Home Forums Networks & Cross-Platform Networking Mail Missing Plug-in

A while back I started receiving emails that had a "Missing Plug-in" notice where an attachment should have been seen. I checked around and learned that I should reset Java Preferences and restart my machine.

That works. However, and here's the rub, the fix doesn't stay. I find myself going through the same "fix" quite often.

I can understand that I might need to reset something after a big change like a system update, but that's not the case here. Even without any sort of updates et cetera, the fix just doesn't want to stick.

Is there something else I should be doing?

ryck

OSX 10.6.7

Assuming you are running the latest version of Java (SE 6 v. 1.6.0_24-b07-334) try dragging com.java.javapreferences.plist from ~/Library/Preferences in your home folder t the desktop. Then reboot, reset the Java preferences once again and see if that doesn't solve the problem.

I'm fairly sure that's the case. I'm pretty good about installing updates (particularly Java) and a quick check of "Software Update" advises: "Your software is up to date".


Well, here's a rub. I can't find that plist, even after looking in the Library/Preferences folders for both the Hard Drive and my Admin account.

I even did a Spotlight search and it didn't find anything. Is it possible I don't understand what is meant by "home" folder?

ryck

I don't have that plist either, but I do have com.apple.java.JavaPreferences.plist in the specified location. Perhaps Joe made a typo?

Got it.....thanks. I have now:

1. Removed plist and restarted.

2. Checked an email from today...but still got "Missing Plug" message.

3. Restored the Java Preferences. Restarted.

4. Checked same email........ no change.

However......

I have another email, with an attachment instead of the "Missing Plug-in" message, so I am wondering: Could the source (sender) be the problem, rather than my software?

I'll keep an eye out for a few days.

ryck

I knew that file name seemed too short. Thanks for catching my typo Jon.

I generally copy the name and paste it into my reply so that I don't get into the typo issue. It's too easy to make a misteak.

So.....a few days later....the fix is still not sticking and I can't point a finger at a particular source.

I had a "Missing Plug-in" notice this morning on an attachment originating with me. I had sent a Word document attachment. I reset Java preferences, restarted Mail, and the image was back in place.

However, opening mail this afternoon I'm back to the "Missing Plug-in" notice.

ryck

Unless you have a third party application installed that modifies Mail, I can't figure out what "plug in" would be missing or what Java would have to do with it. So it occurs to me that somethng else is happening under the hood. It occurs to me the Launch Services database may become corrupted. TinkerTool System (that is the shareware app not the freeware Tinkertool), OnyX, MacPilot, or Cocktail can rebuild the Launch Services database. Admittedly this is a long shot but it is quick and easy to do and cannot hurt anything.

I don't have anything installed that would modify Mail. I just use applications the way they come. The Java preferences reset came from looking around and finding several places such as this one that made that suggestion. As that doesn't seem to be working for me I thought I'd pop the question into our site.

The fix has been sticking since yesterday.

I own OnyX so I can give that a shot.

I don't know if it's related but, the last couple of times I've done a Permissions Repair (in conjunction with a Log-In window issue) I've noticed that a bunch of Java permissions were repaired each time.

ryck

I doubt that it's related. I get exactly the same thing when I repair permissions. Awhile ago (I can't locate the thread quickly), I posted about this and Hal Itosis (if I recall correctly) said that it was a non-issue.

That's good enough for me.

I've since done the Launch Services rebuild that joemike suggested (using Cocktail - turns out I own more stuff than I knew). I've also done a bit more thinking about the issue and wonder if it's application oriented. That is, I get lots of stuff with PDFs et cetera attached, but they're never missing. It seems to be confined to Office documents....particularly Word.

We'll see. Back to keeping an eye out.

ryck

Well, I can confirm I was wrong about it being confined to Word documents as I've now also had PDFs replaced with the "Missing Plugin" notice.

And, the reset Java Prefs fix still doesn't stick. It works for a couple of days and then needs to be reset. This isn't the end of the world but it is a mild pain in the hoohaw.

Perhaps I'll just learn to live with it.

ryck

OSX 10.6.8

Ryck,

FWIW, there is a new Java update recently released....perhaps that may do the trick for you?

Let us know how it goes.

Yes there is and thank-you. I did install it a couple of days ago and, while it hasn't cured the problem, it has changed it somewhat. I previously had to close Mail, reset Java Preferences, and restart Mail. Now I don't go through that process.

Example: I have a Word document that was sent to me, edited and returned to sender, edited and sent back to me, edited and sent back. All transmissions were available in my Mail windows with the attachment, and all had the Word document icon except the second time I sent it back. It had the Missing Plugin message.

However, I found that if I highlighted the Word document in the transmission immediately prior (Highlighted, not opened), The Word document icon appeared where it had been missing.

It's not a perfect fix but a lot easier than closing Mail, resetting et cetera. Also, the document is always available in the attachments list above the message body, so this isn't a show-stopper.

I'm just one of those people who muses "I wonder why that is?" when things don't work quite the way they should.

ryck