Speed: 667 MHz

      Boot ROM Version: MBP11.0055.B08

      SMC Version (system): 1.2f10

      Serial Number (system): W86112KJVJ1

      Hardware UUID: 00000000-0000-1000-8000-0016CB89E67F

      Sudden Motion Sensor:

     

    I have tried a safe reboot and repairing disk permissions.

     

    Thanks,

     

    Clive

     

      State: Enabled

  • by BobHarris,

    BobHarris BobHarris Aug 17, 2015 4:18 PM in response to cliveone
    Level 6 (19,292 points)
    Mac OS X
    Aug 17, 2015 4:18 PM in response to cliveone

    This is a guess, but each of the 2 panics listed have the same backtrace

    Backtrace terminated-invalid frame pointer 0xbfff7b58

          Kernel Extensions in backtrace (with dependencies):

    com.apple.ATIRadeonX1000(6.3.6)@0x94f000->0x9aafff

                dependency: com.apple.iokit.IONDRVSupport(2.2.1)@0x942000

                dependency: com.apple.iokit.IOGraphicsFamily(2.2.1)@0x920000

                dependency: com.apple.iokit.IOPCIFamily(2.6.5)@0x909000

    which seems to involve the ATIRadeon Graphics subsystem.


    It is possible your ATIRadeon is failing.


    This is all just guessing

  • by cliveone,

    cliveone cliveone Aug 18, 2015 2:41 AM in response to BobHarris
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Aug 18, 2015 2:41 AM in response to BobHarris

    Thanks, Bob. If your guess is correct, is this a hardware issue, and therefore not fixable? Or is it something I can fix with by starting again with the original OS disk? And what, if any, would the tie-in be with Firefox?

     

    Thanks,

     

    Clive

  • by BobHarris,

    BobHarris BobHarris Aug 18, 2015 6:32 AM in response to cliveone
    Level 6 (19,292 points)
    Mac OS X
    Aug 18, 2015 6:32 AM in response to cliveone

    I do suspect a hardware issue.


    Why firefox?  They use the screen.

     

    Graphics cards (chip sets) are specialized computers with all kinds of APIs (Application Programming Interfaces) that can be called to perform different graphic drawing tasks.  It is possible Firefox has decided to use one of the APIs that is not frequently used by other graphics users.  Just like maybe you do not use the Applications -> Chess program that came with your Mac, but maybe a relative comes to visit that just loves Chess and wants to play on your Mac.

     

    If you have the original installation disks

    <Using Apple Hardware Test - Apple Support>

    Although your system is rather old, so the above link may be for much newer systems.

     

    I would suggest you make a Genius Bar appointment, and take your Mac in for "Free" evaluation.  If they find anything, then you get to choose to pay for repair, or just decide it is time to get a new Mac (like a 15" Macbook Pro, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD, Retina Display, Force Touch Trackpad - OK, enough with trying to spend your money).

     

    Other avenues of experimentation.  You could try installing a new copy of the operating system on an external disk, or an unused partition and see if the clean operating system does better.

     

    But I do want to check just one thing.  Your system summary says

      Processor Name: Intel Core Duo

    But this is the Mountain Lion forum, and at the minimum the Mac would need a Core 2 Duo chip (the 2 is important, as the Core Duo is a 32 bit CPU but the Core 2 Duo is a 64 bit CPU and Mountain Lion needs a 64-bit CPU).  It could have been a typo, or maybe you are just posting in the wrong forum.

     

    And you forum signature is a bit out of date

    PowerBook G3 Pismo, Mac OS X (10.2.x)

    I know this is not a Pismo (which I used to own; great machine, but it was better with Panther 10.3 vs your listing of 10.2). 

  • by cliveone,

    cliveone cliveone Aug 18, 2015 2:13 PM in response to BobHarris
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Aug 18, 2015 2:13 PM in response to BobHarris

    Thanks very much, Bob. This is very useful. You're right, I got the wrong cat. I'm on 10.6, which is Snow Leopard. If you need to kick me out of the forum now, go ahead! I'm guessing the info you gave me still applies, though. I'm not sure I have the original installation disks, so I might just go the Genius Bar route.

     

    Frankly, at the moment everything seems fine as long as I don't use Firefox. So I may just leave it at that. At least I know there's a hardware issue which may recur at any time. Meanwhile I can save up for a Macbook Air, which is what I've been ******* after.

     

    Clive