FF 15 and Java 7 plugin on Win 8 not working

Question

Just did a fresh install of Win8 on a totally new machine. Installed latest FF (15.0.1) and Java 7. Everytime I go to a page requiring Java it says I need the plugin. I've searched all over the web and can't find an answer although others have had the same problem and appeared to have worked around it.
Reinstalled FF
Reinstalled Java
Tried running program in Win 7 compatibility mode
If I go to Control Panel -> Programs -> Java -> Advanced and look at Default Java for Browser, it's set for IE, but the box for FF is unchecked. I check it, hit apply or OK (tried both) and after the window closes, I go back in and FF box is unchecked again.
about:plugins shows Java installed. At wits end here....
I'm not posting from my Win 8 box so installed plugins is hand typed.

Answer 1

I do have Java 7 U7. I originally had both 32 and 64 bit installed, now I've got it down to 32 bit only. Still no joy. I go to a website and it tells me to install the plugin, I try to and the installer says it's already there. Now there is a difference though, the Java console shows Mozilla Family checked but it no longer shows as being installed in the plug ins on the troubleshooting info page.
Here's the Troubleshooting Info as I'm back on there now.
Application Basics
Name
Firefox
Version
15.0.1
User Agent
Mozilla/5.0 (Windows NT 6.1; WOW64; rv:15.0) Gecko/20100101 Firefox/15.0.1
Profile Folder
Show Folder
Enabled Plugins
about:plugins
Build Configuration
about:buildconfig
Crash Reports
about:crashes
Memory Use
about:memory
Extensions
Name
Version
Enabled
ID
Adblock Plus
2.1.2
true
{d10d0bf8-f5b5-c8b4-a8b2-2b9879e08c5d}
Adblock Plus Pop-up Addon
0.4
true
[email protected]
Flash Block
2.00.13
true
{95ab36d4-fb6f-47b0-8b8d-e5f3bd547953}
Forecastfox
2.2.1
true
{0538E3E3-7E9B-4d49-8831-A227C80A7AD3}
IE Tab Plus
2.0.0.0
true
[email protected]
Important Modified Preferences
Name
Value
browser.cache.disk.capacity
1048576
browser.cache.disk.smart_size.first_run
false
browser.cache.disk.smart_size_cached_value
1048576
browser.places.smartBookmarksVersion
4
browser.startup.homepage
http://www.google.com/
browser.startup.homepage_override.buildID
20120905151427
browser.startup.homepage_override.mstone
15.0.1
extensions.lastAppVersion
15.0.1
gfx.direct3d.prefer_10_1
true
network.cookie.prefsMigrated
true
places.history.expiration.transient_current_max_pages
104858
privacy.sanitize.migrateFx3Prefs
true
Graphics
Adapter Description
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 550 Ti
Vendor ID
0x10de
Device ID
0x1244
Adapter RAM
2047
Adapter Drivers
nvd3dumx,nvwgf2umx,nvwgf2umx nvd3dum,nvwgf2um,nvwgf2um
Driver Version
9.18.13.282
Driver Date
6-15-2012
Direct2D Enabled
true
DirectWrite Enabled
true (6.2.8400.0)
ClearType Parameters
ClearType parameters not found
WebGL Renderer
Google Inc. -- ANGLE (NVIDIA GeForce GTX 550 Ti) -- OpenGL ES 2.0 (ANGLE 1.0.0.1041)
GPU Accelerated Windows
1/1 Direct3D 10
AzureBackend
direct2d
JavaScript
Incremental GC
0
Library Versions
Expected minimum version
Version in use
NSPR
4.9.1
4.9.1
NSS
3.13.6.0 Basic ECC
3.13.6.0 Basic ECC
NSS Util
3.13.6.0
3.13.6.0
NSS SSL
3.13.6.0 Basic ECC
3.13.6.0 Basic ECC
NSS S/MIME
3.13.6.0 Basic ECC
3.13.6.0 Basic ECC