Firefox blocks Java Deployment Toolkit

[Joe A.TT]

You are right Anupam. about: plugins in FF does reveal the plugins with the path. In the case of JDK the path is C:\Windows\SysWOW64\npDeployJava1.dll. Now that I know the path, I also found it. You know, this may be a bit unrelated, but why do some apps/program put their dlls and other files in all over the place? In this case, if I didn't know the path, I would have never thought to look there. Having found the offending JDK dll, I'm still reluctant to delete it because I'm afraid I may leave some orphaned registry entry, or break something.

I don't have Open Office or any other application that relies on Java - I'm almost certain of it. Reason is it would complain if I try to use an application that depends on it - and that hasn't happened.

My suspicion is when I used to use IE, I may have installed Java(tm) Plug-in 2 SSV Helper unwittingly. Later, when I installed FF, it must have scanned my computer and automatically installed JDK because it saw I had that plugin in IE. So yes, I may have installed JDK by mistake, but I don't think I installed a whole "kit" - just the plugins in IE and FF. There's nothing in Control Panel>Uninstall a program that remotely looks like being connected to Java.

I'm still stumbling around and learning about computers in general, but I'm a bit wiser now I think.

I have to rush off on another matter now, but when I get back I'll have a look at those Oracle/Sun folders and post what I found.

[Anupam]

Ah, 64-bit Windows! I think that JavaRa must not work properly on 64-bit Windows. Maybe that's why it was not able to remove Java? I checked out JavaRa forum, and found a few threads... in one of them, a person said he was able to remove Java using JavaRa successfully on some Windows 7 64-bit systems, but not on some others.

Joe, do you remember which version you had installed earlier? Did you download the latest version and install it, when trying to install and uninstall again? Maybe the previous uninstall was not able to remove all the files properly. Maybe you installed 32-bit JRE one time, and maybe 64-bit JRE other time, and therefore, the files are remaining behind.

The one in SysWOW64 is 32-bit dll, since that folder holds files for 32-bit applications on a 64-bit system.

There are still problems with 64-bit systems, and therefore, I am not too keen on installing 64-bit Windows yet. I am glad to still have a 32-bit Windows. But yes, with latest laptops, I have observed that mostly they are coming with 64-bit Windows, so that is going to be the norm in coming days.

I think that this Java mess is caused with 32-bit and 64-bit installations perhaps, or has something to do with it.

I think you did not download full JDK kit... the JDK plugins come with JRE, and so you have these.

[Joe A.TT]

Now that you mention JavaRa's forums I went and looked. It just didn't occur to me to look before . Maybe it's because I have so many other important things happening on in my life at this particular time that it was enough to distract me. Nevertheless, I didn't find anything helpful.

When I used JavaRa it told me it completed the task, but it never gave me any other feedback like a log or anything. Just a simple message that the task was done. It was only curiosity made me check to see if it really did the trick. You may be right about it having a problem with 64-bit machines though.

Checking my notes, it was version 6 64-bit Java I had installed. All the security concerns late last year convince me to uninstall it. I didn't have any use for it anyhow, so there was no sense in keeping it. I made sure and checked Java's site to ensure I was following the recommended uninstall procedure.

I checked again just now and Oracle doesn't even have a mechanism where I can ask how to get rid of these remnants, so that's a dead end. There's simply no way to get feedback from their tech support. They do claim to have an uninstall tool, but it requires the latest Java to be installed on my system, and the tool doesn't remove that last installation of Java. So it's no use to me.

BTW, on Java's site there's nothing that gives a choice or 32 or 64-bit. Even when I click on the download button (and cancel of course), there's nothing to indicate whether it's a 32 or 64-bit file. I suspect the Java site simply detects what system my computer is and presents a download to suit.

