FULL PRODUCT VERSION :
1.8.0_05

ADDITIONAL OS VERSION INFORMATION :
Windows 7 64 bit

A DESCRIPTION OF THE PROBLEM :
The presence of a valid & functioning Deployment Rule Set causes the the Java Web Start Loading Progress Indicator to not be displayed.

I created a DeploymentRuleSet.jar file as described in:
http://docs.oracle.com/javase/7/docs/technotes/guides/jweb/security/deployment_rules.html

When DeploymentRuleSet.jar is present and recognized as valid by the JVM, the Web Start Loading Progress indicator no longer displays. We have a rather large Web Start app & some of our users are on less than ideal connectivity. This results in a user running the app and having a long period of time where the system appears to be doing nothing at all, which is perceived as application failure-to-launch.

Deleting DeploymentRuleSet.jar from its proscribed location results in the correct Web Start Loading Progress indicator functionality.

Creating & running a Custom Web Start Loading Progress indicator had the same behavior as the default indicator.

ADDITIONAL REGRESSION INFORMATION:
java version "1.8.0_05"
Java(TM) SE Runtime Environment (build 1.8.0_05-b13)
Java HotSpot(TM) 64-Bit Server VM (build 25.5-b02, mixed mode)

STEPS TO FOLLOW TO REPRODUCE THE PROBLEM :
Run a Java Web Start app of sufficient size such that it will trigger the display of the Web Start Loading Progress indicator.

Observe Web Start Loading Progress indicator being displayed.

Delete the Web Start app from the cache.

Obtain valid DeploymentRuleSet.jar and deploy it as per:
 http://docs.oracle.com/javase/7/docs/technotes/guides/jweb/security/deployment_rules.html

Run the same Web start App.

Observe Web Start Loading Progress indicator NOT being displayed.

Delete the Web Start app from the cache.

Delete DeploymentRuleSet.jar.

Run the same Web start App.

Observe Web Start Loading Progress indicator being displayed.




EXPECTED VERSUS ACTUAL BEHAVIOR :
EXPECTED -
Web Start Loading Progress indicator being displayed.
ACTUAL -
Web Start Loading Progress indicator NOT being displayed.

REPRODUCIBILITY :
This bug can be reproduced always.