186 replies to this topic

[thugflynn]

its doing the same thing asking for re-install then says only works for installed products -.- ill try few other things and ill give ya the result...

[appleoddity]

Hello. Please use my automated program to resolve your issue: JavaMSIFix

The batch file in the initial post does not work under Windows XP in some instances.

[Szam]

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 Jan. 22, 2011 -- Created an automatic fix in executable form.

Please download and run this automated tool to fix the Java MSI problem on all versions of windows: JavaMSIFix

NOTE: The batch file method listed below no longer works on Windows XP in many circumstances due to a limitation in command line parameters supported by Windows XP.

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

*** Please use the automated executable listed above instead of this batch file. ***

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 under certain cirumstances, 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.

Thank You! Thank You! This fix really made my day and it worked perfectly. You are a gifted man. I have never joined a tech group site before but I felt that you should be applauded for providing this help. Keep up the good work man. Szam 02/09/11 (Windows XP sp3)

[appleoddity]

Thank you and welcome to WhatTheTech.

[xzyan]

ty ty ty it works

[appleoddity]

I appreciate your input mr_lemonade. But, I have set your posts invisible. There are multiple reasons why, but primarily the fix provided in this thread is specifically for the Java Runtime Environment and has been proven to work to solve this problem thousands of times over now. The information you provided involves deleting several unrelated registry keys (specifically, related to the Java Development Kit). You will find more information about the correct registry keys to remove by reading the first post of this thread.

Edited by appleoddity, 23 February 2011 - 10:26 AM.

[pizzle85]

This fix works perfectly. However i have this issue on about 700 machines in an enterprise environment. Is there any chance you can provide a silent automated switch to use with the .exe?

[appleoddity]

I think I can put something together for the good of the community. Give me a little while. How did this happen on 700 machines?

[pizzle85]

I'm not exactly sure what caused the installations to become corrupt. We use the packaged msi and cab files to deploy java throughout our enterprise environment with sccm. I began deploying 6u22 directly overtop of older versions. Some machines had never been updated and were coming from random versions. I got about 3000 successful uprgades but around 700 failed with a 1603 error code and when I tried to manually install the new version of java it would throw a .dll error and roll back the install. After reading your original post more closley I found your uninstall batch script. I tested it today on 5 machines running vista/7 using the run as admin command and it successfully resolved my issue. I then tested deploying the batch script through sccm as the system account and that too was successful. So it does not appear that I need a silent switch for the .exe. however if the .exe performs more tasks or does a better job I would prefer to use it with a silent switch. Thanks for making this, it has saved me a lot of pain and suffering. -Paul

[appleoddity]

The batch file is 100% successful as long as it is used on Vista or newer.

[marc69]

Hi, New and registered to ask for help. I ran your Java fix file.. I click to fix, says restoring point then and i'm getting an Unknown Error #2 in your app. I'm having the issue of not being able to install java, and saying It's already installed. I appreciate any help

[appleoddity]

Although, I am interested in why this error occurred, for the time being it appears you are running Vista 64-bit, so try running the batch file that is also included in the first message of this thread. This should be just as effective as the JavaMSIFix program.

[marc69]

OMG!!! It worked... It's ALIVE!!! Dude, I owe you big for this fix!!! Although this has been frustrating enough.. but I finally get to play Minecraft again!! I'll be sure to point anyone who is having an issue to this page! Thank you again! Is it wrong for a guy hug? who cares! lol.. thanks so much!

[appleoddity]

I'm glad to hear the problem is resolved. I appreciate the positive feedback.

[TomN]

I know this is an old thread, but I really need some help with getting this tool to work to fix an issue I'm having with uninstalling and re-installing a corrupt version of java

A little history first.

Recently, I had an issue with installing the most current version of java (24). I decided to try and uninstall it using Revo Uninstaller with the option to search the registry for any remaining entries and delete. Revo (for those not familiar) uses the programs uninstaller first, then gives you the option to scan for remaining registry entries to delete. I did that, but upon the initial part of the uninstall process, I had a message pop up " Internal error 2753: regutils.dll". It did continue to let me scan the registry for further entries and I did and let it delete old registry entries it found. All appeared fine and I thought the uninstall was a success. At least I thought as Java no longer showed up in program listings in add/remove programs.

When I tried to reinstall the current version of java(24) I get a message "You already have the current version of java do you want to reinstall (Y/N). When I select Yes it basically goes on to repeat itself and I never do get to the install process.

I learned of the Javamsfix program from someone on the Majorgeeks forum. I downloaded it and ran it but came up with yet another Unknown error (# 87) see screen shot below.

Any ideas what this error is and how I can fix what appears to be remnants of an old install that can't be removed through a normal uninstall?

Would appreciate any help you could give me on this. thanks