Stop constant hard disk activity by Firefox

Anupam · 21. Feb 2010, 08:51 AM

If you are using Firefox, then some of you might have noticed, that while Firefox is on, the hard disk shows constant activity, or disk churns.

The main reason for this is the bookmark folder containing RSS feeds. This can be found here : Bookmarks > Bookmarks Toolbar > Latest Headlines

This feed is kept updated by Firefox, and this causes constant hard disk activity. The folder can be deleted, via right click. This drastically reduces the amount of hard disk activity by Firefox. Anything else connected with the RSS feed in the Bookmarks Toolbar could be deleted too.

Instead of keeping track of RSS via the live feed, you can make use of Google Reader, which is a much better option. You can also use desktop applications like RSS Owl, Snarfer, or Feed Demon etc.

Another reason why Firefox sometimes performs disk churning, is because it updates its database of attack site, and forgery sites via Google. But, frequency of this update is low... maybe once in an hour. Also, its important from security point of view. This kind of disk churn is also seen when Avast updates its virus definitions. So, its not much of a concern, because it occurs only for a short period of time.

Still, if you are bugged by the occasional disk churn, then you can turn this off. This is how.

Go to Tools > Options > Security.

Uncheck "Block reported attack sites" and "Block reported web forgeries".

J_L · 22. Feb 2010, 02:20 AM

I put my entire Firefox (including profile) in a RamDisk

(tutorial: http://www.xxxxxxxxxxx/blog/archives/...se-in-ramdisk/)

Now it's quite a bit more responsive (especially because I have a LOT of extensions).

vasa1 · 17. Mar 2010, 11:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Anupam

If you are using Firefox, then some of you might have noticed, that while Firefox is on, the hard disk shows constant activity, or disk churns.

The main reason for this is the live feed bookmark folder. This can be found here : Bookmarks > Bookmarks Toolbar > Live feed.

...

Hi Anupam, I have FF 3.6 but I don't see the Live feed you mention above.

What I see is Bookmarks > Bookmarks Toolbar > and then
> most visited
> getting started
> latest headlines (with the RSS notation).

The last is full of stuff from bbc.co.uk which I don't remember asking for.

In none of them is anything resembling Live feed.

So what should I do to turn of these latest headlines (if that's the new form of live feed)?

Anupam · 17. Mar 2010, 11:48 AM

Well, in the Bookmarks Toolbar, anything related to RSS should be removed, because it constantly keeps getting updated, which is the major cause of hard disk activity. I had removed that on my Firefox, so I don't exactly remember the name, if it was "Live Feed", or something different. But, RSS feeds should be removed.

HeWhoRocks · 17. Mar 2010, 02:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Anupam

Well, in the Bookmarks Toolbar, anything related to RSS should be removed, because it constantly keeps getting updated, which is the major cause of hard disk activity. I had removed that on my Firefox, so I don't exactly remember the name, if it was "Live Feed", or something different. But, RSS feeds should be removed.

On this subject, what is the purpose of the bookmarks toolbar and how is it different from regular bookmarks?

Anupam · 17. Mar 2010, 03:26 PM

Bookmarks Toolbar like other toolbars, is supposed to make the bookmark management easy. When you install Firefox, it is enabled by default. On the toolbar, you can drag your most used bookmarks, so that you can access them easily.

The RSS feed provides live updates. But, that is what makes the hard disk churn. So, its better to remove the live bookmarks, or the RSS feed. If you want to follow those feeds, then you can follow them by using Google Reader, or RSS readers.

vasa1 · 17. Mar 2010, 03:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Anupam

Well, in the Bookmarks Toolbar, anything related to RSS should be removed, because it constantly keeps getting updated, which is the major cause of hard disk activity. I had removed that on my Firefox, so I don't exactly remember the name, if it was "Live Feed", or something different. But, RSS feeds should be removed.

Done! And thanks for the advice.

Anupam · 17. Mar 2010, 03:59 PM

Very welcome

.

sa1 · 17. Mar 2010, 05:20 PM

Won't adjusting the time after which feeds are updated help?

