Can't Get Java to Work

I'm having a problem with Java in Netscape 7.1. It's the latest Sun Java, and all the right stuff appears on the Plugin Page. However, any site that has java just gives me that "click here to download the plugin." It's working fine in IE 6 (XP SP1), but not in Netscape. It's kind of the same effect as Shockwave 8.1 has, with the plugin page showing it's installed but only working in IE. I'm using Netscape 7.1 as my default at the moment, so I'm annoyed to have to open IE for sites that need Java or Shockwave. I've uninstalled, used jv16powertools registry cleaner, and reinstalled Java 4.2 to no effect. Do you know what's going on?

Dennis

 

Hi Dennis,

I'm not certain what's going on with the Java 1.4.2. Do you have these (or similar) files in your plugins folder:
~\Program Files\Netscape\Netscape\plugins
NPJava11.dll
NPJava12.dll
NPJava13.dll
NPJava32.dll
NPJPI142.dll
NPOJI610.dll

Have you enabled Java in Preferences:
Edit | Preferences | Advanced

In the Java Plugin Control Panel | Browser
Have you enabled Netscape

Ramona

 

Ramona,

Yes, all plugins are in the folder, all show up in about plugins with a yes to being enabled, Java is enabled in advanced preferences, and Netscape is checked in the Java Control Panel. Yet, any site with Java brings up that box to click to get the plugin. If I visit with Internet Explorer, the little Java icon will appear in the systray and the java stuff will run fine. It just doesn't work with Netscape. I can't figure why.

 

Hi Dennis,

Sounds as if you've punched all the right buttons on your system. When you installed Netscape 7.1, did you do a "Custom" install, and did you DEselect Java? If not, what you might try, is uninstalling Java, then reinstalling. Be sure to reboot the PC before reinstalling. Can't guarantee a fix, but this works for some users. And more....

From Java 1.4.2 Release Notes:
The Netscape 7 installer provides three choices for installation: Recommended, Full, and Custom. The Java Plug-in may not work properly in Recommended or Full installations of Netscape 7 browsers. Such Netscape 7 browsers may close when attempting to launch an applet. To avoid this problem, install Netscape 7 using the Custom option, and choose not to install the Quality Feedback Agent.

When installing Java Plug-in, it is necessary to shut down and then restart your web browser. On Microsoft Windows platforms, Netscape 7 has a Quick Launch feature that keeps it running in the background so that it can be launched with minimal start-up time from a Quick Launch icon in the system tray. To completely shut down Netscape 7, you must exit Netscape 7 from its Quick Launch icon in the system tray.

Ramona

 

Ramona,

I've already uninstalled, rebooted, used jv16powertool's registry cleaner, and reinstalled java. No change. I had been using mozilla 1.3 and uninstalled that following your clean install of Netscape 7 guide. I had nothing from Mozilla left on the machine when I used the recommended install of Netscape 7.1. I then had to reinstall RealOne on top of itself, and since have seen that that is the recommended approach for that. No problem there. As far as Quality Feedback Agent is concerned, on one site (not java related) Netscape crashed when attempting to print the page and that Quality notice popped up. I cancelled it, temporarily unchecked the print setup so not to shrink the page to fit and set it to landscape. This printed that trouble page and I set it all back to normal, as most pages shrink fine in portrait without crashing Netscape. However, I have not experienced any crashing when accessing pages with java. The crash described relates that it would occur when attempting to open java to run the applet. But nothing attempts to open or crashes. The page just doesn't detect that I have java at all! What to do? Should I try reinstalling Netscape 7.1 on top of itself? Something makes me think that wouldn't help, as all the other plugins (Acrobat Reader, RealOne, WMP, Quicktime) work fine. Oh, I did notice under Helper Applications an entry for application/x-java-jnlp-file and it is set to open with default application. Is that supposed to be there?

 

Hi Dennis,

This is a stumper, in that users are reporting an appreciable improvement in performance with Java 1.4.2.

