Most likely, you have at least the Java runtime environment installed on your puter. And, if you’re using Firefox, you may have some strange add-ons installed that just won’t go away.

With every Java update you install, yet another “Java Console” add-on may be installed. The problem is, all you can do is disable them. There is no way to actually uninstall older versions of this add-on. Worse yet, you don’t even really need the add-on in the first place!

So, if you have multiple Java Console add-ons sitting in your Firefox, how do you get rid of the darn things?

Actually, it’s a piece of cake.

Normally, you can disable or remove an add-on in Firefox. Unfortunately, that’s not the case with the Java Console add-ons. You just can’t get that little “Remove” button no matter what you do.

Here’s how to fix it:

1. Close Firefox
2. Go to the directory:
   C:\Program Files (x86)\Mozilla Firefox\extensions (if using 64-bit Windows)
   C:\Program Files\Mozilla Firefox\extensions (if using 32-bit Windows)
3. Delete any and all directories whose names start with:   {CAFEEFAC
4. If you are prompted for administrator approval, say yes
5. Start Firefox

That’s it!

Now those annoying Java Consoles won’t be cluttering up your add-ons list any more.

Here’s hoping the Java folks fix this little problem sometime soon. Then again, I’m not holding my breath: I remember waiting six months for a known mouse scroll wheel bug to be fixed in Java. By then, I had become so fed up, I stopped using my one Java-based app affected by the bug!

This problem isn’t quite so serious, but at least you can do something about it now!