[SOLVED] Firefox crashing since Java update.

[ZombieToast]

For about a week now, I've had a lot of issues with Firefox 3.6.26 crashing whenever I visit certain sites using Java and sometimes when I simply close my browser. I don't know if it's related or not, but it seems like this all started just shortly after updating to the latest version of Java 7 (Update 5). Prior to that, I had been using Java 6 Update 22 and I never had any issues. I tried uninstalling Java 7 and rolling back to Java 6 (Update 33), but that didn't fix anything...however, there may be a chance that I didn't do that properly because I've never reverted to an older version of Java. I've been working at this feverishly for two days and I just can't seem to make any progress, so I was hoping someone here might be able to lend me a hand. Maybe some of the following info will be useful...

1. As mentioned, I am using 3.6.26. The problem seems to go away if I update to Firefox 4+, but I really don't want to use a newer version. It took me a long time to find a version of Firefox that I like and I want to stick with it.

2. I am running Windows 7 Pro 64-bit and have been for most of the year without any browser issues until now.

3. The problem still persists when using Firefox Safe Mode.

4. Disabling all add-ons doesn't fix anything. Nor does disabling plugins. With the exception of the Java plugins, that is. When I have Java disabled, Firefox works as smoothly as ever (even if everything else is enabled), but this of course isn't a solution because I'm then not able to use sites that rely on Java. If needed, I can list all of my add-ons and plugins; I'm opting not to do so yet because I don't want my post to be too big.

5. Here are a few crash reports from last night:
http://crash-stats.mozilla.com/report/i ... d002120701
http://crash-stats.mozilla.com/report/i ... 9e92120701
http://crash-stats.mozilla.com/report/i ... 0352120701
http://crash-stats.mozilla.com/report/i ... 2212120701
http://crash-stats.mozilla.com/report/i ... 1fd2120701
http://crash-stats.mozilla.com/report/i ... 54e2120701

6. Scans with HijackThis show nothing abnormal. Kaspersky, SUPERAntiSpyware, and Malwarebytes Anti Malware all come back clean.

7. One page that always crashes Firefox without fail is the Verify Java Version page on the official Java web site. This also always causes the browser to crash: http://minesweeper.unl.edu

8. Other browsers have absolutely no trouble with these or other pages.

9. System File Checker (sfc /scannow) shows no corrupted files. I'm pretty sure this is irrelevant, but I tried anyway.

10. If I boot into Windows Safe Mode, the aforementioned web sites will work properly, but only for a few moments. They work just long enough for the Java elements to load and then Firefox crashes as usual.

11. I tried using a new Firefox profile and had the same problem. If I use a new Windows profile, however, I encounter no issues (same version of Firefox and Java). I don't quite know what this means, but it has to be useful in some way, right?


That's all I can think of off-hand at the moment. If anymore info is needed, please let me know as I'm not 100% sure what is relevant to this particular issue. Thanks to anyone who takes to the time read this.



EDIT: Oh, what the heck, I'll just go ahead and post my add-ons and plugins just in case...

ADD-ONS:
Add to Amazon Wish List Button 1.8
Download Statusbar 0.9.10
Ghostery 2.7.2
Java Console 6.0.33
Kaspersky Virtual Keyboard 12.0.0.477
NoScript 2.4.6
Session Manager 0.7.8.1
Web Developer 1.1.9

The following are installed but disabled:
Adobe Acrobat - Create PDF 1.0
Anti-Banner 12.0.0.477
Kaspersky 12.0.0.477
(Is it weird that three of them have the exact same version number?)

PLUG-INS:
2007 Microsoft Office system 12.0.4518.1014
Adobe Acrobat 10.1.3.23
AmazonMP3DownloaderPlugin 1.0.15.0
CANON iMAGE GATEWAY Album Plugin Utility 3.0.5.0
iTunes Application Detector 1.0.1.1
Java Deployment Toolkit 7.0.50.255
Java(TM) Platform SE 7 U5 10.5.0.5 (listed as "Classic")
Java(TM) Platform SE 7 U5 10.5.1.255 (listed as "Next Generation")
Microsoft DRM 9.0.0.3250 ("DRM Netscape Network Object")
Microsoft DRM 9.0.0.3250 ("DRM Netscape Network Plugin")
Microsoft Windows Media Player Firefox Plugin 1.0.0.8
Mozilla Default Plug-in 1.0.0.15
NVIDIA 3D Vision 7.17.12.9610
NVIDIA 3D Vision 7.17.12.9610 (for streaming, apparently)
PlayStation(R)Network Downloader Check Plug-in 1.0.0.0
QuickTime Plug-in 7.7.2.0
Shockwave Flash 11.3.300.262
Shockwave for Director 11.6.5.635
Silverlight Plug-In 5.1.10411.0
Square Enix Secure Launcher 1.0.0.104
Unity Player 3.5.0.43509
Windows Activation Technologies 7.1.7600.16395
Windows Live? Photo Gallery 15.4.3538.513
Windows Media Player Plug-in Dynamic Link Library 3.0.2.629

[aivadarker]

hi i have the same issue and started at the same time but the problem is in chrome and ie aswell

[edjmn]

In your list of plugins, Java 7 is still there.
Javara can help to clean up when uninstalling Java.
So, uninstall Java 7 from add/remove, then run this
http://singularlabs.com/software/javara ... -download/
Then reinstall Java 6 33 and in control panel -> java disable updates.

[ZombieToast]

In your list of plugins, Java 7 is still there.

Which is exactly why I wasn't sure that I had done it properly. Even without Java 7 installed, it was showing up in the plugins and I couldn't figure out why. I can't believe I had forgotten all about JavaRa! I used to help people with viral infections on a very regular basis and JavaRa was part of my regular repertoire because the upgrade process was so clumsy/messy back then, but that was a couple of years ago and I haven't had to use it since, so it just slipped my mind.

Anyway, that worked like a charm. I'm back on J6U33 and everything is running like it should. Thanks so much for the suggestion! Although I'm not worried about potential vulnerabilities (I'm well-equipped to deal with that sort of thing), I'm half-tempted to try upgrading Java again with JavaRa just to see if that makes a difference...but I'll save that for later. For now, I'm going to enjoy my browsing experience and get back to my projects. Thanks again!

hi i have the same issue and started at the same time but the problem is in chrome and ie aswell

Sorry to hear that you are having issues as well, but I would strongly recommend starting a new thread with pertinent information if you haven't done so yet. While our problems may be similar, there could be very different causes and it will be much easier for folks to help you if you have your own thread going.

[edjmn]

Glad you got Java working. I'm not too sure if Java 7 can work with Firefox 3.6.* Java 6 is expected to stop getting security patches in November 2012 infoworld article re: extending java se 6 support 6u33 came out only a month ago, but Java 7 is meant to be more secure even when both are up to date.
If you experiment with 7, with any luck the method with Javara will get Java 6 going if you need to go back.

[C Cruiser]

I've also experienced the same issue. Using Firefox 13.0.1, it crashes with Java Console 6.0.33. Disabling the Java Console solves all the issues. When Firefox crashes, you cannot even close it using the task manager on my Windows 7 computer.