Safari Java broken

[JohnMcG]

I seem to be having issues with Java in Safari. When I try to load an applet (any applet), I get a screen with a coffee mug and two arrows circling it, and it just stays like that.

Software update reports latest software, and i've tried instaling java from the apple site...

Any suggestions folks?
Thanks!

[hayne]

Please give us a specific example of a page (URL) that exhibits this problem so we can try it.

And tell us what version of OS X you have.
And what model of Mac.

Also look for relevant (Java-related) messages in the console.log and system.log
Launch the "Console" application (under /Applications/Utilities) and look for relevant error messages. Note that messages are labeled with the date & time so you can use that to locate the part of the log to look at. Copy & paste the relevant messages back here so we can see them.
Be sure to look at system.log as well as console.log (Use the "Logs" button (top-left) to see the various logs available - note that you will probably need to be an "admin" user to see the system.log)

[JohnMcG]

MacBook Pro running Tiger 10.4.8

http://www.glencoelive.com/access2200.html

I can't find anything relevent in any of the logs at all..

[hayne]

Well, it is working (sort of) for me on my iBook G4 with 10.4.8
No errors, and the text on the applet seems to be working, but the image is almost all black - see screen capture below.

See if it works if you log in as a different (preferably freshly created) user.

[JohnMcG]

That would be beacuse it's night time 2200ft up a mountain in scotland :)

Will check a different user.

[JohnMcG]

It seems to be working OK under a different user. You get the coffee cup and then a couple of seconds later it loads without a problem!

[hayne]

Here's my generic prescription for user-specific problems:
----------------------------------
You have determined that the problem is only with the one user account.
The problem thus is almost certainly due to something under your home folder.
And it likely is something under ~/Library
( ~ = your home folder)
The most likely thing is a bad preference file under ~/Library/Preferences
You could start by removing the preference files for the apps you are having trouble with. (The names of preference files usually include the name of the app they are for.)
If the problem persists, you need to narrow the problem down - you could start by moving (via drag & drop) the whole "Preferences" folder that is under ~/Library to the Desktop, then log out and log in again. A default copy of the Preferences folder will have been recreated. Does that improve things? If so, you could use a divide & conquer approach to figure out which of the preference files is causing the problem - move half of the preference files back into the Preferences folder, log out & in again, etc.

If the problem persists, try the same thing with the other sub-folders of ~/Library. E.g. with ~/Library/Caches, ~/Library/InputManagers, ~/Library/Fonts, ~/Library/PreferencePanes, ~/Library/Application Support, ~/Library/Application Enhancers, contents of ~/Desktop, etc.
Also remove any files owned by your user in /Library/Caches (the Library folder at the top-level of the drive) or the sub-folders of /Library/Caches (e.g. the font caches under /Library/Caches/com.apple.ATS)

[cmkilger]

I was having this issue. I found that the problem was in ~/Library/Preferences/com.apple.LaunchServices.plist. I opened it up and in Property List Editor (comes with the developer tools) and deleted com.apple.Safari under LSPrefsFatApplications. That fixed it for me.

[JUS2MCH]

I have a MacBook Pro OSX Version 10.4.10. I use Safari Version 3.0 (522.11). I have the exact same problem as JohnMcG. I tried doing the file thing in the library, however none of my files even say safari on them. I even did the folder drop on the desktop and that didn't work. I logged in under my wife's account and she doesn't have the problem I have when I use Safari under my account. Any help is appreciated. I am not to computer savvy so please dumb down the suggestions thanks.

[jonasbn]

I experienced a problem with a certain work related Java applet after having switched-on Rosetta (Safara.app -> Get Info, Open using Rosetta - so my son could play certain Shockwave games.

More on Rosetta: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rosetta_(software)
More on Intel vs. Shockwave: http://www.adobe.com/go/82216d24

I do not know if this solves some of the trouble some of you experience?

[kubera]

I experienced a problem with a certain work related Java applet after having switched-on Rosetta (Safara.app -> Get Info, Open using Rosetta - so my son could play certain Shockwave games.

More on Rosetta: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rosetta_(software)
More on Intel vs. Shockwave: http://www.adobe.com/go/82216d24

I do not know if this solves some of the trouble some of you experience?
Looks like switching off Rosetta fixed the problem about Safari support for java.

I was using this link for testing:
http://www.java.com/en/download/help/testvm.xml

This worked great on Firefox, but NOT on Safari which was puzzling. finally worked.

I was testing this as my remote computing link to work depends on a applet which seems to not work, so needed to make sure I have java correct.

Thanks for the tip
kub

Thanks,