'failed to execute child process' meaning and programs crashing

So I have a Kali Linux disc and booted from the disc on a Windows computer, but I've been having a lot of problems with Iceweasel and Terminal crashing and getting 'failed to execute child process' errors, and I was wondering what this might mean and if there was any way to make Kali Linux run more smoothly? It's to the point I can't really use it, and the only thing that makes Iceweasel or Terminal, usually one or the other, is restarting, but even then some problem usually arises.

Could this be a hardware issue, and is there a way to scan specifically for what's up? I don't have these problems running the built-in Windows. Needless to say, I am a n00b.