Java broken under Mavericks

I have a solution that has worked on 2 macs-an iMac and a macbook pro-both that were upgraded to mavericks. I got the help of a very smart person. his diagnosis was that there was interaction between Java 6 and 7 that was not a problem with 10.8.5 but having both is a problem with mavericks. my guess is that you previously installed Java 7 on top of Java 6, which was true for me.

so, we eliminated all java files we could find, uninstalled Java 7, rebooted, flushed caches and reinstalled Java 7.

here are the specific steps:

-- /library/preferencepanes there is a file called "JavaControlPanel.prefPane" move that to trash

--/library/ move the Java folder to the trash

--/library/ move the Oracle folder to the trash

--uninstall JRE 7.45

you can do this by finding "JavaAppletPlugin.plugin" and moving it to the trash. that file is in /library/internet plug-ins. described here:

http://www.java.com/en/download/help/mac_uninstall_java.xml

--restarted and booted in safe mode (hold down the shift key during restart)

http://support.apple.com/kb/ht1564

--once safe boot was finished I logged back in and installed JRE-7u45

at that point the Java control panel was back to working normally. You can adjust the security slider and the "enable Java content in the browser" will be checked.

I do not know whether all these steps are required. I do know that this procedure has restored Java 7 functionality to my machines.

hopefully Oracle will release a revised Java 7 that removes the offending files as part of its installation.

if you follow these steps, let me know the outcome.

good luck!

pete

I assume you are getting the missing plugin message in your browser? If so, you need to go into the Java control panel and click on the security tab. In the upper left you will see a checkbox that says something like "enable java in the browser." Click apply and then authenticate. Restart browser. Should work after that.

Hi Tony-

I do not have any further clues. In fact, I continue to struggle with a JAVA problem. I have an application that behaves as if JAVA is not installed on my machine when in fact JAVA is installed. The part I cannot explain is that other JAVA applications work fine on this same machine. It is as if some JAVA applications don't recognize when JAVA is installed.

I wish I could help more.

Peter Rock

Hi Tony-

what a great observation! this may have solved a problem for me. here's my deal. I have an imac and a macbook. both set up identically. both had the JAVA fix I published above. however, they behave differently with respect to JAVA. the macbook can run a JAVA program that the imac cannot. the imac responds with a dialogue box saying I need to install JAVA 6 when I attempt to run that program. the macbook runs just fine.

after reading your post I realized that the imac is set up to mirror but I might have mirroring tuned off. So, I am going to see if by turning on mirroring I can get the JAVA program to run.

why this would impact a JAVA program I do not know but the error message you get and the similarities in set up make me think I have experienced the situation that you have.

thanks for writing back.

Pete

Tony-

try this:

Open Terminal and type: java -version (and then hit the return key).

what is the output?

then, go here and run the JAVA tester:

https://www.java.com/en/download/installed.jsp

what does it report?

pete