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Firefox crashes

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I keep getting this message when I try to log into my work schedule for LiveOps.

couldn't initialize tubesock: Unable to communicate with applet after 5 attempts

Please help me fix this.

I keep getting this message when I try to log into my work schedule for LiveOps. couldn't initialize tubesock: Unable to communicate with applet after 5 attempts Please help me fix this.

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First off, what a fun error message. We thought the internet was a series of tubes but it's actually tube socks.

In another thread, a user with a similar error message indicated this could be caused by a plugin not being activated on the site. He thought it was a problem with the Java Deployment Toolkit plugin.

The first step, I think, would be to install this week's Java update. See:

Then check the activation status on the Add-ons page. Either:

  • Ctrl+Shift+a
  • "3-bar" menu button (or Tools menu) > Add-ons

In the left column, click Plugins. On the right side, look for:

  • Java(TM) Platform SE 8 U91
    • standard permission is "Ask to Activate" but if you want sites to be able to use Java without specific permission you can change it to "Always Activate"
  • Java Deployment Toolkit 8.0.910.14
    • standard permission is "Ask to Activate"; Firefox will not permit "Always Activate" for this plugin

Note: If you do not see Java Deployment Toolkit in alphabetical order, scroll down to the bottom and change its permission from "Never Activate" to "Ask to Activate".


Then try LiveOps again and check for a plugin notification icon toward the left end of the address bar (looks like a small gray Lego block). If you click that, you can give the site temporary or ongoing permission to use any plugins the page has informed Firefox it wants to use.

Does that work?


If Firefox is not detecting the request, try setting the permission using the Permissions panel of the Page Info dialog. You can call that up using any of these:

  • right-click a blank area of the page and choose View Page Info > Permissions
  • (menu bar) Tools menu > Page Info > Permissions
  • click the padlock or "i" icon to the left of the site address, then the ">" icon, then More Information > Permissions

Near the top, you'll find "Activate Plugins" and you can select Allow for the Java plugins. Then reload the page and see whether it kicks in.

Any luck?