I don't use Firefox but I think the LiveClick addon ( https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/2499 ) had the options to change at what intervals feeds are updated. People wanting live bookmarks can try and report their experiences whether hard drive activity decreased or not.

I use Opera which has a very good and customizable feed reader and even though Opera doesn't have similar hard drive activity, I generally set feeds to update with at least 6 hours gap. (Better for site administrators also).

torres-no-tan-magnifico · 17. Mar 2010, 05:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Anupam

...The main reason for this is the live feed bookmark folder. This can be found here : Bookmarks > Bookmarks Toolbar > Live feed...

The actual live feed bookmark is called Latest Headlines and thanks for the info Anupam; I just deleted the folder.

21. Feb 2010, 08:51 AM	#1 (permalink)
Anupam Super Moderator Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: India Posts: 15,118	Stop constant hard disk activity by Firefox If you are using Firefox, then some of you might have noticed, that while Firefox is on, the hard disk shows constant activity, or disk churns. The main reason for this is the bookmark folder containing RSS feeds. This can be found here : Bookmarks > Bookmarks Toolbar > Latest Headlines This feed is kept updated by Firefox, and this causes constant hard disk activity. The folder can be deleted, via right click. This drastically reduces the amount of hard disk activity by Firefox. Anything else connected with the RSS feed in the Bookmarks Toolbar could be deleted too. Instead of keeping track of RSS via the live feed, you can make use of Google Reader, which is a much better option. You can also use desktop applications like RSS Owl, Snarfer, or Feed Demon etc. Another reason why Firefox sometimes performs disk churning, is because it updates its database of attack site, and forgery sites via Google. But, frequency of this update is low... maybe once in an hour. Also, its important from security point of view. This kind of disk churn is also seen when Avast updates its virus definitions. So, its not much of a concern, because it occurs only for a short period of time. Still, if you are bugged by the occasional disk churn, then you can turn this off. This is how. Go to Tools > Options > Security. Uncheck "Block reported attack sites" and "Block reported web forgeries". __________________ Anupam Last edited by Anupam; 17. Mar 2010 at 05:58 PM. Reason: Corrected some terms

22. Feb 2010, 02:20 AM	#2 (permalink)
J_L Co-Author, Best Free Security List Join Date: Dec 2008 Posts: 2,005	I put my entire Firefox (including profile) in a RamDisk (tutorial: http://www.xxxxxxxxxxx/blog/archives/...se-in-ramdisk/) Now it's quite a bit more responsive (especially because I have a LOT of extensions). Last edited by J_L; 22. Feb 2010 at 02:23 AM.

17. Mar 2010, 11:48 AM	#4 (permalink)
Anupam Super Moderator Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: India Posts: 15,118	Well, in the Bookmarks Toolbar, anything related to RSS should be removed, because it constantly keeps getting updated, which is the major cause of hard disk activity. I had removed that on my Firefox, so I don't exactly remember the name, if it was "Live Feed", or something different. But, RSS feeds should be removed. __________________ Anupam

17. Mar 2010, 03:26 PM	#6 (permalink)
Anupam Super Moderator Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: India Posts: 15,118	Bookmarks Toolbar like other toolbars, is supposed to make the bookmark management easy. When you install Firefox, it is enabled by default. On the toolbar, you can drag your most used bookmarks, so that you can access them easily. The RSS feed provides live updates. But, that is what makes the hard disk churn. So, its better to remove the live bookmarks, or the RSS feed. If you want to follow those feeds, then you can follow them by using Google Reader, or RSS readers. __________________ Anupam

17. Mar 2010, 03:59 PM	#8 (permalink)
Anupam Super Moderator Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: India Posts: 15,118	Very welcome . __________________ Anupam

17. Mar 2010, 05:20 PM	#9 (permalink)
sa1 Full Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Posts: 69	Won't adjusting the time after which feeds are updated help? I don't use Firefox but I think the LiveClick addon ( https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/2499 ) had the options to change at what intervals feeds are updated. People wanting live bookmarks can try and report their experiences whether hard drive activity decreased or not. I use Opera which has a very good and customizable feed reader and even though Opera doesn't have similar hard drive activity, I generally set feeds to update with at least 6 hours gap. (Better for site administrators also).

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