Are you by chance using a Theme other than Modern? If so, revert back to Modern.

Have you tried disabling the QFA? Rename fullsoft.dll to: Xfullsoft.dll
talkback.exe to: Xtalkback.exe

See if this makes any difference.

On the file type:

The file type is associated with the extra feature called Java Web Start, which contains 4 extra Java based applications, including a NotePad, a puzzle game, Draw (similar to MS Paint), and something called Swing Set, which is some Java UI builder app of some sort, this last item is apparently a collaboration between Sun and Netscape, and used to create JNLP files/documents. I always uninstall Web Start, but of course if you are a developer, you would want the program.

Fortunately, the Java Web Start program is installed separately, and has it own entry in the Add/Remove Programs list, so you can uninstall it easily, without stopping the Sun Java plugin from working with your browser.

Ramona

 

Thanks for sticking with this problem, Ramona. I usually use Classic, but tried going back to Modern. Again, no change. I tried renaming the QFA. No change. Also, the new Java doesn't include the separate entry in Add/Remove Programs for Java Web Start like the previous versions did. Not that I care about that, but I thought I'd tell ya. I do care about Java being there, but not working, though. Are users reporting good experiences with 1.4.2 using Mozilla or Netscape 7.1? If everyone's using Mozilla, then perhaps this is a Netscape 7.1 bug. I never experienced this with Mozilla or previous versions of Netscape. Oh yeah, I've got Internet Explorer and Netscape checked in the Java Control Panel. There is a third box to check for Mozilla. What would happen if I checked that? I suspect nothing, since I don't have Mozilla installed, but who knows? I'm grasping for straws here. What else should I try?

 

Ramona,

I'm currently downloading Java 1.4.1.03, since I noticed the previous version from 1.4.2 I had was 1.4.1.02. I'm also downloading Mozilla 1.4 at the same time. Then I'm going to sleep! Dialup downloads sure slow things down 2 at a time! Tomorrow, I'll try uninstalling 1.4.2 and installing 1.4.1.03. The Release Notes for Mozilla 1.4 suggest Java 1.4.1 for Windows, so maybe there is something up with 1.4.2. I'll try that before giving up the ship and uninstalling Netscape and installing Mozilla. Perhaps Sun hadn't tested 1.4.2 with Netscape 7.1 on Windows before release. I suppose they'll be updating with a fix (I hope). I also hope this isn't just happening on my computer. I'll let you know what happens.

 

I am having the same problem.
I have Java 1.4.0_3 also as well as 1.4.0_2.
It works in IE 6 but not in NS 7.02 in POGO Games.
I wrote POGO Custhelp and they said,

Our suggestion is to try downloading and installing the Java Virtual Machine from Sun Microsystems (this is different from the one from Microsoft). This has fixed the problem for many of our users who had this problem, and it may work for you. Here's how to get Sun's Java VM:

- Go to http://java.sun.com/getjava/download.html

Follow the directions listed on that page for installation
- Restart your computer before trying to play again

Unfortunately, if this doesn't work for you, the only resolution we have left to offer is to replace the Linksys or NetGear Networking card with one from another brand like 3Com or D-Link.

I tried all the above.
I have been playing in POGO with NS for a few years and I don't have a D-link or Linksys or NetGear that I know of.
-alsa

 

Ramona,

Eureka! Of course, the Sun site is where I've been getting Java from. The older version worked. I uninstalled 1.4.2 and installed 1.4.1.03. Java works fine now. I think anyone who is using 1.4.2 with Netscape 7.1 and has it working is just lucky, as the Release Notes for Mozilla 1.4 (which, I believe, is essentially Netscape 7.1) even recommend using a 1.4.1 Java version on it. Now, if they could only fix Shockwave (it's there, but doesn't work).

