Java plugin in the browser doesn't work even though it is enabled

Question

I installed the Java Development Kit (64-bit) recently and saw it includes the JRE plugin for 64-bit as well. But, since Firefox is 32-bit, I also installed JRE 32-bit version. This is what is shown in Programs and Features.

Now, the problem is, the other day, I opened a site which required the Java plugin. The frame showed the regular Java loading animation and hung. Nothing happened after that. Like this:

I checked Firefox's plugins section and it shows Java is enabled, so no issue there

I tried other browsers - IE10 and Chrome but to no avail. It doesn't work anywhere. I saw another question which said that you have to install 64-bit then 32-bit. That's what I actually did as well. First, installed JDK 7 64-bit (which includes JRE 7 64-bit) and then installed JRE 7 32-bit.

I even tried the Java website's Do I have Java? section and over there too, it just keeps spinning for ages (I have waited for more than 10-20 seconds).

How do I go about now? This never happened to me in Windows 7. I am on Windows 8 Pro.

EDIT: I have removed AdBlock, reinstalled the JRE plugin but it still doesn't work.

EDIT 2: I uninstalled JDK (64-bit), JRE (64-bit and 32-bit), restarted my laptop, cleaned the registry and all the cache and temporary files with CCleaner, again installed JDK (64-bit) and then JRE (32-bit; 64-bit is installed along with JDK). Still didn't work. Then I went to this link found on Troubleshooting Java http://www.java.com/en/download/testjava.jsp. The first time it gave an error which I'm unable to recall because when I refreshed, the animation just hung like in the second screenshot above.

EDIT 3: I managed to reproduce the error and I'm attaching the screenshots here

I clicked on details and this is what I saw:

I also tried disabling Kaspersky Internet Security 2013. Didn't work. I have disabled KIS's browser addons: Anti-Banner and Content Blocker. No luck still.

EDIT 4: I tried this on the 64-bit version of Internet Explorer as well. The spinner just keeps rotating like on the 32-bit browsers. Moreover, I tried on my PC at home which runs 32-bit Windows 8. I installed 32-bit JRE on it and well, Java works perfectly on that. So what's the problem with my box?

Answer 1

Download the full 32-bit JRE from here.

Also, try going to the command-line (Ctrl+R, then type in cmd). Once there, type in java and see what happens. If it says something like java not recognized as an internal or external command then it may be a problem with your environment variables.

If it does indeed run and print out its command-line options, then perhaps try looking to see if your browsers for some reason are using an old version of the Java Applet plugins.

In my experience, if the Java Webstart isn't working, its generally because Java isn't set up correctly.

Answer 2

I had to do a refresh of Windows for some other reason. This time when I installed, everything works now - browser plugin etc.

Weird.