I'd suggest using Firefox 32bit, which you can download from https://www.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/all/. It will support java until the end of this year. Note that Oracle itself is ending support for Java shortly.

Thank you, I will try that.

There's nothing I can do about the PTO's reliance on outdated technology, unfortunately. I discovered why their website wasn't working in IE: because it can't handle anything past update 71 to Java 8, and I have 73. When Oracle discontinues support some wildly overpriced service will start up to keep patent filings going, no doubt.

Hmm, the Question Details > More System Details shows the user agent string of the 32-bit version of Firefox on 64-bit Windows.

If you have this problem on 32-bit Firefox, make sure you installed 32-bit Java (as well as 64-bit if needed). You can use this page to get the enormous offline installer for the current version of Java:

https://www.java.com/en/download/manual.jsp

As always, keep an eye out for "offers" during the install process that you probably want to deselect.

And finally, you can double-check the Add-ons page to make sure the Java SE isn't disabled there and has a safe default permission level. Either.

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

In the left column, click Plugins. Look for "Java(TM) Platform SE 8" and make sure it has "Ask to Activate" as the general permission (you can upgrade the permission specifically for uspto.gov when you are on the site using the plugin notification icon in the address bar -- it typically looks like a small, dark gray Lego block).

Thank you, but actually I can't install 32-bit Java, because release 73 is incompatible with the PTO's website. I need to somehow find release 71 or older.

I have a laptop from about 2009 that might work...

rnl9t said

Thank you, but actually I can't install 32-bit Java, because release 73 is incompatible with the PTO's website. I need to somehow find release 71 or older.

Why do you believe this? I searched for recent announcements that the February update is not compatible and didn't find anything.

I called the PTO earlier to ask why IE 11 (which still supports Java) wasn't working, and they asked what version I had, and claimed that the problem was with 73.

I obviously lack the necessary technical expertise to argue with them.

I suggest trying Firefox with Java 8U73 anyway. It might be possible to find an old link to U71 if that doesn't work, but let's test the theory because wouldn't you expect to hear a lot of screaming on the web if that were the case?

It does appear to work. I actually dusted off the old laptop to get today's filing done, but the new one seems to be OK as well. Interestingly enough, IE 11 is working now, too, so either they patched something between when I called them and now, or I just screwed up the installation and getting a new version fixed it.

As for screaming on the web, when I was at a firm, I didn't do my own filing (secretaries did) and NOBODY updated anything EVER. That was the IT guy's job, precisely because it was not uncommon for updates to malfunction when talking to government systems. He would test it on his system before he did any updates on ours and sometimes sent out all-caps emails about problems he discovered. So its entirely possible that there was a problem but relatively few attorneys were affected.

I was just foolish enough to finally get around to updating everything this morning.

Thanks!