FF bit version is based on your O/S bit version. Which banking site are you referring to? Maybe others whom use it or go to it to find out if they have the same problem to check it out. I used IE11, FF58 on my banking system online and it works just fine and I have Java 9.0.4 installed.

32-bit Firefox 52.6.0 ESR is the only supported Firefox version that still supports Java. It is however weird that a website still uses Java since only older browser versions support Java.

Firefox 52.6.0 ESR:

• https://www.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/organizations/all/
• https://www.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/52.6.0/releasenotes/

• https://www.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/all/
• https://www.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/58.0/releasenotes/

To answer points so far... The bank in question is RBS. Problem first showed up on my laptop and i was advised to make sure all updates were installed but it made no difference. They then mentioned that their latest update of their banking website requires the web browser to support Java... Wife's desktop now has same issue - 5 weeks after my machine... I agree - weird that a big bank should issue a new version otf it's web pages that is unsupported by all browsers. I have no problem logging in if I use IE - not FFx!

WestEnd said

FF59 on my banking system online and it works just fine and I have Java 9.0.4 installed.

Which means little as it does not have the NPAPI Java Plugin and Firefox Releases since 52.0 to current does not allow the Java Plugin to run anyways. https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/npapi-plugins

DNSPRODS said

but despite several tries, the machine will only download the 64-bit version again... Any suggestions?

Windows users downloading Firefox from www.mozilla.org are served a improved stub installer which since Firefox 53.0 defaults to Win64 if you have 64-bit Windows 7,8,10 and 3+ GB RAM. The stub installer ever since Firefox 18.0 used to serve 32-bit Firefox. To make sure you get what you want you can go to www.mozilla.org/firefox/all/

Though as noted by cor-el you need the 32-bit Firefox ESR (currently 52.6.0esr) on Windows to use the NPAPI Java Plugin.

DNSPRODS said

I have no problem logging in if I use IE - not FFx!

I suggest using Internet Explorer 11 (kept up-to-date) for the few sites that require Java. It's not worth compromising your modern browsers just for those.

Thanks james and jscher2000. Seems like there is nowhere to go with this issue... My bank is the only website I have this issue with (with the exception of plenty of hotel wi-fi connections, where IE has to be used to complete the log-in process...) I am surprised that RBS haven't said anything about it. When I spoke with them they just said 'make sure you have all the latest system updates installed'. My final question is speculative: Surely they will have known that their new website has this issue? Why not tell their customers? Is there some commercial arrangement in the background? Or am I unwarrantedly sceptical...? Again, thanks for indulging and helping a total amateur, guys!

James said

WestEnd said

FF59 on my banking system online and it works just fine and I have Java 9.0.4 installed.

Which means little as it does not have the NPAPI Java Plugin and Firefox Releases since 52.0 to current does not allow the Java Plugin to run anyways. https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/npapi-plugins

Well it was FF58 and java was what I was talking about-did I say 52? No, you interpreted that I was talking about 52 when I was referring to 58 and java 9. I never said that java ran when I use 58 only have it installed.

WestEnd said

James said

WestEnd said

FF59 on my banking system online and it works just fine and I have Java 9.0.4 installed.

Which means little as it does not have the NPAPI Java Plugin and Firefox Releases since 52.0 to current does not allow the Java Plugin to run anyways. https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/npapi-plugins

Well it was FF58 and java was what I was talking about-did I say 52? No, you interpreted that I was talking about 52 when I was referring to 58 and java 9. I never said that java ran when I use 58 only have it installed.

You did say 59.0 at the time and not 58.0. And it is you that is misinterpreting things.

When I say 52.0 to current I mean all Releases since 52.0 which includes 53.0, 54.0, 55.0, 56.0, 57.0, 58.0 and the 59.0b you mentioned. If you have ever read the article I linked to you would see only the Flash Player Plugin was allowed to run ever since the 52.0 Release.

No point mentioning you have Java installed when both Java 9 does not come with NPAPI Java Plugin (Java 8 still does) and the Java Plugin would not run in Firefox 59.0b or the 58.0/58.0.1 you meant to say anyways.

Well. Sorry to have got in the middle of a 'domestic' here, chaps. But thanks for the input. Cheers.