Thanks,

Dennis

 

On your Shockwave problem you could try copying the Shockwave plugins (np32dsw.dll and ShockwavePlugin.class) from the current location inside the Netscape\Netscape\Plugins folder to a new Plugins folder that you yourself create. Place the new Plugins folder inside the Mozilla folder that contains your profile, for example, inside C:\Documents and Settings\user_name\Application Data\Mozilla\Plugins

It's worth a try.

Ramona's Netscape Solutions page has details on finding the Netscape7 profile locations for different versions of Windows and how to show hidden files:
http://home.att.net/~cherokee67/ns7profloc.html

More info:
http://gemal.dk/mozilla/plugins.html
http://plugindoc.mozdev.org/notes.html
http://www.deftone.com/blogzilla/archives/quicktime_and_flash_in_mozilla.html

 

Hi Dennis,

I'm glad to hear that you have Java working now! Would you believe that I downloaded and installed 1.4.2 last night, and it works just fine with Netscape 7.1. I'm running a Mozilla 1.5b nightly, so haven't tested it yet.

This is all I could find in the Release Notes re: using 1.4.1:
Java J2SE releases previous to 1.3.0_01 will not work with Mozilla. Problems have been reported with JRE 1.3.1. For best results JRE 1.4.1 is recommended. Mozilla has been tested with all 1.3.0_* versions of the JRE, and JRE 1.3.1, and beta versions of JDK 1.4.

At any rate, use what works for you!

Ramona

 

Alice,

Thanks. I tried your suggestion regarding Shockwave, but there's no change. It will show as being installed and active on the about plugin page but will only show "click here to get the plugin" on the Shockwave test page. This is different than before. In the past I would get a black box and a popup saying I needed to restart Windows to finalize the Shockwave installation. After rebooting I would get the same black box there with no working Shockwave. This problem doesn't exist in Windows 9x, only on Windows XP. Flash works fine.

Ramona,

Well that's weird that Java 1.4.2 works for you on Netscape 7.1. I'll stick to what's working for now and hope a future update will work properly on my computer. I appreciate all your help.

 

Hi Dennis,

On your Shockwave problem, did you read this page:
Installing the Shockwave Player on Windows XP

If you've already done this, disregard.

Ramona

 

I see from your September 2002 post,
http://www.windowsbbs.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=9448
that you had the same issue with Shockwave Player 8.1 when you were running Netscape 7.0 but that it was working with IE and (if I read you right) Netscape 6?

What I would do is uninstall the Shockwave player. This is what's recommended on the page Ramona just posted:
Users encountering repeated error messages or unsuccessful installations of Shockwave should follow these steps:
1. Uninstall the Shockwave Player by using the Shockwave Uninstaller located in "Stand-alone installers for Shockwave Player "( TechNote 15895)
http://sdc.shockwave.com/support/director/ts/documents/standalone_installer.htm

2. Reinstall the player from the Macromedia Shockwave download page, alternatively use the latest stand-alone installer.

Befor reinstalling, it wouldn't hurt to search your hard drive for all instances of np32dsw.dll and ShockwavePlugin.class and either delete or rename.

 

Alice,

Thanks again for your suggestions. I, however, went that uninstall, reinstall route. I was all over the Macromedia site back then and followed that very advice. Unfortunately, after reinstalling I get the same results. Everything is in the right places and all active according to Netscape's about plugins. Back when I was experimenting between XP and 98 I had no problem running Shockwave in Netscape (not 6.0, but the later ones that restored Shockwave compatibillity.) Even Netscape 7 was fine in Windows 98. It worked in XP as well until Netscape 7. Just to clarify, Shockwave is fine in Internet Explorer and it is also fine in Netscape 7 in Windows 98. Shockwave is also fine in Internet Explorer in Window XP. It is only in Netscape 7 and above in Windows XP that this problem occurs. Let me ask you, is it so that most folk's computers aren't experiencing this? It's just a good thing that I don't frequently use Shockwave! I'm okay for now accessing it through Internet Explorer. I greatly appreciate the valid suggestions you and Ramona make on this board. If you've ever had the misfortune of trying to resolve problems on the Creative bulletin boards (Harvey Fong and Dave Hammaker) you'd know what I'm saying. I've never posted there, knowing nothing would be accomplished, but once in a while I catch up on their insults! Anyway, in this case I believe everything is installed properly and has got to be some sort of program bug. Hammaker would probably respond with something like are you sure the bug isn't between the keyboard and the monitor. Good thing I'm using Santa Cruz now! Okay, it's obviously time for bed. Good Night and thanks!

