If it's not listed in Add/Remove Programs and is disabled in your add-ons listed, I think it's safe to say it's not installed on your computer anymore.

@Xircal,

Thanks for the quick reply.

I understand what you are saying .... the files for Java Console 6.0.24 were probably removed (or over-written) as part of the installation of Java Console 6.0.25.

However, FF 4.0.1 must still think 6.0.24 exists (otherwise why would it show 6.0.24 in its add-on list).

Previously (before I installed FF 4), whenever a new version of the Java Console was released (and installed), I would sometimes need to remove the older version via XP's add/remove programs, or remove the older version by clicking the "uninstall" button associated with that add-on (i.e., the older version).

Now (with FF 4.0.1) I find that the older version of Java Console is not in Add/remove programs (that's good), but for some reason it is still listed (as disabled) in the FF 4.0.1 add-on list and there is no "uninstall" button.

At worst, there may be invalid pointers/references in FF 4.0.1 to the older version. At best there is un-needed clutter in FF 4.0.1.

Is there any way to "hack" FF and remove the old version of Java Console listed as disabled (i.e., remove the entry in Firefox's add-on list)?

I would imagine it has something to do with your system configuration because I'm also running Win XP SP3 and downloaded the Java installation yesterday from http://www.java.com/en/ and like you, I went to to Add-ons manager with the intention of disabling and then removing it from my system. So I was a bit surprised to note that it was no longer present. I don't know why it should still show on your system I'm afraid.

According to Heisse Security, the release isn't a security update, but merely one to work more efficiently with Firefox 4. See Java SE 6 update 25 brings faster server startup

@Xircal,

Thanks.

I typed about:plugins in to the address bar and got a list of installed plugins.

These are listed for Java:

Java(TM) Platform SE 6 U25

Java Deployment Toolkit 6.0.250.6

... no mention of ver 24.

Having ver 24 show up as disabled in my add-on list is likely just a "clean up" problem .... but sometimes "clean up" problems just mask some other (more serious) problem lurking .... sigh.

I've noticed that 1.6.0_25 appears in both the Extensions and Plugins menus. I can't remember whether v24 did as well or not.

Problem solved (I hope).

I found this folder ... {CAFEEFAC-0016-0000-0024-ABCDEFFEDCBA}

in c:\program files\mozilla firefox\extentions\

(note there also was a similar folder with 0025 in its name).

After shutting down Firefox, I moved that entire 0024 folder (which did contain other sub-folders and files) elsewhere on my hard drive (in case it needs to be put back), and restarted Firefox.

An entry for Java Console ver 24 (disabled) is no longer shown in the add-on list.

It appears that this folder was not properly cleaned up (removed) when ver 25 of the Java Console was installed.

I don't have any numbered folders in that location at all. All I have in there is a folder called "chrome" and two files called respectively, chrome.manifest and install.rdf.

If I do a search for "java" in the Mozilla Firefox folder, the only file it comes up with is npdeployjava1.dll

@Xircal:

hmmmm ....

I have three "numbered" folders in c:\program files\mozilla firefox\extentions\ ...

{CAFEEFAC-0016-0000-0024-ABCDEFFEDCBA}

{CAFEEFAC-0016-0000-0025-ABCDEFFEDCBA}

{972ce4c6-7e08-4474-a285-3208198ce6fd}

The first two are associated with ver 24 and 25 of Java Console.

The last one looks like it is associated with a default theme for FF 4.0.1 (based on the contents of the install.rdf file within that folder).

Each of the "numbered" folders associated with Java Console has two files: chrome.manifest and install.rdf .... as well as one folder called chrome. The chrome folder has other sub-folders and other files. Similar file structure as you have for Java ... I just have "numbered" folders.

Are you running FF 4.0.1 ??

@Xircal:

If you browse your chrome.manifest or install.rdf files, you will see that they are probably associated with Java.

Yes, I updated via Help | About Firefox | Check For Updates.

I was talking about the contents of {CAFEEFAC-0016-0000-0024-ABCDEFFEDCBA} though. In the extensions folder, there is another folder called {972ce4c6-7e08-4474-a285-3208198ce6fd} which I think is part of the Add-ons/Extensions manager. Nothing about Java in any of them though.

Maybe yours is the correct setup and mine has gone pear-shaped somewhere.

I just realized "24" is part of the folder name. I thought you were talking about a couple of folders with just the name "024" and "025".

Apologies for the confusion.

I think the folder called {972ce4c6-7e08-4474-a285-3208198ce6fd} is associated with the default theme for FF 4.0.1 (based on browsing the install.rdf file in that folder).

I think the folder called {CAFEEFAC-0016-0000-0024-ABCDEFFEDCBA} is associated with Java Console ver 24. Browse the files in that folder (chrome.manifest and install.rdf) .... the contents of those files should tell you if they are associated with ver 24 or ver 25.

If those files all look like they are associated with Java Console ver 24, and you have installed ver 25 .... then the corresponding files for ver 25 may be elsewhere on your computer .... very strange. I would think that since we both are running XP (I am running XP Pro) and are both running FF 4.0.1, that the folders for Java Console's install would be in the same place.

My fault for the confusion about "24" and "25" folder names .... I was not very clear about my reference.

Well, my installation is working OK, so I'm content. :)

Totally agree .... thanks for your help!

You're welcome.

See also:

• http://kb.mozillazine.org/Java#Multiple_Java_Console_extensions

@cor-el:

Thanks for the link.

It says ...

Starting in Firefox 4 (4.0b8) the Firefox installer and updater will automatically remove Java Console extensions from the installation directory "extensions" folder.

Unfortunately, in my case (XP with FF 4.0.1) the Firefox installer did not automatically remove the older (ver 24) Java Console extension when the new release (ver 25) was installed. Ver 24 remained in Firefox's extension list (Tools --> Add-ons) ... shown as disabled. As described in the above posts, to remove the entry for ver 24 in the extension list I had to manually remove the Java Console ver 24 folder from the "extensions" folder. Perhaps there is a bug in FF 4 ??

I wish Oracle would fix this problem with the Java Console Extensions accumulating in the Add-on Manager window / tab once and for all! The "average user" has no use for that POS and it doesn't even work (since 1.6.0_10 came out) for the Java developers who might need that feature until that developer enables that feature elsewhere. It's like the vermiform appendix, no known need for it and it causes grief when it malfunctions and needs to be removed.

I just don't allow Java to be updated, I un-install and then install the new version.

Uninstalling Java and installing the new Java version is also quite a lot faster. Updating usually takes minutes and installing the new version only a few seconds.