First please update to Firefox 17. Update Firefox to the latest release

Do you still have problems with speed there?

If so, please try to Reset Firefox. Refresh Firefox - reset add-ons and settings

Yes. FF is still super slow. In fact...I haven't been able to go to the second link in your post because all I get (after waiting 6 minutes for it to load) is a page with the following message... "The connection has timed out

         The server at support.mozilla.org is taking too long to respond.
       
 The site could be temporarily unavailable or too busy. Try again in a few moments.
 If you are unable to load any pages, check your computer's network
   connection.
 If your computer or network is protected by a firewall or proxy, make sure that Firefox is permitted to access the Web."

Plus....I can't have my tabs on the bottom of the screen (just above the Task Bar) in 17 like I have in all of the previous versions of FF (and the main reason I began using FF) . I'm really beginning to want to go back to version 15.

This is seeming like a network connectivity issue.

Try to Restart your router/modem.

Check that your firewall/anti-virus isn't stopping Firefox from accessing the internet. Configure firewalls so that Firefox can access the Internet

I've been through all that with Verizon and it's not a connection problem. If it were....then IE would be affected and...like I said...it is working better than FF....(and that 'NEVER 'happens).

Try to boot the computer in Windows Safe mode with network support (press F8 on the boot screen) as a test to see if that helps.

Create a new profile as a test to check if your current profile is causing the problems.

See "Creating a profile":

• https://support.mozilla.org/kb/profile-manager-create-and-remove-firefox-profiles
• http://kb.mozillazine.org/Standard_diagnostic_-_Firefox#Profile_issues

There may be extensions and plugins installed by default in a new profile, so check that in "Tools > Add-ons > Extensions & Plugins" in case there are still problems.

If the new profile works then you can transfer some files from the old profile to that new profile, but be careful not to copy corrupted files.

• http://kb.mozillazine.org/Transferring_data_to_a_new_profile_-_Firefox

You can also try to reset Firefox:

• https://support.mozilla.org/kb/Basic+Troubleshooting

I did and that didn't make much difference. It seems that it does run a little faster when I run FF in Safe Mode (not my computer) but not that much to make me want to run it that way all the time.