Java Update

[SKY]

I just updated to Java 6.0.24.

Each time I've installed newer versions, I've always gone to add/remove programs to delete older versions which haven't been there. (I assumed that each new update installed overtop the previous.)

Today I realized that the older versions are listed in my Firefox add-on list (since 6.0.11).

Can safely delete everything up to 24?

[eyeb]

you can safely uninstall up to 24 i think, but to be safe I'd uninstall them all and reinstall it

or better yet, I use portable java (http://portableapps.com/apps/utilities/java_portable). They got a launcher for it so you can run java files as well as hooking it into browsers so you can get java on webpages without installing it.

[Anupam]

Yes, you can remove all the previous versions. In fact, you should, because often the previous versions are not secure, and are not needed anymore.

May I know what procedure you perform to update Java on your PC?

I will suggest you how to update JRE.

You should download the offline setup file from here :

http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/ja...ads/index.html

Click on the download JRE button on the above page. After choosing your OS, and clicking on checkbox for agreeing to terms, you will be taken to a page from where you can download the offline setup. Download it.

Then, from Add/Remove, you should download any previous version.

To make sure that you got rid of all previous versions, you can also make use of this little program, called JavaRa available here :

http://raproducts.org/wordpress/software

It will remove other files which might have been left behind, and the registry keys.

Then, install the latest version via the setup you downloaded.

[Anupam]

I will also write some few tweaks that I personally perform to JRE after installation. You may follow these to avoid extra stuff, and disable automatic updates.

Go to Control Panel, and then open Java Control Panel. It will have the icon of Java, with name as Java too.

Under "Updates" tab, make sure under "Notify Me", it says "Before Downloading". Uncheck the check box "Check for Updates Automatically". When you uncheck it, it will open a warning box with two buttons. Select the "Never Check" button.

Under "Advanced" tab, and "Miscellaneous", uncheck "Java Quick Starter". Its not required.

Then, if you use Firefox, open it, and go to "Tools" --> "Add-ons" --> "Plugins". Disable "Java Deployment Toolkit" plugin, as it is for the use of developers, and not for normal users.

I noticed one new change with this version. Java Console extension was installed on Firefox. I am not sure what its for. If you want, you can remove it. If unsure, you can just disable it. If JRE works fine, you can uninstall it.

[Taurus]

Originally Posted by Anupam

To make sure that you got rid of all previous versions, you can also make use of this little program, called JavaRa available here :

http://raproducts.org/wordpress/software

It will remove other files which might have been left behind, and the registry keys.

Then, install the latest version via the setup you downloaded.

Thank you Anupam for the link to the cleanup utility.

I can verify all of the "tweaks" in the list above in your post as this is how I modify my JRE for speed and more efficient resource use.

[SKY]

Thank you for all the info Anupam.

To be honest, I've never had a proper 'procedure' per se, whenever I notice a new update, I install it and have deleted the older versions (when they were listed in add/remove.)

Since you've given me a procedure to follow; what should my next steps be? Should I begin by removing the older versions now, then start fresh?

Please advise

[bo.elam]

Originally Posted by SKY

Since you've given me a procedure to follow; what should my next steps be? Should I begin by removing the older versions now, then start fresh?

Please advise

Its always better to remove the older version first, reboot and install the
new one but if you are like me and dont need Java at all, then uninstall it
completely. Your machine will be safer, leaner and you wont have to deal
with constant updates that dont do nothing good for you but add things
to your browser that you did not ask for, like the Firefox addons or the
Java Deployment Toolkit.

Bo

[Anupam]

SKY, it would be better to start afresh . Also, whenever you want to install a software, and get rid of the older version... you should first uninstall the older version, and then install the latest version... not the other way around, as it seems from your post.

Bo, you make it sound like JRE is some really bad thing. Its not. JRE does not slow down the system in any way. The unwanted plugin like the Java Deployment Kit can be easily disabled.

[bo.elam]

Originally Posted by Anupam

Bo, you make it sound like JRE is some really bad thing. Its not. JRE does not slow down the system in any way. The unwanted plugin like the Java Deployment Kit can be easily disabled.

Hi Anupam, I don't think Java is that bad but I was surprised when I realized,
about two years ago, that I don't ever need it. Before, I was like sky, had
16 of them and had no idea what they did and if I could get rid of them or not.
I asked myself, If I get rid of all of them, will my machine break? Well, I found
out that the machine did not break if you don't have it installed and ever since
the day I got rid of it completely, not once I have had the need of having it
installed. A couple of times, a year ago, I did installed using Time Freeze to
follow a couple of Football games but this year I found out that it was not
needed for that either.
My thinking is, if I don't need it, most likely most people don't either
and when you have 16 old versions of Java(irresponsible Sun/Oracle) that
are, like you said, prone to catch malware, better get rid of it completely.
In my opinion if you don't use a program that is prone to catching malware,
your machine will be safer without it.
If you use Java at least once every 2 or 3 months, then keep it. Anupam, next
time a new version comes out, get rid of ithe old one and go a couple of
days without it, you might be surprised.

Have a great one today.
Bo

*Thanks for the heads up on the spammer*

[Anupam]

Whoa, 16 versions of Java . Now, that's a lot. I think you can assume you might be ignorant then. You are definitely much wiser now, and won't get caught up in such situation with any software.

I agree that we might not need JRE often, or even never. But, still I like to keep it installed, because you never really know, you might need it on which site. But, yes, if people want, they can go without installing JRE. Its not absolutely necessary to have it on the PC. The most that can happen is that a website will not work. But, I think it will inform that you need JRE installed on the system. That time, JRE can be installed.

When I had a smaller hard disk, I used to go without installing JRE, because it takes up a lot of disk space. I did not had any problem. Now that I have a bigger one, I can afford the disk space, and therefore I keep JRE installed.