[RESOLVED] I how do get rid of an extra Sun JRE version?

[broadley]

After running Secunia Software Inspector (a program which checks my system for out of date/insecure program versions) the program reports 2 versions of Java Sun JRE 6.0.30.5. One is in Windows/Program Files. The other is in the Windows/system32 folder.

Using Add/Remove Programs only removes the version in Program Files. The other one in System32 doesn’t get removed. I then get ‘nag’ boxes telling me to install Java Sun JRE 6.0.30.5. Installing it again restores it in Program Files, which presumably is the appropriate place.

My question is, how do I get rid of the earlier version of 6.0.30.5 in System32? I searched the Java website but could find no answers. Any suggestions?
Thanks

[Welshjim]

broadley--Based on the Java JRE installation on my PC, it looks like it is normal to have Java files in both Windows/Program Files and System32. I do not know the function of those in System 32 (perhaps they are backup files to use in a Repair), but I suspect the ones that actually make Java function are those in Program Files.
Any reason why you refer to whatever is in the System32 folder as the "earlier" version? You have given the same version number to each.
The current version of Java JRE is 1.6.0_03 (which means version 6, update 3), though the java.exe file is version 6.0.30.5.
You do not mention that whatever is in the System32 folder is causing problems.
I suggest just leave them be.

[Train]

I have 4 Java item in system32.
Java(TM) Platform SE 6 U3
1.6.0_03-b05

Java(TM) Control Panel
6.0.30.5

javaw
1.6.0_03-b05

Java(TM) Web Start Launcher
Again the full version is : 1.6.0_03-b05

[broadley]

It looks like I needn't worry about 2 versions of Java then. My comment about the "earlier" version related to when they were installed, not the version numbers, which are both the same.

2 sets of files don't seem to be causing a problem. It's just that my tidy mind rebels at the thought that one set might be un-necessary. I've also read somewhere that Java tends to leave old versions uninstalled which can be a security risk in the future if not removed or updated.

The issue arose for me when a Secunia scan of my PC showed that I had 2 sets of Java files installed and warned me that version, 6.0.30.5, is out of date and should be replaced by version 6.0.40.0 and I didn't want one of them to become a future problem. As I have recently set up automatic updates for Java I'm presuming that this update will happen automatically some time soon (hopefully!). When I tried updating manually all I got was version 6.0.30.5 again so perhaps Secunia knows about an update before Java is ready to actually put it out. When the update gets downloaded it will be interesting to see if both sets of files get updated, or just the Program Files set.

Anyway, I guess the answer is to wait until the new version arrives and see if I still have an old version as well and worry about it then.

[Welshjim]

broadley--As mentioned, it seems having Java files in both Program files and Windows\System32 is normal.

and warned me that version, 6.0.30.5, is out of date

The Secunia info seems a bit premature, but it is up to you--see the following.
Concerning 6.0.40.0
1) This site supposedly offers the latest Java JRE version (6.0.30.0)
http://java.com/en/download/manual.jsp
2) But 6.0.40.0 is offered here
http://java.sun.com/javase/downloads/index.jsp
I have no idea what a First Customer Ship means. I think I would wait.

[broadley]

Thanks for the links. The 2nd one look like the necessary one, but I think I'll take your advice and wait a bit. Thanks.

[Welshjim]

broadley--Sometimes the right hand of Sun does not know what the left hand is doing. You could test what Secunia has reported by trying the following:
Start|Control Panel|Java|Update tab|Update Now and see whether the new version is offered to you. As you can see from the Update tab window updates can be offered automatically, but at a time when you may not have the PC turned on. You can change the time when updates will be sought automatically by clicking on the "Advanced" button.

[broadley]

Welshjim... Start|Control Panel|Java|Update tab|Update Now tells me that I've already got the most up to date version, which of course on my PC is 6.0.30.5. So why Java are offering 6.0.40.0 is anybody's guess! The mystery deepens! As I said in my last post I think I'll wait and see.

I've changed the update schedule so that it checks for updates tomorrow to see what happens, but I suspect I'll get the same result as my manual update.

[Welshjim]

broadley--I think the issue has something to do with the Update 4 being for Java SE. http://java.sun.com/javase/
Perhaps more for developers, but then another Sun page confuses the issue by using both JRE and SE in the title of the new Update
http://fileforum.betanews.com/detail...E/1011824317/1
FWIW--My Update Now link did not offer me Update 4 either.

[TrueGreen]

If you remove the last java update from add/remove after installing the recent update and then run secunia again, you'll see that the last update is gone. If not secunia will show multiple versions of java.