slightly OT: Java needed? useful?

[Jo-Anne]

I think my WinXP netbook came with Java installed. I've had lots of trouble
over time with Java Runtime Environment wanting to update itself (or maybe
just checking to see if it should) but not succeeding and then asking if an
error report should be sent. When I've checked to see if there ARE updates,
there aren't. I tried Googling Java but couldn't get much information. Is
this program useful for browsing? Would I lose anything by uninstalling it?

Thank you!

Jo-Anne

 

[Nil]

I think my WinXP netbook came with Java installed. I've had lots
of trouble over time with Java Runtime Environment wanting to
update itself (or maybe just checking to see if it should) but not
succeeding and then asking if an error report should be sent. When
I've checked to see if there ARE updates, there aren't. I tried
Googling Java but couldn't get much information. Is this program
useful for browsing? Would I lose anything by uninstalling it?

If you don't know you need it, you probably don't. If you uninstall it
and something needs it later, you can always install it then.

If you're referring to Oracle's (formerly Sunn's) Java Runtime
Environment, and you choose to keep it installed, it's important that
you update it to the latest version (ver. 6, update 24), which fixes
many security issues.

Some older versions of Sun/Oracle's JRE don't update properly. You
should uninstall those and re-install the latest from scratch.

There's an applet in Control Panel that controls how and when Java
updates.

I believe Microsoft has it's own Java virtual machine. If that's what
you're referring to, I can't help you.

 

[Paul]

I think my WinXP netbook came with Java installed. I've had lots of trouble
over time with Java Runtime Environment wanting to update itself (or maybe
just checking to see if it should) but not succeeding and then asking if an
error report should be sent. When I've checked to see if there ARE updates,
there aren't. I tried Googling Java but couldn't get much information. Is
this program useful for browsing? Would I lose anything by uninstalling it?

Thank you!

Jo-Anne

You can get a fresh JRE here.

http://www.java.com/en/download/inc/windows_new_xpi.jsp

Microsoft got out of the Java business some time ago. Microsoft
was trying to ruin Java, by making it incompatible with what
Sun was doing. Sun's intention was "write once, run anywhere",
and for a third party to ruin the "run anywhere" part could
not be tolerated. Microsoft ended up doing their own thing, and
..NET has some similarities.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Microsoft_Java

Java can be used in games played in the web browser. Some sites
have nothing but Java based games.

Java can also be used for standalone programs that run on the
computer, and don't use a browser. I used a work-at-home
program that used a Java engine for encrypting communications.

In either case, you'll likely see some dialog box, asking you
to install it, if it's missing and is needed.

Java has regular updates, to cover security issues, which is
why it's a good idea for the built-in updater function to be
working. If it is broken, remove the old Java JRE and install
a new one. I no longer keep Java on the computer here, and
it's one less thing to worry about.

Paul

 

[Jose]

I think my WinXP netbook came with Java installed. I've had lots of trouble
over time with Java Runtime Environment wanting to update itself (or maybe
just checking to see if it should) but not succeeding and then asking if an
error report should be sent. When I've checked to see if there ARE updates,
there aren't. I tried Googling Java but couldn't get much information. Is
this program useful for browsing? Would I lose anything by uninstalling it?

Thank you!

Jo-Anne

I would say that anytime you even think you are having a problem with
Java, uninstall all the Java stuff from Add/Remove Programs, reboot,
download and install the latest version. That is usually easier and
faster than trying to figure out what is going wrong with Java and
trying to fix it by trying a
bunch of things - just start over with it. As a matter of fact, that
is what Sun suggests to do... just start over with a fresh download of
the latest.

Then in your Control Panel, Java, Update tab, disable the automatic
updates, or disable the Java Update Scheduler in msconfig (jusched).

Disabling the automatic Java updates checker will means that you will
have to remember to update Java once in a while yourself or when some
application
that needs Java complains about the older version (you will be
prompted and know what to do), but the benefit is that if the Java
Update Schedule is not configured to start every time your system
boots, you will shave at least 30 seconds (maybe 90 seconds off your
system boot time.

Java updates don't come out that often anyway which is why they have
an option to only check for updates once a month. Java does not "run"
all the
time either. Java only runs when it needs to run and then goes away
so there is nothing that is running all the time that might be bogging
down your system. If it is not needed, fine. If it is needed for
something, it will be there.

Using a simple software tool that accurately measures your boot time,
you can measure your boot time down to the 10th of a second with the
Java Update
Scheduler (jusched) enabled, then disable the jusched (even just
temporarily from msconfig) and then measure your boot time again. You
will be able
to see the big difference in the numbers.

Boot time to me is not a "feeling" that it might be faster, it seems
faster, it could be faster.., boot time is a measurement. Accurately
measuring
keeps the emotions and feelings out of it.

If somebody says their boot time is too long, I will measure it first,
then when I am "fixing" it, I will show them the before and after boot
timings
with jusched enabled/disabled and ask what do you want to do. When
they see the difference, they will always pick the "disabled" option.

 

[MowGreen]

I think my WinXP netbook came with Java installed. I've had lots of trouble
over time with Java Runtime Environment wanting to update itself (or maybe
just checking to see if it should) but not succeeding and then asking if an
error report should be sent. When I've checked to see if there ARE updates,
there aren't. I tried Googling Java but couldn't get much information. Is
this program useful for browsing? Would I lose anything by uninstalling it?

