Obectsdock Makes Firefox Lag

from WinCustomize Forums
Hi guys.

It seems almost impossible these days to browse the web with FF while objectdock is running. The browsers lags like crazy when both programs are running. Pages load 10x slower (and the cursor jumps around), scrolling is crap, and everything just sucks memory. I was thinking it was my transparent "Aero" skin I installed, but when I changed it to a completely opaque "Retro" skin, the lag did not change. I was thinking it was also the presence of my 4 docks I had running (a couple transparent ones with 1 icon on teh desktop act as pseudo-widgets). But no, that wasn't it either.

So now I'm sitting here wondering how two programs can suddenly combat for cpu cycles and memory when nearly nothing has changed (maybe a FF upgrade?).

And no, this computer isn't getting old. It isn't even 10 months old.

Thanks for your interest
objectdock
9,110 views 13 replies
Reply #1 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Why do I always get such strange problems?

I am going to try uninstalling and reinstalling OD+ and see if that helps.

stay posted.
Reply #2 from WinCustomize Forums Top
A reinstall of both OD+ and FF do not solve the problem.
Fences - Organize your desktop icons today!
Reply #3 from WinCustomize Forums Top
FWIW, I have OD+ with 4 docks (1 tabbed, 1 containing 5 docklets only, 1 popup with running apps, and a taskbar dock) and have no trouble at all with FF (v1.0.4).

Sorry it doesn't help you much. How well do they work individually?

1 icon on teh desktop act as pseudo-widgets

Does this mean you have a dock with a docklet in it? What is the docklet? Often OD+ problems can be traced back to docklets.

Posted via WinCustomize Browser/Stardock Central
Reply #4 from WinCustomize Forums Top
one has a flyout menu for my desktop
one has a clock
one has a trashcan
and the big momma dock has 8 tabs with about 8 shortcuts each except for taskbar and tray. one tab has calendar, clock and weather on it but i removed that tab once to see if it helped and it didn't. I also removed all the other docks at teh same time as that and it didn't help.
Reply #5 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Have you tried opening Task Manager to see what's taking all your CPU cycles?

Also, what kind of internet connection do you have? If you're using dial-up the weather docklet could be fighting with FF for bandwidth.

How does FF perform if you have your docks turned off? (shouldn't need to actually uninstall them)

Do you have the same problem using Internet Explorer?

What kind of processor are you using, and how much RAM do you have?
Reply #6 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Often OD+ problems can be traced back to docklets.

He's right, try losing the Trash Can and see if there is any difference. I can't remember the exact reason but I took mine off the dock a few months ago due to some conflict. If that doesn't help remove items one at a time and test to see if there is a noticable difference afterwards.
Reply #7 from WinCustomize Forums Top
He's right


I have to frame that and show it to my wife

Posted via WinCustomize Browser/Stardock Central
Reply #8 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Okay here we go.

Running a 2.8ghz p4 w/ 512 mb ram @ pc3200 speed.

FF is running right now w/out OD running and its at about 45k mem (3 tabs open) and it says 00 CPU (not sure what that means). CPU performance shart shows average of 1-3% mem usage just sitting here and typing. Scrolling crazily up and down brings it to 50% but that might be because I have the task manager on top of the FF window while Im scrolling.

Starting OD up now...

CPU usage jumped to about 10-20% while it loaded...dropped back to 1-3% when idle...

FF mem usage still at 45k, OD @ 8k.

Scrolled up the page, became very choppy and CPU usage went to 50%

Mem usage same after scrolling...

And now we're back to crappy performance.

Here's what its like when FF runs and OD doesn't.

Pages load quickly, all at once.
Scrolling is silky smooth thanks to FF's smooth scrolling and my smooth mousewheel on my Microsoft Intellipoint 4.0
Mouse performs normally while pages load

Here's what happens when OD runs while FF runs...

Pages load very slowly, very choppily (i.e. it appears in little pieces)
Scrolling becomes crap, I'd say around 1-3 fps max. Hell, even scrolling in this small form I'm typing in here lags.
Mouse jumps around when moved while pages load, tabs opened, etc.

And thats about it. I have no idea what could be causing these to be combating so I'll try your troubleshooting stuff.

Hmm ok, ie works normally, with no page lag and etc. (however scrolling isn't smooth, but it never was). Not gonna use it though, no thanks.

I tried getting rid of the other docks before and that never helped. I'm not too anxious to try it again cause thats 3 other docks I gotta set up again...

I also got rid of one of the tabs that happened to contain the weather docklet (which doesn't work anymore, can't tell when exactly it stopped working. It just shows an icon that you would get when you're not connected to the internet.). I'll try removing that anyway since it doesnt work and see if that helps..

Nope, didn't help. Ah well...

Hmm not sure what it could be, this sure is a thinker.

Oh btw, I have DSL. Not sure what speed, but its legitimate.
Reply #10 from WinCustomize Forums Top
I tried getting rid of the other docks before and that never helped.

If getting rid of 3 out of 4 didn't help, take a close look at the one left. Does it have the trashcan? I saw no mention in your replies. I have seen other posts where for some reason it was the trashcan causing conflict.

the big momma dock has 8 tabs with about 8 shortcuts each except for taskbar and tray. one tab has calendar, clock and weather on it but i removed that tab once to see if it helped and it didn't. I also removed all the other docks at teh same time as that and it didn't help.


Seems it should then be narrowed down to the 7 tabs with 8 shortcuts left. Might want to check those one at a time.
also:
Do you have any FF extensions that may be causing a conflict?
Reply #11 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Oh thank you for the help my friend.


I went and got rid of both trashcans like you said I should, but that didn't seem to help.

I'm going to get rid of 1 tab at a time and see if there's on tab in particular that is causing the problem.


...

okay, doesn't turn out to be one tab in particular really.


Hmm, as far as firefox extensions, I have...

adblock
tabbrowser preferences
FLST (focus last selected tab)
flashblock (was supposed to solve the problem, didn't)
spoofstick
bandwidth tester
all in one mouse gestures (which i got after i started having problems)

and that's it.

im going to strip this dock down to just the basic stuff i use everyday and see if that helps any.

...


okay, down to a 3-tabbed dock (and nothing else) and firefox seems to be doing just OK. not good, but not bad. just OK
Reply #12 from WinCustomize Forums Top
I've completely given up on my tabbed dock and any other docks I had. I'm down to a basic non-tabbed dock that I use all the time. Firefox still lags like mad, but only when its maximized. I shrink it down so it doesn't cover the dock at all and it seems to be doing fine.

Thanks to anyone that helped.
Reply #13 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Try getting with Stardock support on this. A lot of people here use FF and if there is some kind of conflict, I'm sure they'd like to know and would get on fixing it.