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ShareThisOne thing I can’t stand about any software is when it installs software I didn’t ask for, specially if it modifies another application. Extra hate points if it can’t be uninstalled.
This is the case of the Java run-time most people have installed in their Windows computer. Silently it installs a Java Console extension in Firefox which for some reason you can’t uninstall just by going to the Add-ons Manager, as the Uninstall button is disabled.
To enable it, close Firefox, right-click on the Firefox shortcut you usually click to launch it (or Shift + right-click if in Windows 7 task bar), and select Run as administrator…. Now you can go to the Add-ons Manager, press the Uninstall button, and restart Firefox to have one pest less in your computer.
What about the Java Deployment Toolkit that firefox has marked as causing stability or security issues? When I disabled this toolkit, I was unable to use photo-uploading features on sites like Zenfolio & Facebook that are java-powered. Eventually had to re-enable in order to upload my pictures. :(
well michael i kinda disagree with you, java or picasa can run just fine without those added unnecessary, and sometimes dangerous addon-ons (java deployment toolkit anyone?), you want to run java on the browser, for that you don’t need the java helper or the deployment toolkit, those are to me like unwanted toolbar installs, it should be opt-in not opt-out, although in this case percy if you go to the java control panel in the windows control panel, on the advance portion there is a option to disable all of those added plugins (as well as auto-start and idiotic stuff like that), much easier than what you explained, and probably the proper way.
I agree it is a subjective matter. Personally, there’s a reason people install the JRE and it is to run Java applets and applications. The Java console has no role in this case, and I believe it belongs to the JDK.
Making it uninstallable for whatever reason doesn’t help.
“it installs software I didn’t ask for, specially if it modifies another application”
This statement seems unjustified in this case. You are installing a plugin into the browser – the console is just there so you can see output from the plugin. I guess it could be an optional part of the install, but it’s not like it’s installing a search toolbar or something else unrelated. It would be rather hard for a browser plugin to install itself without “modifying another application”.
“for some reason you can’t uninstall just by going to the Add-ons Manager”
As the next part suggests, the reason you (sometimes) can’t uninstall is because it is installed into the program folder, and depending on Windows version and settings, you can’t change stuff in the program folder without administrator position. You cannot uninstall any plugins from within Firefox – you have to use Windows control panel.
The only thing I find objectionable about the Java console is that an upgrade of Java fails to remove the old versions.