Howdy Guys
My initial install the folder size is(was)45.4 megs with 950 files and 226 folders-everytime I go online the size keeps increasing,I have the phishing and web forgeries turned off so the urlclassifier stays the same size but the folder size keeps getting larger,I clean my cache and cookies(clean everything)but still it is larger-My extensions are all up to date,is this something I should worry about? I copy the folder to My Documents and after I am done browsing I copy it back.
The files and folder are the same(950 and 226)why does it keep growing?
Rod
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https://portableapps.com/apps/utilities/windirstat_portable
you can check it with it and§see which file does change so much.
Otto Sykora
Basel, Switzerland
I have searched the folder with a similar tool and there are too many files!
is the biggest file windirstat or your similar tool does show?
Let us know the biggest file you see. There are not many files like this. about 4-5 only!
Otto Sykora
Basel, Switzerland
Most likely it is the growing of databases combined with automatic bookmarks backups. Possibly some log files, too (?)
To get an idea about it, check some of the following extensions, and search for more:
1) https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/sqlite-optimizer/
2) https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/vacuum-places/
3) https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/placescleaner/
Thanks Mik I tried those already with no improvement-I have bookmark backups off so thats not it-maybe some databases like you say but I check each file in my profile and they are the same size so I will just keep doing what I have been-copy the folder then replace after done browsing-I dont think it is malware as I scanned with 7 different programs,my homepage is google so maybe they are doing something-they seem to be running the internet now(sad) a shame they seem to own everything!I know fasterfox like collects data on visited sites so maybe they are hiding it somewhere-time to try opera maybe,dislike Chrome(Yuk)Tried palemoon buggy-time for a new system anyway-still using XP SP2 and IE6(with very old version of avant)Which is faster than anything!
Rod
Okay, in my previous post I mistakenly thought that the issue was about something happening over a long time. So now, I'm curious what is that size increase you're addressing, per session, in bytes? Anything significant?
By the way, with regards to other browsers, I'm a happy user of Pale Moon Portable (v 11.0.1, with some custom settings). My system: XP Home SP3, Intel Atom CPU N270 @ 1.6GHz, 1GB RAM; it's an Acer Aspire One netbook, and I run the app from the local HDD.
Okay-initial size is 45.4 megs,I get online do some stuff then clear everything- last time I got offline the folder size was 48.4 so about 3 megs and I cant see anything larger in my profile folder(I am running firefox locally in program files)
Sometimes it is even larger so that is why I copy the folder to my docs then delete the larger one in pfiles.If I keep using it it will keep growing-no virus or malware as I scan it before I delete it?
Rod
with windirstat you can observe also your profile folder in graphical way and regardless of how many files are there you will immediately spot the one which did increase by 3meg of 45. As this will be one of the big files there. No need to search each single file etc. just view the pic on the screen.
Let us know the 3 biggest files you have in your data folder. The name and the size of them.
Those files might be well over 20mb.
Remember that the database for phishing etc is downloaded on new installs if it is not found present.
urlclassifier and places is big for example, but also extensions like adblock will download their data base and will make more backups of its older database and there exist some antimalware extensions which need to do the same.
Otto Sykora
Basel, Switzerland
Keep in mind that it'll also get bigger soon due to it downloading malware. Firefox 3.6 doesn't get security updates anymore and may well already have a remote access exploit.
Sometimes, the impossible can become possible, if you're awesome!
Did you perhaps turn on the cache?
The only other thing I can suggest is to copy this installation somewhere, install a clean version of FirefoxPortable, and slowly restore your existing configuration into the new one.
Maybe you'll stumble across what is causing the issue.
neutron1132 (at) usa (dot) com
Thanks for all your help guys-I know John that it is outdated but I scan it for malware with clamwin,malwarebytes andspybot and nothing there.
Other answers yes the cache is on(not the offline)the settings are at what they were when I first installed- but I clear it and it is small in size.the 2 largest files in my profile folder are XUL.mfl at 2.46 megs and the XPC.mfl at 2.32 megs and those get larger sometimes-I have the anti phising and web fogeries turned off.My antivirus never triggers anything so I will try another browser-those increases in size may be normal but I have a smaller hard drive so I have to watch my space.Internet explorer does not get larger as does avant so I will live with it-I dont mind copying the folder then moving it back-I really only use firefox to download videos from youtube and other sites-my sysytem may be compromised so that could be it but I have done numerous online scans and downloaded lots of portable scanners.
Rod
NEW- I just went online to get a video and found the 2 files that keep growing(as stated above)XUL.mfl and XPC.mfl I moved those 2 files from the firefox folder in my docs to the one in Program Files and now both folders are the same size! So the question is is it normal for those 2 files to get larger and or what are they used for??
I did a google search on XUL.mfl and found complaints about it from 2003-2007. How old exactly is the version you're using?
https://developer.mozilla.org/en/Automatic_Mozilla_Configurator/Kill_the...
http://www.windowsbbs.com/firefox-thunderbird-seamonkey/9616-xul-mfl-fil...
http://groups.google.com/group/netscape.public.mozilla.mail-news/browse_...
And most interesting:
https://portableapps.com/node/813
neutron1132 (at) usa (dot) com
neutron
I installed about 2010 so it is not that old,thanks for the links!
ottosykora:
sorry for not lookin them up-OK 3 Largest files are xul.dll at about 12 megs,XUL.mfl at 2.5megs and XPC.mfl at 2.5 megs.
Rod
PS. why do I get 2 emails when a reply is posted on my topic?
Bye
is a long time ago in computer life try telling us what version and build number you are on?
“Be who you are and say what you feel because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind.” Dr. Seuss
OK, so if your versions isn't that ancient, that might not be it.
But if you read anything on those links, it said that earlier Firefox used those files for chrome fast load caching. So if you are using some weird theme that modifies the chrome using that same ancient method, you may have a winner.
However, you still have not followed the standard Firefox troubleshooting methods that I suggested in my first post in this thread: START FRESH AND THEN ADD YOUR MODIFICATIONS BACK GRADUALLY UNTIL YOU GET THE PROBLEM AGAIN.
All the rest of this is merely guesses and useless time spent and wasted electrons on the screens of everybody here.
neutron1132 (at) usa (dot) com
Got ya please close this topic-I remember using this forum a long time ago and now I remember why it was a long time ago!
Bye
Rod Over and Out
So you want us to jump through hoops so you can sit there and tell us how wrong we are but you're not willing to try to troubleshoot it yourself?
Yeah, hurt us bad by walking away. Yeah, I'll never get over it.
neutron1132 (at) usa (dot) com