Java problem / another one (Vista /SP1)

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In a post 740,472 viking33 describes a problem with Java not running in his Vista Ultimate environment. The end solution was to uninstall all copies of Java and use regedit to clean out any remnants (I believe 9 were found). After the cleansing, and reinstalling the then current version of Java, all was well.

I’m having a similar situation in that Java will not run in my Vista Ultimate SP1 environment… but with a slight twist. Before I go the regedit route I thought I would post the problem to see if anyone else has experienced a like issue.

Yesterday, I went to our federal government’s web site to get some personal tax assessment information using IE7. The site reported that the Java applet was unable to load and gave some instruction on how to correct the problem. Essentially, I uninstalled all copies of Java, version 6 builds 2, 7 and 11 and then reinstalled build 11. Same problems. Uninstalled again, and ran Registry Mechanic and CCleaner’s registry tool to cleanse the files. No luck.

I even went to Java’s Verify Version Page which told me that Java was not installed… yet I knew it was.

Then, on a lark, I decided to install Firefox 3 to give it a whirl. I was able to then access my personal tax information on the government web site as well as being able to confirm via the Java Verify Version web page that all was well… using Firefox. But not using IE7.

Some might say it’s about time I switched to Firefox. Well the switch has been made since it is the only browser of the two where Java will work in my environment.

I would still like to resolve the IE7 situation if anyone has any suggestions or like experience with the IE7 issue. I am prepared to go the regedit route but thought I would post to see if there are any like circumstances out there.

Cheers, Bob

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Bob,
Uninstall Java and go to Regedit to clear out.
Don’t know WHY this must be done but it was the only way out for me at that time.

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Hi Bob,

Well, I uninstalled Java 1.6.0_11, ran regedit, cleaned out all occurrences of Java and related files, then reinstalled 1.6.0_11.

No go in IE7… the add-on box in IE7 makes no reference to the 1.6.0_11 dll. It shows 3 add-ons:

1) Sun Java Console
2) Java(tm) Plug-IN SSV Helper and
3) Java(tm) Plug-IN2 SSV Helper

Visiting the Java Verify site using IE7 indicates that Java is not installed.

Everything works fine in Firefox3. Access to the government web site, and the Java Verify site are both working as expected. The add-ons for Firefox are displayed below.

The last time I visited the government web site using IE7 was last summer. Since then there have been many changes / updates. I have no way on knowing exactly when the problem might have occurred. I even tried installing Java with my A/V – NOD32 turned off… no change.

Cheers, Bob

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I’ve had good luck when I download the offline installation files. After you go the regedit route, be sure to run the install package as administrator.

Joe

--Joe

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Hi Joe,

I’ll double check to ensure I ran the install as administrator. I did use the offline installation file.

It does work in FF, just not in IE7.

Cheers, Bob

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Hello again Joe,

OK, uninstalled, ran regedit, cleaned out all Java related references, reinstalled offline Java 1.6.0_11 file – as administrator… still no go in IE7.

Tomorrow, I’ll repeat all the uninstalls and clean out and try an older version, say, 1.6.0_7 just for the of it.

Cheers, Bob

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Could you uninstall FF & try it?

Joe

--Joe

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The inability to run Java applets existed before I installed Firefox. I just tried FF to see what the outcome would be… and as noted, it ran with success.

Anyway, here’s an update:

Java 1.6.0_11 is installed, and runs fine using FF as my browser. I can verify this with the Java Verify Version site and the fact my government’s web site is available for accessing my personal tax assessment information, which is critical at this time of year.

Before changing or uninstalling anything this morning, I ran a Google search for the words java applet not available in ie7 and vista ultimate. That search brought up many hits and hints. It appears that others have experienced the exact same issues I’m having… and even with earlier versions of Java. Some of the suggestions, other users, as well as myself had tried without success. However, there were two suggestions that did have merit… at least for one of them.

The first suggestion was to disable UAC which some users did and found success. I didn’t try it as I prefer to run with UAC enabled.

The second suggestion was to run IE7 as administrator. That worked for others and myself. Now, instead of just left clicking on the IE7 icon to run it, I right click, select Run as Administrator and the Java applet is working. I went to the iexplore.exe file, right clicked and selected properties. Unfortunately, the Run As Administrator parameter was greyed out and thus I could not set it permanently. It has to be selected for each and every session.

Me thinks FF will become my browser of choice!!!

