Search Support

Avoid support scams. We will never ask you to call or text a phone number or share personal information. Please report suspicious activity using the “Report Abuse” option.

Learn More

firefox gives a zombie process when started

more options

Before firefox is started there is no zombie process. After it is started it runs, but there is a second firefox process which is defunct, zombie. Stop Firefox and both the running process and the defunct one disapear.

Is this a problem, there does not seem to be a huge system load, and how to stop it.

Started after started using Enlightenment E17.

Linux Debian Squeeze updated. Laptop.

Thanks any help.

Before firefox is started there is no zombie process. After it is started it runs, but there is a second firefox process which is defunct, zombie. Stop Firefox and both the running process and the defunct one disapear. Is this a problem, there does not seem to be a huge system load, and how to stop it. Started after started using Enlightenment E17. Linux Debian Squeeze updated. Laptop. Thanks any help.

All Replies (3)

more options

What is the name of that zombie process?

I see two entries in the GNOME System Monitor: firefox-bin or firefox for newer Firefox 7+ versions and the plugin-container process for plugins.

more options

Both processes are firefox-bin: firefox-bin and firefox-bin <defunct>. plugin-container is also running.

It's Firefox 6.0.2, according to help>about.

Correction to first post, the problem does not only happen with Enlightenment DR17, but with Gnome too. Seems like it is not always present, but is usually present.

From appearances it does not seem to damage anything or load the system, so perhaps not a problem. It is just that I'm used to zombie programs being bad news.

more options

The zombie processes disappear, don't know if this always happens, after a few hours. In any case they don't seem to do any harm.

So I'll tentatively conclude there is no problem and mark this solved.