186 replies to this topic

[roope]

Hi, yeah i've been tryin to delete this 'java auto update 2.0' file with the cleaner, but it won't remove it for some reason? and i've been trying to delete it with ccleaner aswell. ummm, im not quite sure which one am i runnin 32- or 64-, heh. and yea i tried to run the remoej6u file, no affect. i'd be glad if you could help me out man.

[appleoddity]

Please re-read my first post - I have updated it. I have done some research and have created a NEW fix for all versions of Java 6 that works on XP, Vista, and 7 either 32-bit or 64-bit. Give it a shot. It should fix your problem.

Edited by appleoddity, 26 February 2010 - 02:43 AM.

[roope]

TY SO MUCH MAN, IT WORKS NOw! cheers, good job

[appleoddity]

Your welcome. Glad to hear it works.

[Hippie408]

I signed up here just to thank you. I wasted my whole Saturday trying to figure this out, and now learning that Sun wants money to fix this? Kind of ridiculous. This has helped me a ton- which is only half way. I was able to remove Java, so I don't get that error anymore. And that was a big goal. Installed JRE again and installed fine, but applets don't run on any of my browsers. Going to try getting the main Java install from java.com. Edit: Got it by changing around some settings in my Java control panel. Thanks a million!

Edited by Hippie408, 28 February 2010 - 08:48 AM.

[chaoticmind]

hey men thanks for that solution just like others do i register here just to thank you,

[Mike Kennedy]

...just bumped into this site, and thread... Thank you, AppleOddity, for making that fix available. It worked GREAT for me! Just a small point: Under Win-XP/SP3, the QUERY throws syntax errors. I think: - the "/f" option should be "/v", and - the "/s" (which usually means "recurse" into all sub-folders) cannot be used with "/v". Thank you again for investigating this PITA, and for the fix. - Mike

[appleoddity]

You're right.. Thanks for the heads up. The /v is not interchangeable as you suggest, but I have a solution already planned out and will test and upload the new version soon.

[harmil2]

If you have been having problems with Java, and you have followed some of the instructions on the forums you may find that you no longer can get Java to install because of an error.

When you attempt to run the java installer file you receive the message:

This software has already been installed on your computer. Would you like to reinstall it?

When you click Yes to the above question you receive the error:

This action is only valid for products that are currently installed.

This problem is caused because the Windows Installer information for a previous installation of Java has been removed or damaged, but the related registry keys are still present causing the Java installer to think it is already installed.

This problem can be caused if you used the "Windows Installer Cleanup Utility" to remove the Java™ entries without first uninstalling Java properly.

To fix this problem you must remove the two places in the registry that the Java installer looks at in order to determine if it is already installed. By removing these entries, the Java installer will begin a new installation instead of attempting to repair the old corrupt installation.

Updated Feb. 26th, 2010 -- Created a universal fix for all versions of Java 6

This problem is confirmed in Windows XP, Windows Vista, and Windows 7.

Because the registry keys that need to be removed are different for each version of Java, I have created a batch file you can download to find and remove the entries automatically.

Here's how to fix Java:

• If you are able, uninstall all previous versions of Java in add/remove programs in your control panel.
• Next, you may download the current version of Java here: http://java.com/en/download/manual.jsp
  I recommend that you use the offline installer version.
• Now, download the fix:

  Open the fixjava.zip file, extract and run the file fixjava.bat . If you are using Windows Vista, or Windows 7 you must right-click the fixjava.bat file and choose "Run As Administrator". If you do not see the run as administrator option, drag the fixjava.bat file to your desktop and then try to run as administrator from there.
  The batch file will run briefly without confirmation.

• You may now install Java without any errors about it already being installed.

The contents of the batch file are listed below:

reg query hklm\software\classes\installer\products /f "java(tm) 6" /s | find "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE" > deljava.txt
for /f "tokens=* delims= " %%a in (deljava.txt) do reg delete %%a /f
del deljava.txt
reg delete "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\JavaSoft\Java Runtime Environment" /f
reg delete "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\wow6432node\JavaSoft\Java Runtime Environment" /f

This fix will work on Windows XP, Windows Vista, and Windows 7 for both 32-bit and 64-bit versions of the Java 6 runtime environment.

If you have any further issues please post a reply in this thread.

[harmil2]

I had to register to thank you for the new java fix. I had this problem for a week and your fix download and instructions fixed it on my WinVista x64. Thank you!

[Nick T]

Appleoddity - one BIG thank you from me - excellent fix ! A simple upgrade to JDK6 update 20 turned into a nightmare. JDK OK but no JRE, it just wouldn't install, giving the usual "Do you wish to reinstall?" -" Yes", "well you can't !" roundabout. I always liked Java as it didn't depend on the registry, so I knew the JDK was alright, but the browsers lost their Java support. I tried everything, uninstall via CP, the Windows Installer Cleanup, Norton Utilities reg checker, javara, RevoPro uninstaller, deleted keys from the registry myself. Nothing worked until I used your batch file to see what keys needed to be splatted. I knew the problem must lie in the registry somewhere, but where? - just so many keys and values to chose from. One would think that either Microsoft or Sun would have documented this fix, but no - only you have, so thanks once again

[oz_Moses]

Add me to the list of grateful admins who've registered just to say thanks. Worked flawlessley on Windows 2008 64 with a failed install of jre-6u20-windows-x64.exe

[paws]

@harmil2 @NickT @oz_Moses Thanks for responding in this way, your feedback is much appreciated. I know that appleoddity is currently working on developing more helpful tools and fixes for our forum. When he gets a moment to check this topic he will be pleased to see how many folks he has been able to help ..and that's just with this one fix. Regards paws

[mheart2]

Thanks a lot, appleoddity!

[dirtyd12]

This problem arose from nowhere. I uninstalled the software using the proper uninstaller after java's sloppy updating processes left me with 5 wasteful, outdated, security-compromising, versions of their runtime environment on the same pc, and was left with a mess in my registry. On top of that, I couldn't install the newest version because of the problem above. I needed vital programs that require jre, but the people at sun system tell me it's MY problem their software doesn't uninstall older versions properly (or at all!) when updating or installing newer versions. The official uninstall doesn't even come close to uninstalling java completely. I spent two nights going through the registry and windows explorer deleting the carp** java left behind. After a lot of searching (for weeks), this is the only REAL solution I have found to this problem I have found! I had been struggling with this problem for so long I PAID a java tech to fix it. The funny thing is, he couldn't. He couldn't figure out the problem, and he WORKED for Sun Systems. In the end, he wanted more money to fix it. I said, "You can't fix it now. What's more money gonna do?" Their web site is completely unhelpful and almost everyone everywhere in the forum community had the same ineffective answer to the question. They said "try using... 1) Use JavaRA 2) Use windows cleanup utility" Absolutely worthless, yet almost everybody has the same answer! Why is that? Why is it that java developers, many whom I have spoken to by now, are so clueless about this seemingly common problem that no REAL solution nor explanation is offered at Sun's website. I have a friend who has the exact same problem for 2 months. Two months! It took me almost 4 weeks to find a solution, and I have better things to do. HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\wow6432node\JavaSoft\Java Runtime Environment I didn't think to look under "wow6432node" You, sir are a lifesaver! You should go to Sun and teach them a thing or two.