Java is a bad choice

I have to say, you computer chess doesn't work for me.  I try to download java, follow all the direction, try the trouble shooting tips, and eventually have to give up when I have to go to work.  Now the plugin doesn't even work on the Java website.  So it isn't your fault.  However, rather than being an easy quick install it is a time consuming effort I haven't even resolved yet.  I don't have this problem on other sites so maybe you might follow a different approach.

[Yes, before a bunch of peope pipe in, I'm sure the problem is solvable.  However, the fact remains that, unlike most things, I ran into a obscure problems on what should have been an easy install.)

I'm not sure what happened but the latest Java 7 seems almost useless for many websites and software. I've been forced to revert to Java 6 Update 45 so I can use many of my server/network management tools. I've noticed a number of websites also don't like the new Java, with chess.com's computer chess being one of them.

[edit: Newer installations of Java don't uninstall the older versions. You can try uninstalling Java 7 to see if that helps. If you don't have an older version of Java you can get it here: http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/java/archive-139210.html Just make sure to get the right version for your OS.]

You probably arent' going to be affected much by the security problem with the earlier Java versions.  Servers are more problematic.  One of the holes had to do with reflection and classloaders which simply aren't going to get pushed to you by sites like chess.com.

Having said that I'd get the latest Java 7 Up 51 and isnstall .  What you may be runnning into is the browser doing you the "favor" of blocking the Java plugin. 

Check your browsers plugins to make sure the browser didn't helpfully disable the plugin.  That is a browser bug trying to help the user in ways they don't want.

Personally, I am so sick of Oracle trying to force "Ask.Com" down my throat as default search engine during Java updates (not to mention correcting that miserable mistake for non-computer-saavy acquaintances who weren't aware they shouldn't trust Oracle) that I refuse to update Java and have simply disabled it on my machine. Good riddance.

Amen.
  I don't know which is more sickening, Oracle foisting off Ask.com or Adobe foisting off Yahoo Search, or Microsoft foisting off everything they can possibly think of. As far as I'm concerned all that crap is malware and I wish they'd keep it away from my machine.
  Luckily, my Firefox keeps Java shut down until I allow it to temporarily run on certain websites or programs.