Troubleshooting the launchpad application or First Steps

If the launchpad application or First Steps does not start, try the following troubleshooting tips.

Troubleshooting the launchpad application

Restart the launchpad after you make any changes.

If you are using images from Passport Advantage®, make sure that you extract the contents of the images for IBM Business Process Manager Version 7.5 DVD, WebSphere® Application Server Network Deployment Supplement Version 7.5 CDs, and WebSphere Portal add-in for IBM Business Process Manager DVD into separate directories. Extracting the files from the images into the same directory will cause errors to occur. It is recommended that you use sibling directories. For example, use a set of directories such as the following:
If you can start the launchpad, but selecting a link does not resolve to a page in the launchpad, you might have the media for the wrong operating system in the disk drive. Check the validity of the media.
If you are attempting to use the Mozilla browser on a Windows system, Internet Explorer might open instead. The launchpad does not recognize Mozilla as the default browser if Internet Explorer is also installed on the same system. The launchpad is fully functional with Internet Explorer, so no action is required.
To create an environment variable that forces the use of Mozilla, issue the following case-specific command at a command prompt:
```
set BROWSER=Mozilla
```
Ensure that the JavaScript function is enabled in your browser.
Mozilla: Click Edit > Preferences > Advanced > Scripts & Plugins:
- Enable JavaScript for: Navigator
- Allow scripts to ... (Select all boxes)
Mozilla Firefox: Click Tools > Options > Content:
- Select Enable Java
- Select Enable JavaScript
- Click Advanced and Allow scripts to ... (Select all boxes)
Internet Explorer: Click Tools > Internet Options > Security > Custom Level for Internet > Scripting > Active scripting > Enable

If the launchpad links still do not work after trying these tips, start the component installation programs directly.

Troubleshooting First Steps

If links from the First Steps console fail to open browser windows, or the First Steps console fails to launch, or immediately quits, on the Microsoft Windows operating system when Mozilla Firefox is set as the default browser, try the following workarounds.

Modify the Windows registry to delete the spaces in the location name:
1. Navigate to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Clients\StartMenuInternet\FIREFOX.EXE\shell\open\command.
  Note: The preceding line might be word-wrapped. Be sure to navigate to the location specified in the preceding lines, up to the "command" key in the registry.
2. Change the "(Default)" entry so that spaces are removed from the path.
  
  For example, if the path is set as "C:\Program Files\Mozilla Firefox\firefox.exe", change the path to its short equivalent "C:\Progra~1\Mozill~1\firefox.exe".
  
  The short names might not be the same on all systems. For example, if you have installed "Mozilla Thunderbird" as well as "Mozilla Firefox", and both are installed in the "Program Files" directory, the short name to the location of Mozilla Firefox might be different from that in the example above. You can use the "dir /X" command to determine the short names of individual files and directories located in the current directory.
  Note: If you choose this option, be careful that you do not corrupt the Windows registry. This key might vary for different locales, so use caution or choose another workaround. It is recommended that you back up the registry before making any changes.
Install Mozilla Firefox to a different location that does not contain spaces.
Change the default browser temporarily.
1. Set Windows Internet Explorer as the default browser.
2. Reset Mozilla Firefox as the default browser. This automatically changes the registry entry in the first workaround so that the spaces are removed.
  
  This only works when you set the default browser from within the Mozilla Firefox application. It will not work when using the "Set Program Access and Defaults" command in "Add/Remove Programs".