I checked the Java remnants and they are all in the directory beginning with C:\Users\<username>\AppData\LocalLow. Within that there are Oracle and Sun folders and sub-folders. Here's a rundown of them:

Oracle>Java>FX2.0 (empty folder)
Sun>Java>AU (contains 2 files named au.cab and au.msi)
Sun>Java>Deployment>

cache>6.0 (folders labeled 0 to 63 plus folders named host, muffin, and tmp, all empty and a file named lastAccessed)
ext (empyt folder)
log (empyt folder)
security (files named: baseline.timestamp | baseline.versions | blacklist.dynamic | blacklist.certs | update.timestamp)
SystemCache>6.0 (empty folders labeled 0 to 63 and a file named lastAccessed)
tmp>si (empty folder)
File named Deployment Properties

So many empty folders mean I didn't do anything on my system that needed Java. I'm also tempted to just delete them since I've uninstalled Java and don't use it in any form or fashion. What prevents me from being that rash is I'm not sure if I will be leaving broken or orphaned registry entries, or it will somehow have a detrimental effect. So that's why I've decided to simply live with the disabled plugins and Java folders/files.

Another strange thing is when I checked on Java(tm) Plug-in 2 SSV Helper in IE by right clicking on it, it points to a file called jp2ssv.dll in C:\Program Files\Java\jre6\bin. There's no such file or directory! It means Windows and IE are pretty crappy with housekeeping.

[Anupam]

Yes, you can expect no help from Oracle about removing JRE remnants.

You should use this link to download JRE, in case you need to install it in the future. The page contains offline installations for both 32 and 64 bits, with clear indication.

http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/ja...s-1880261.html

I think you can safely remove those Sun and Oracle folders, since they are concerned with Java only. I wouldn't worry about the registry entries much, because first, you have already uninstalled JRE the proper way. Those remaining behind are just leftover files and folders. Even if you uninstall other programs successfully, I can assure you that many registry entries are left behind. So, a few left over registries don't matter much.

This link might help you with the query regarding the IE plugin. The query is same as yours as to the plugin showing but no corresponding folder.

http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/i...7-f3642a3e366b

The answer tells to use a software called BHO Remover from SecurityXploded, which is a good software. But, same can be achieved by HiJackThis too.
Or, even by CCleaner startup tool. I think that if you take a look at Internet Explorer tab under CCleaner Startup tool, you will find the plugin showing there. Since there is no corresponding file/folder for that entry, it can be safely removed via CCleaner, or HiJackThis.

The entry in Firefox too, can be removed as explained before, without worrying about registry.

Don't know if it's the fault of Windows, or the JRE uninstaller, but really, it's quite a mess.

[Joe A.TT]

OK, I used CCleaner to delete the startup entry for Java(tm) Plug-in 2 SSV Helper in IE by right clicking on it, so that seems to be one issue solved at least. However, CCleaner doesn't have a similar option to delete JDK or any other add-on in FF. Strange .

Next, I made a Paragon backup of my C: drive and deleted all the Java folders. I'll keep them in the recycle bin too while I observe if there are any issues over the next 2 weeks.

I also downloaded HJT and ran a scan but the JDK Firefox add-on doesn't show up. Again, I'm puzzled. I'm wary of deleting the Java dll file in the SysWOW64 folder since it's a Windows folder. Even if I do delete it, FF may still show it has a JDK add-on even though the dll has been deleted. Do you think I should chance deleting it? I don't know what else to do about this add-on.

[bo.elam]

Originally Posted by Joe A.TT

However, CCleaner doesn't have a similar option to delete JDK or any other add-on in FF. Strange .

Dont worry, that's how it is.

Originally Posted by Joe A.TT

Even if I do delete it, FF may still show it has a JDK add-on even though the dll has been deleted. Do you think I should chance deleting it? I don't know what else to do about this add-on.

If you want the plugin not to appear in your plugin window, all you got to do is clean install Firefox since you already uninstalled Java. That takes about twenty minutes or less. You already spend four or five days on this, clean install Firefox to get your plugin Window looking like this one.

http://img127.imagevenue.com/img.php..._122_359lo.jpg

Bo

[Anupam]

Originally Posted by Joe A.TT

However, CCleaner doesn't have a similar option to delete JDK or any other add-on in FF. Strange .

Yes, that's how it works . Options to delete add-on in FF is not there. You will have to remove from Firefox itself.

Originally Posted by Joe A.TT

I also downloaded HJT and ran a scan but the JDK Firefox add-on doesn't show up. Again, I'm puzzled.