Dennis

 

I did see in the other thread that you had gone the uninstall and reinstall route with Shockwave 8.1 and that you had even removed the Netscape 7 plugins before reistalling. I was just thinking that maybe:

1. An uninstall and reinstall of Shockwave 8.5.1 might work out better

2. Renaming or deleting ALL instances of the Shockwave plugin files might help, in case an old Communicator or Netscape 6 shockwave plugin was causing problems. Netscape 7 will scan for and use plugins in various hard drive locations, not just the Netscape plugins folder. I copied this from my Mozilla plugins notes: 09/18/02 np32dsw.dll (Shockwave 8.5 for Director) ShockwavePlugin.class
_and nppdf32.dll (adobe Acrobat 3.0) copied to Mozilla Plugins folder as the dll files were already being recognized in Mozilla [from the Communicator Plugins folder]

 

Alice,

You know, that's right it was that long ago. 8.1, huh? Okay, but we'll have to tackle this in the future because I got antsy. I had XP on the machine for several months and found myself pining for tinkering with Windows 98 Second Edition. After a couple of days my computer's now filled up with the essentials. Interesting how Shockwave works perfectly fine on Netscape 7.1 on Windows 98. I wasn't brave enough with Java though. I installed 1.4.1.03. It's all good. Some might say why not dual boot. Sometimes I do. A couple of times I've put MS-DOS 6.22 on a 2 gig partition and XP on the rest. That's actually fun! I hide the parts from each other with Partition Magic and don't use a boot menu. I copy the DOS version of PM from the boot disc into a folder on the DOS partition and install the full version on XP. I just go in and change the active partition and reboot and it's just like 98's exit to MS-DOS Mode. Cool! I've done having 2 different Windows too, but everytime I do that I feel that it's redundant. Almost everything runs on both 98 & XP, and I just get the feeling I'm bothering with having both for next to no benefit as well as the feeling I'm just wasting space with almost the same stuff. I've got the SBLive 5.1 back in service for 98. (Santa Cruz is awful in 98-no DOS.) This card kicks with the old VXD drivers. I find that if I just enter a couple of numbers into the VCACHE catagory in system.ini (minfilecache & maxfilecache) and keep my nose clean with System File Checker, this baby gives me memory to burn! You know what gave me the push to reinstall with 98? BillyBob in the 98 forum was ranting about how XP was, for him, no better than 98 if you know what you're doing. Guess what? I'm getting cleaner sound (even with the older technology of the SBLive opposed to the Santa Cruz), programs and games are zippier, and I know what the heck is going on on my computer again. If you see Billy Bob, thank him. Anyway, let's see how long I can keep the box going with 98 before it starts wheezing if I move the mouse the wrong way! I think I'm beyond that with my knowledge of OS optimization now, but I do remember going through tough times learning.

Browsers running great on 98,
I am
Sincerely Yours,

Dennis

 

I can relate. Right niow I'm on my husband's Mac running OSX and I have barely a clue what's going on behind the scenes... but with OSX it runs so smoothly and trouble-free that you really don't need to know

I'll need to get a new pc soon and it will have WinXP or whatever is the latest Microsoft incarnation but I sure know what's happening on my trusty Win95B machine! I probably should have installed Win98 years ago but I kept waiting for the time when Windows needed to be reinstalled BUT THE TIME NEVER CAME...