RAM usage at 100% when using firefox

OK, i don't even know if i'm posting this in the right place… and i'm pretty low-tech, so i'll probably only understand half of what you are saying… lol for quite sometime now i have been thinking i needed more ram, i have 1GB that was what the computer had when we bought it 3 years ago. what is happening is that when i'm surfing the net (Firefox 3.0.13) and i get 2 or more tabs open… sometimes even just the one… all of a sudden my computer will go from using 50% to 99% and then everything freezes up… sometimes it will drop back down to normal and i can resume activity, but usually not for long… long enough to close out the extra tabs, then it may work fine for a little while longer…. other times i will have to task manager to close the program/processes or reboot, and other times it freezes so bad for so long that i just have to cut the power to it(which i realize is less than ideal). i was recently talking to a friend that is pretty educated in computers who says that even by todays standards 1GB ram should be more than enough to do what i do on this computer… mainly surfing the internet… and we don't often play too much media in the way of video or music. this friend seems to think that i have some malware hiding in my registry (which i have no idea what a registry is) even though all my virus/spyware scans come up clean. the system i am using is as follows: eMachine model: t5224 Intel® Pentium® D CPU 2.8GHz 1GB RAM my OS is Vista Home Premium(build: 6002 service pack 2) i have downloaded all MS updates. Firefox is my preferred browser, but i have recently decided to try Chrome, and the computer seems to do better using it, i have only froze once or twice using it even with multiple tabs open. with Chrome it still seems that it uses a lot of RAM, but does't spike like that and freeze. i RARELY use IE so i dont really know if it happens there other than it runs Extremely slow all the time. so it appears to me that the problem is somehow related to Firefox, and i really need to get back to using it because Chrome is not compatible with my online college classes. i also know that my computer is running to many programs at start up, but i dont know which ones its ok to disable. any and all help will be greatly appreciated… Thanks ~Syd

Hi there, if you uninstall Firefox and install the latest version does it help?

this friend seems to think that i have some malware hiding in my registry (which i have no idea what a registry is) even though all my virus/spyware scans come up clean.

If you haven't had some help with this yet, then you need to go here and then post your logs in the Malware Forum.

How do you know you have too many programs at startup?

Cheers

ok, i uninstalled FF, and installed 3.5… it seems to be a bit better…. the ram usage still gets high and then ff runs sort of choppy, if you know what i mean… but it has not maxed and frozen/crashed yet… :-) i suppose i don't Know for sure that i have too many startup programs… but Norton 360 seems to think so… as for the possible malware issue… i clicked your link to go to the self help page… i just want to make sure, i need to do the ATF cleaning and the Mawarebytes on my own before doing the HJT log? then post the malwarebytes results and hjt log in the 'logs and infection removal forum', correct? as i said in my original post, i really don't know what i'm doing, but i really want to make sure everything is ok, and if not get it fixed up! thanks again ~Syd

In my opinion, Norton 360 is the problem, but then again that's just my opinion based on plenty of experience. Follow the instructions in that order they are written, so yes you would run ATF and MBAM first as they may be able to clean up some stuff which will make it easier for the helper. And yes, you've got it - post the logs in that other forum. Do not post them anywhere but in there. Cheers

OK, Why do you say norton is the problem? and What do you recommend in its place? my computer teacher at my college suggested i go with norton based on his own experience that it ran more smoothly with Vista, of course that was some time ago… and i will be sure to post the logs over there, thanks

I work in a tech shop, and I uninstall Norton quite often. Once I've uninstalled it I can then remove the infections on the system. It's just from experience. Your best bet is to ask the helper who assists you in checking your log. I personally use Avira Antivir for my antivirus and Malwarebyte's Antimalware for my antispyware. See if the helper agrees or recommends something different. Cheers