HJT works in a different way than CCleaner. So, the add-ons from Firefox, or the plugins won't show in the list there. That's alright too.

Originally Posted by Joe A.TT

I'm wary of deleting the Java dll file in the SysWOW64 folder since it's a Windows folder. Even if I do delete it, FF may still show it has a JDK add-on even though the dll has been deleted. Do you think I should chance deleting it? I don't know what else to do about this add-on.

There's a way to do this too. You can just cut that file from that folder and store it somewhere else. Don't delete it. Then, you observe whether the add-on disappeared from Firefox or not. It should have been gone. Then, you can further keep it in the other place for a few days, and see if without that file in the folder there, the system behaves normally or not. If system seems fine, you can delete the file altogether.

I have doubts whether reinstalling Firefox would solve this situation or not. Because, Firefox picks up the plugins from their folders, and shows them. So, if the file is still there even after Firefox is uninstalled, and reinstalled, then it might again pick up that file from there, and show as a plugin.

So, I think the better way is to delete the file from that location. That's the solution anyways.

[Joe A.TT]

Originally Posted by Anupam

There's a way to do this too. You can just cut that file from that folder and store it somewhere else. Don't delete it. Then, you observe whether the add-on disappeared from Firefox or not. It should have been gone. Then, you can further keep it in the other place for a few days, and see if without that file in the folder there, the system behaves normally or not. If system seems fine, you can delete the file altogether.

I cut the file from the SysWOW64 folder and put it on my desktop as a reminder. It worked perfectly because there's no JDK add-on in FF now. Thanks for the tip Anupam - cutting the file never occurred to me - I'll remember this useful method if I ever need it in the future.

Originally Posted by Anupam

I have doubts whether reinstalling Firefox would solve this situation or not. Because, Firefox picks up the plugins from their folders, and shows them. So, if the file is still there even after Firefox is uninstalled, and reinstalled, then it might again pick up that file from there, and show as a plugin.

That's what I think too, although the only way to prove it is to uninstall and reinstall. In any case, I'm glad I don't have to go through that .

Originally Posted by bo.elam

You already spend four or five days on this...

As always, thanks for your inputs Bo. I do appreciate everyone's . Actually, I don't mind spending a bit of time on this because I learned a few things. So I'll chalk it up as time well invested.

[Anupam]

Good to know it worked .

In case you want to reinstall Firefox sometime in the future, and you feel it will be much of hassle, you can use FEBE to make the process easy.

http://softwarebychuck.com/febe/febe.html

It's a great extension, and I have been using it for years now. It can backup extensions, themes, preferences, bookmarks, passwords, search plugins, etc. It can also restore them easily from the backup. You will only need to install FEBE when you reinstall Firefox, and then you can use FEBE to restore other things.

Since it will restore bookmarks too, you do not have to install XMarks if you do not want to. Although I want XMarks to be very useful too, because it keeps an online backup of my bookmarks, and it can be used to sync bookmarks anywhere on Firefox. That way it's helpful.

Apart from what FEBE will restore, you will only have to manually take care of change that you made in about:config, if any.

[sicknero]

Xmarks is excellent indeed, I've used it for a couple of years now with, to be fair, a couple of hiccups but nothing too major. And it's since been taken over by the same people who do LastPass and does seem to be very stable now. As well as bookmarks it can also sync history and open tabs and offers site information too, and of course it's browser-independent too so you don't need FF to access your bookmarks.

What I'd add though, is to always get the version from the Xmarks site itself rather than the Mozilla extensions site... the one on Mozilla right now isn't working at all well with FF22 (or 23, I forget which) but there's a newer version on the Xmarks site which works fine. There's often a delay like this with extensions while Mozilla approve developers' updates.

FEBE is also a great tool. It doesn't save extension preferences unfortunately but most of the more involved extensions (e.g. Speed Dial, Tab Mix Plus) have an option to export settings anyway which is a huge time saver.

Lastly, there's an excellent add-on called Extension List Dumper which just adds a button to the add-ons manager for saving a txt/html list of all installed extensions along with directory, version, decription, dev's url etc if you so choose.
Very useful if you want to do a clean install and just want a reminder of what extensions you had and where to download them again.