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Strange Java Issue: Java is unavailable or not installed

Hello,

I running into trouble using Java as a plugin with my browsers - Safari (4.0.4) and Firefox (3.5.5). When I pull up a web page with a Java applet in it in Safari (including Sun's java test page), I get a pop-up that says:

*Java is unavailable*
The page "Title of Page" attempted to load Java Content, but Java is unavailable or not installed.

Firefox displays a blank space where the applet is supposed to be. I want to say this started happening after I upgraded to Java 6, but can't say for sure.

I've done the following w/o resolving this issue:

1. Cleared out the java preferences
2. Cleared our Safari preferences
3. Set Safari to use Rosetta
4. Upgraded Safari to 4.0.4
5. Restarted the computer

Using java -version from the command line, I can see whatever version is configured in my java preferences, but the darn applets won't load. I've even restored defaults to no avail. Java is enabled in both Safari and Firefox.

This is driving me bonkers.

Any ideas?

KM

MacBook Pro, Mac OS X (10.5.8)

Posted on Nov 30, 2009 7:47 AM

Reply
5 replies

Jan 17, 2010 10:42 AM in response to KMinDC

Please note the update "5" mentioned above, there is now an update "6".

http://www.apple.com/downloads/macosx/apple/application_updates/javaformacosx105 update6.html

I already had this. The notes for Update 6 mentions " J2SE 1.4.2 is no longer being updated to fix bugs or security issues and is therefore disabled by default in this update. "

I went into /applications/utilities/Java Preferences.app and:
1) turned 1.4.2 back on.
2) made 1.4.2 first (by dragging to top)
3) I also switched Run applets to Within the browser process (which should be the Default but was not set)

I am not sure which of these are needed, but doing all of them made it work on the web page in question.

Strange Java Issue: Java is unavailable or not installed

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