Cheers, Bob

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Your user account does not have permission to change anything with the .exe file. You’d have to take ownership of the file and then change the your permissions to full control and then modify the compatibility setting. May not be worth the effort for you. Anyway, glad you found a resolution.

Joe

--Joe

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Hi Joe,

Curious about the comment of the user account not having permission to change anything with the .exe file. In my environment, it seems to be related to the iexplore.exe file only.

I just ran a test and .exe compiled programs that I have written as well as vendor applications such as Corel Paint Shop, Adobe Acrobat to name just a few of the dozen or so I tested, all allow me to select Run As Administrator under the File Properties management screen. I also tested the majority of my Microsoft applications, MS Office etc., and the Run As… facility was available for changing.

Just something about IE7 that is locked out. Perhaps a security switch somewhere?

Cheers, Bob

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All of the .exe files that I’ve seen like that have a user of “Trusted Installer” in the Security tab. I think that may be from installations run as part of Microsoft Update but I’m not positive. Anyway, you’d need to take ownership of the file. Then you should be able to change permissions to Full Control. After that you can change the compatibility settings.

Joe

--Joe

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In Internet Explorer | Tools | Internet Options | Advanced you have you have Restore Advanced Settings and Reset options. Have you tried either of those? (I think you have to restart.)

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Hello Peterg…

I did not try changing the settings on the Advanced tab to default.

But, after more uninstalls of Java, cleaning out registry etc., etc., I went back to 1.6.0 Build 7. Had the same issues. Then went into the Tools | Options | Security area and set everything in Security back to defaults. Was then able to verify that Java was working. Left build 7 on the system and updated to build 11. Retested Java, and again everything is working.

So, in my case it seems that a security setting was causing the glitch in IE7 not being able to run Java. At this point, I will continue to run IE7 as well as Firefox. I’ve FF set as the default browser for now. Still trying to get used to some of its features, or perceived lack of features… knowing full well it’s me!!!

Cheers, Bob

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Glad to see you got it fixed. It would be interesting if you knew what the setting was that caused the problem. Getting back in working order is more important though. Thanks for posting back.

Joe

--Joe

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Unfortunately, I failed to take snapshots of the Security settings before resetting them to the defaults.

I do keep a daily log of all system problems, installs, uninstalls, general maintenance etc., in order to go-back-in-history in the event a similar issue arises. Normally I would have have taken the snapshots and added them to the archive log. However, I clicked on resetting to the defaults too fast.

If a like occurrence happens in the future, I will remember to take those snapshots for reporting purposes.

Cheers, Bob

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That is exactly what I was thinking about when I read the initial posts about uninstall and cleaning the registry; IE7 has the possibility to do a complete reset. Most of the time not a big problem since the tweaks done (that will be lost) are usually few. An IE setting, corrupted or wrong, will stay in place no matter how much cleaning and uninstalling that is done. But I lost track of the thread, sorry; good post of peterg, and good to hear it’s solved.

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The following link has information on Trusted Installer: Trusted Installer – Vista Forums and leads to this Technet article: Security: New ACLs Improve Security in Windows Vista.

Joe

--Joe

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Hi Joe.

I’ll research the topics to further my understanding of the processes.

As stated in my follow-up message to peterg, I now have Java working in IE7.

Thanks for your help in this matter.

Cheers, Bob

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If you are considering making FF your browser of choice, this might interest you. IE8 Beta has been out for a number of months now, and is freely downloadable. If you switch to FF you might consider installing that as your second browser (or for that matter, as your first, if you don’t mind betas).

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Hi Peterg,

I’ve been an IE user almost since it first entered the market. At the time, I dropped Netscape immediately and switched to IE while it was still in its infant stages. Stuck with it over the years, but had a couple of bad tastes with some beta updates.

I even tried FF when it first came out and uninstalled within a few days. Then Google’s Chrome came out ad I uninstalled it within an hour. One of the features I have come to enjoy is the Autofill and found it strange that a Google feature like Autofill is not available in its own browser.

Anyway, with the recent problems I was having with Java I gave FF another try and must say it is improved very much from the earlier versions. I’ll keep it as my default browser for now until I can learn all about the available add-ons etc. Maybe by then IE8 will be out of beta and I’ll give that update a whirl.

Thanks again for your input.

Cheers, Bob

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Thanks for the feedback. I am delighted to hear that it worked.

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