XP SP2 and Microsoft VM

[Guest]

There are a few references to this problem already in the group. I am also
seeing this issue on a number of machines. My XP machine was recently
upgraded to SP2, and I have automatic updates turned on. Every time the
updates are run, I receive this message "This setup will only upgrade over an
existing version of the Microsoft VM."

As with other posts here, I apparently do not have the VM installed anymore,
even though it has been mentioned in other threads, that SP2 does not
uninstall the VM. Note that I also have a machine at SP1, which I am
comparing my SP2 machine to.

In the uninstall instructions at
http://java.com/en/download/help/uninstall_msvm.xml#cli it says to check IE
Tools->Internet Options->Advanced Tab for the Microsoft VM. The Microsoft VM
is not listed on my SP2 machine. It is listed on my SP1 machine.

In the uninstall instructions, it says to remove a number of files from the
systemroot directory:

I have a c:\windows\java, with subdirs of classes and trustlib (There is no
Packages directory as is found on my SP1 machine), but that is all, there are
no other files in those directories. Also, java.inf is not in my
(systemroot/inf directory) and jview.exe and wjview.exe no longer exist in my
systemroot/ystem32 directory. All of these files do exist on my SP1 machine.

Lastly, the uninstall instructions tell you to delete the registry key:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Internet
Explorer\AdvancedOptions\JAVA_VM. This key does exist in my registry.

It looks like SP2 is wiping out part of the VM, but not all of it. Could
this be the problem?

I have customers of our software products who are requesting us to fix this
problem, as they seem to be attributing it to our installations. Short of
telling them to perform the uninstall instructions or request the Microsoft
VM uninstall utility, is there any thing else that can be done?

On more question - because it looks like part of the VM is gone, would the
uninstall utility still work if I recommended it to my customers? I have not
tried either of the uninstall options at this point, pending further
information on the problem.

Any help on this issue would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,
Rick

 

[Carey Frisch [MVP]]

Upgrading Windows XP to SP1a or SP2 will not remove an
existing MSJVM from a computer.

MSJVM Transition FAQ
http://www.microsoft.com/mscorp/java/faq.asp

How do I uninstall Microsoft Virtual Machine?
http://java.com/en/download/help/uninstall_msvm.xml

JAVA SOFTWARE FOR WINDOWS
http://java.com/en/download/download_the_latest.jsp

--
Carey Frisch
Microsoft MVP
Windows XP - Shell/User
Microsoft Newsgroups

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

:

| There are a few references to this problem already in the group. I am also
| seeing this issue on a number of machines. My XP machine was recently
| upgraded to SP2, and I have automatic updates turned on. Every time the
| updates are run, I receive this message "This setup will only upgrade over an
| existing version of the Microsoft VM."
|
| As with other posts here, I apparently do not have the VM installed anymore,
| even though it has been mentioned in other threads, that SP2 does not
| uninstall the VM. Note that I also have a machine at SP1, which I am
| comparing my SP2 machine to.
|
| In the uninstall instructions at
| http://java.com/en/download/help/uninstall_msvm.xml#cli it says to check IE
| Tools->Internet Options->Advanced Tab for the Microsoft VM. The Microsoft VM
| is not listed on my SP2 machine. It is listed on my SP1 machine.
|
| In the uninstall instructions, it says to remove a number of files from the
| systemroot directory:
|
| I have a c:\windows\java, with subdirs of classes and trustlib (There is no
| Packages directory as is found on my SP1 machine), but that is all, there are
| no other files in those directories. Also, java.inf is not in my
| (systemroot/inf directory) and jview.exe and wjview.exe no longer exist in my
| systemroot/ystem32 directory. All of these files do exist on my SP1 machine.
|
| Lastly, the uninstall instructions tell you to delete the registry key:
| HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Internet
| Explorer\AdvancedOptions\JAVA_VM. This key does exist in my registry.
|
| It looks like SP2 is wiping out part of the VM, but not all of it. Could
| this be the problem?
|
| I have customers of our software products who are requesting us to fix this
| problem, as they seem to be attributing it to our installations. Short of
| telling them to perform the uninstall instructions or request the Microsoft
| VM uninstall utility, is there any thing else that can be done?
|
| On more question - because it looks like part of the VM is gone, would the
| uninstall utility still work if I recommended it to my customers? I have not
| tried either of the uninstall options at this point, pending further
| information on the problem.
|
| Any help on this issue would be greatly appreciated.
|
| Thanks,
| Rick

 

[Guest]

Thanks for your reply Carey. I still have two questions.

Is there any explanation as to the current state of the VM on my machine,
i.e. executables, java files, and .inf file are all missing, but my registry
still contains JAVA_VM entries?

I would like to be able to tell my customers to request the Microsoft VM
uninstall utility and use it to repair the problem. Will it still work with
a system in the current state described in my initial post?

Thanks,
Rick

 

[Guest]

Some additional info...

I went ahead and performed the manual uninstall of the VM:

Step 2 failed - because java.inf was not there.
I remove the java folder (only thing to remove - rest is already gone.)
Removed JAVA_VM from registry
(HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\AdvancedOptions)
Rebooted machine.

Microsoft Update still thinks I have the VM installed. 816093 is presented
to me.