How to Fix Very Slow Firefox & IE8 Browsers

One of the best ways to determine if a browser problem is due to the browser installation itself is to fire up a different browser. If both of your browsers are running slowly, this indicates that something is awry with the system itself, whether it be an environmental issue or some of your Internet usage habits. If you are having persistent speed issues with both Firefox and Internet Explorer, you should work through several troubleshooting steps to prevent any further problems.

Instructions

1. Clear the cache on both browsers. The cache is where your browser stores files to access for later use. Although this allows for speedier access at first, an overflowing cache can significantly slow things down. To clear the cache in Firefox, open the "Options" menu. Click on the "Privacy" tab and set Firefox to clear the history (cache included) when Firefox closes. To clear the cache in IE 8, open the "Internet Options" menu and select the "General" tab. Click the "Delete" button under "Browsing History." Make sure "Temporary Internet Files" and "Cookies" are selected.

2. Check your Internet connection. If you see any red or yellow lights, the connection itself is faulty. If all lights are green and your router has been continuously running for a long time, you may just need a simple router reset to get things running speedily again. Unplug the router and wait 30 seconds. Plug the router back in. If resetting the router did not fix your browser issues, continue to step three.

3. Run a virus scan on your computer. Browser hijackers, keyloggers and other forms of malware can seriously slow things down. Follow any quarantine or removal instructions that your anti-virus software recommends.