Javascript not enabled; but it shows it is

Question

running: Windows XP, firefox 30.0, java version 7 update 60 (build1.7.0_60-b19)
I get this message: This content requires JavaScript to be enabled.
Turn your browser JavaScript settings on.
When I go to about:config and search - JavaScript is showing enabled. Any ideas? (Besides updating WIndows? I'm working on that...)

Answer 1

My guess is that making Flash visible will resolve the script error.
Adobe has two installers, one for IE (ActiveX control) and one for other browsers (Netscape-style plugin). Could you verify that you have the plugin used by Firefox? On 32-bit Windows XP, this should be stored in the following folder:
C:\Windows\System32\Macromed\Flash
There usually are several files, but the one used by Firefox will have a name that fits this pattern:
'''NPSWF32'''_14_0_0_125'''.dll'''
If that's not there, the installer may not have run to completion, or Adobe's site might have given you the ActiveX installer instead of the plugin installer.
Assuming that DLL is there, Firefox will find the plugin using a key in the Windows registry created by Adobe's installer.
By default, Firefox scans the registry at startup. However, this can be disabled. To make sure your Firefox is still scanning, you can double-check this setting:
(1) In a new tab, type or paste '''about:config''' in the address bar and press Enter. Click the button promising to be careful.
(2) In the search box above the list, type or paste '''scan''' and pause while the list is filtered.
(3) Make sure '''plugin.scan.plid.all''' preference is set to its default value of true, or double-click it to switch it from false to true.
If the DLL is there and Firefox is checking the registry, the problem may be that Firefox's plugin data file has become corrupted. To address that:
From inside Firefox, open your current Firefox settings (AKA Firefox profile) folder using either
* "3-bar" menu button > "?" button > Troubleshooting Information
* Help menu > Troubleshooting Information
In the first table on the page, click the "Show Folder" button
Leaving that window open, switch back to Firefox and Exit, either:
* "3-bar" menu button > "power" button
* File menu > Exit
Pause while Firefox finishes its cleanup, then rename '''pluginreg.dat''' to something like pluginreg.bad
Start Firefox back up again and Firefox should rebuild the file with a fresh registry scan.