JDK-4637784 : JDK/JRE 1.4 installation: old NPOJI600.dll blocks new plugin
  • Type: Bug
  • Component: install
  • Sub-Component: install
  • Affected Version: 1.4.0
  • Priority: P4
  • Status: Closed
  • Resolution: Won't Fix
  • OS: windows_98
  • CPU: x86
  • Submitted: 2002-02-14
  • Updated: 2002-03-26
  • Resolved: 2002-03-26
Description

Name: gm110360			Date: 02/13/2002


FULL PRODUCT VERSION :
java version "1.4.0-rc"
Java(TM) 2 Runtime Environment, Standard Edition (build 1.4.0-rc-b91)
Java HotSpot(TM) Client VM (build 1.4.0-rc-b91, mixed mode)


FULL OPERATING SYSTEM VERSION : Windows 98 [Version 4.10.2222]


ADDITIONAL OPERATING SYSTEMS :  RedHat 7.1



EXTRA RELEVANT SYSTEM CONFIGURATION :
[Mozilla]
Mozilla 0.9.7+ {Build ID: 2002012203}
Mozilla/5.0 (Windows; U; Win98; en-US; rv:0.9.7+) Gecko/20020122

A DESCRIPTION OF THE PROBLEM :
Recent installations copy the plugin DLLs into the browser
directories. Some workarounds for bug reports suggest doing
the same with mozilla.

So the typical mozilla user will have the NPOJI600.dll from
the JDK/JRE 1.3.1_02 in their plugin directories, which does
not get uninstalled by JDK/JRE deinstallation. With the new
NPOJI610.dll it won't be replaced by a new version as well.

The net effect is that the old stale plugin DLL will grab
the application/x-java-vm MIME type and block it for the new
engine. No Java plugins on java.sun.com with the new 1.4 RC.

Solution: remove the old NPOJI600.dll from your browser
plugin directories. You can check whether an old plugin is
installed using the about:plugins page. The path name to
these DLLs is also included in that page.

Suggestion: Include some hints to that effect with the
installation instructions (troubleshooting section?) for the
windows release.

REGRESSION.  Last worked in version 1.3.1

STEPS TO FOLLOW TO REPRODUCE THE PROBLEM :
1. Install Mozilla, install JDK or JRE 1.3.1_02
2. Copy the plugin DLLs to the browser plugins directory
3. Verify that java plugin works visiting java.sun.com
4. Uninstall JDK and/or JRE 1.3.1_02
5. Install JDK or JRE 1.4
6. Copy the plugin DLLs to the browser plugins directory
7. Verify that java plugin does not work any longer


EXPECTED VERSUS ACTUAL BEHAVIOR :
Expected result: plugin works

Actual result: plugin does not work


ERROR MESSAGES/STACK TRACES THAT OCCUR :
No error messages, just the download plugin placeholder for applets. Using the
placeholder will start fetching JRE 1.3.1 which is probably not what the user wants.

This bug can be reproduced always.

---------- BEGIN SOURCE ----------
http://java.sun.com/
---------- END SOURCE ----------

CUSTOMER WORKAROUND :
Remove NPOJI600.dll from plugins directories.
(Review ID: 139411) 
======================================================================

Comments
EVALUATION Committing to Hopper. ###@###.### 2002-03-19 Mozilla is not a supported browser, so any documentation about this may give users a false impression that we support it. I'm closing this as will not fix. ###@###.### 2002-03-26
26-03-2002