186 replies to this topic

[appleoddity]

Well, I know what the error means but I'm not sure why it is occuring. The program is definitely BETA so there may be some circumstances where certain conditions cause "unknown errors." They aren't necessarily unknown, my program just doesn't know what to do with it. This error for instance means that an invalid parameter was passed to a function call. Why is it invalid? Not sure, maybe some strange thing you have going on in your registry.

However, there are manual methods of removing the problematic registry entries.

I suggest you create a restore point before removing anything from your registry.

Next, I would open regedit and see if the following key is present: HKLM\Software\JavaSoft\Java Runtime Environment
If it is, delete it.

Retry the install. If you still have an issue with the same message, then download and install the Windows Installer Cleanup Utility. Once installed, find the program on your start menu and run it. Find and remove any Java Runtime listings you find. Verify one more time that the above mentioned registry key is still no longer present then try the installation again. As far as the problem referred to in this thread that should resolve the issue.

[TomN]

I've had someone else suggest the Windows cleanup utility. I've heard and read that this utility can be somewhat risky to use for fear of messing up the registry. From what I understand this is why Microsoft does not support it's use any longer. I use a program called ERUNT that backs up my registry and saves it to a folder each time I do a startup. I set it up to keep 4 days worth of backups before it starts deleting one and repeating itself. so I always have 4 days worth of registry backups to fall back on. I was also told that to run the Windows cleanup utility I have to have a copy of Java on my system and at this point I do not as I get the aforementioned errors when trying to reinstall about already having a current version. Is this in fact true to be able to use the windows utility?

[appleoddity]

Frankly, I wouldn't recommend it to you if I didn't know what I was talking about. Please give it a try. Windows installer cleanup has never messed up the registry to my knowledge. It does exactly what it is supposed to do, but has been misused in many circumstances. It does not, in itself, fix the Java problem. In fact, it causes the problem in this thread. But, it is one step in removing the problematic registry entries that need to be removed without adding un-necessary instructions and confusion to this post.

[TomN]

Sorry I'm new at this.

In Regedit I found these:

A folder called JavaSoft - Hkey_Current_User\Software\JavaSoft

Inside JavaSoft I found one subfolder Java Runtime Environment - Hkey_Current_User\Software\Java Soft\Java Runtime Environment

Inside the folder Java Runtime Environment I found another subfolder "1.6.0_24" or Hkey_Current_User\Software\Java Soft\Java Runtime Environment\1.6.0_24. I assume this is Java version 24

There is also another Subfolder under JavaSoft called Prefs: Hkey_Current_User\Software\Javasoft\Prefs

So.... Do I just delete the master folder JavaSoft to delete the whole lot or just the folder Java runtime environment

[appleoddity]

Please just delete the Java Runtime Environment. Then re-try your installation.

[TomN]

We'll I deleted the Java Runtime Environment entry in the registry, then re-booted and tried to install Java again. No go same error " You already have the current version of Java, do you want to reinstall (Y/N). So... for the sake of trying I ran your JavaMSFIX program and no "unknown error #87" time and seemed to work. I then tried re-installing Java and walla it worked with no problems. Not sure what's all in your JavaMSFIX program as apposed to just deleting the registry entry you suggested but it worked none the less. I thank you sir very much.

[Antonio Conte]

Thank you VERY much for this. I took the time to register only to say thank you. I've been struggling for this for some days, but all I've seen so fare are "Controll panal => Uninstall". That's nice when your not able to... I've even tried a few programs like Revo uninstallers (good Softpedia review), and Windows Install Clean Up, but nothing worked. Revo did registry clean up, but obviously not good enough. Thank you very, very much. I need Java both for my programming class and to pay my bills. You saved the day.

[appleoddity]

Thank you for the positive feedback. Glad you got your Java issues worked out.

[flarestar]

first, thank you for having made such a program to fix this problem, however when i run it and hit click to fix, it gets stuck at creating recovery point and i get a "this application is busy" error, any ideas ?

[appleoddity]

Reboot your computer and try it again. There's any number of reasons why this program amongst others may have problems on your computer. Sometimes there are other items at play causing more problems than you know about. Viruses could be messing with your restore points, anti-virus could be trying to prevent my program from doing something, other third party applications running on your system could be causing trouble. Its just really hard to say. If it will not go through successfully, then download the batch file and run it as administrator as instructed in the first post of this thread. You have Windows 7 and that batch file will be just as effective.

[flarestar]

thanks, the batch file seems to have work, its letting me install, unfortunately its getting stuck on installing java (nothing in the progress bar at all) heres hoping it does go through eventually

[appleoddity]

Apparently, you are having some other issues with your computer. It would probably be good if you opened up a new thread in our Windows support forum with some details about your computer and the type of problems you have been having with it. Someone there will certainly be able to help you.

[d_JC]

THANK YOU appleoddity!!!


It worked.

[Encrypted File]

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.

There are not enough words in the English language for me to properly express the fathom of gratitude that I wish to express towards you for this post, and your work.
I have wasted several days frantically searching google page after google page of message board posts that all led me to nothing but more frustration.
I do not know how I managed to stumble upon this message board, or even this specific post, but I am so glad that I did that I decided to create an account simply to Thank You!
I will definitely be sticking around here for a while as this message board appears to be loaded with lots of useful information, and helpful people much like yourself.
Kudos to you good sir, kudos.

[appleoddity]

Thank you. Welcome aboard!