Thank you!

Jo-Anne

Suggest you get rid of the it, Jo-Anne. It appears that you're not even
sure why it's present on your system.

Here's a good beginning on why *you* do not need it installed -
http://krebsonsecurity.com/2011/02/java-6-update-24-plugs-21-securty-holes/



MowGreen
================
*-343-* FDNY
Never Forgotten
================

"Security updates should *never* have *non-security content* prechecked

 

[Jo-Anne]

If you don't know you need it, you probably don't. If you uninstall it
and something needs it later, you can always install it then.

If you're referring to Oracle's (formerly Sunn's) Java Runtime
Environment, and you choose to keep it installed, it's important that
you update it to the latest version (ver. 6, update 24), which fixes
many security issues.

Some older versions of Sun/Oracle's JRE don't update properly. You
should uninstall those and re-install the latest from scratch.

There's an applet in Control Panel that controls how and when Java
updates.

I believe Microsoft has it's own Java virtual machine. If that's what
you're referring to, I can't help you.

Thank you, Nil! I'm convinced. I've uninstalled Java from both my netbook
and my laptop. If ever I need it, I'll install it again.

Jo-Anne

 

[Jo-Anne]

You can get a fresh JRE here.

http://www.java.com/en/download/inc/windows_new_xpi.jsp

Microsoft got out of the Java business some time ago. Microsoft
was trying to ruin Java, by making it incompatible with what
Sun was doing. Sun's intention was "write once, run anywhere",
and for a third party to ruin the "run anywhere" part could
not be tolerated. Microsoft ended up doing their own thing, and
.NET has some similarities.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Microsoft_Java

Java can be used in games played in the web browser. Some sites
have nothing but Java based games.

Java can also be used for standalone programs that run on the
computer, and don't use a browser. I used a work-at-home
program that used a Java engine for encrypting communications.

In either case, you'll likely see some dialog box, asking you
to install it, if it's missing and is needed.

Java has regular updates, to cover security issues, which is
why it's a good idea for the built-in updater function to be
working. If it is broken, remove the old Java JRE and install
a new one. I no longer keep Java on the computer here, and
it's one less thing to worry about.

Paul

Thank you, Paul! I've uninstalled Java from both of my computers--and filed
your post in my software folder in case I need to install the program again.

Jo-Anne

 

[Jo-Anne]

I think my WinXP netbook came with Java installed. I've had lots of
trouble
over time with Java Runtime Environment wanting to update itself (or maybe
just checking to see if it should) but not succeeding and then asking if
an
error report should be sent. When I've checked to see if there ARE
updates,
there aren't. I tried Googling Java but couldn't get much information. Is
this program useful for browsing? Would I lose anything by uninstalling
it?

Thank you!

Jo-Anne

I would say that anytime you even think you are having a problem with
Java, uninstall all the Java stuff from Add/Remove Programs, reboot,
download and install the latest version. That is usually easier and
faster than trying to figure out what is going wrong with Java and
trying to fix it by trying a
bunch of things - just start over with it. As a matter of fact, that
is what Sun suggests to do... just start over with a fresh download of
the latest.

Then in your Control Panel, Java, Update tab, disable the automatic
updates, or disable the Java Update Scheduler in msconfig (jusched).

Disabling the automatic Java updates checker will means that you will
have to remember to update Java once in a while yourself or when some
application
that needs Java complains about the older version (you will be
prompted and know what to do), but the benefit is that if the Java
Update Schedule is not configured to start every time your system
boots, you will shave at least 30 seconds (maybe 90 seconds off your
system boot time.

Java updates don't come out that often anyway which is why they have
an option to only check for updates once a month. Java does not "run"
all the
time either. Java only runs when it needs to run and then goes away
so there is nothing that is running all the time that might be bogging
down your system. If it is not needed, fine. If it is needed for
something, it will be there.

Using a simple software tool that accurately measures your boot time,
you can measure your boot time down to the 10th of a second with the
Java Update
Scheduler (jusched) enabled, then disable the jusched (even just
temporarily from msconfig) and then measure your boot time again. You
will be able
to see the big difference in the numbers.

Boot time to me is not a "feeling" that it might be faster, it seems
faster, it could be faster.., boot time is a measurement. Accurately
measuring
keeps the emotions and feelings out of it.

If somebody says their boot time is too long, I will measure it first,
then when I am "fixing" it, I will show them the before and after boot
timings
with jusched enabled/disabled and ask what do you want to do. When
they see the difference, they will always pick the "disabled" option.


Thank you, Jose! I've uninstalled the program from both of my computers. I
can't say that my boot time was any quicker, but at least I'll stop getting
those error reports in the middle of doing other things.

Jo-Anne

 

[Jo-Anne]

Suggest you get rid of the it, Jo-Anne. It appears that you're not even
sure why it's present on your system.

Here's a good beginning on why *you* do not need it installed -
http://krebsonsecurity.com/2011/02/java-6-update-24-plugs-21-securty-holes/



MowGreen
================
*-343-* FDNY
Never Forgotten
================

"Security updates should *never* have *non-security content* prechecked

Thank you, MowGreen! Hard to believe how many security holes the latest
version is plugging. Turns out I had version 23, so it should have updated.
In any case, I took your advice and got rid of it. If I need it in the
future, I'll consider reinstalling it.

Jo-Anne