Java 5.0 Update 5

Hello, I was just looking for some opinions on Java. I really don't remember installing it. I just noticed it in my system tray one day. I am running Xp Home, it is an OEM version about 2 years old. I have SP2 installed. I never noticed if it was installed when I installed windows on this machine or if a program like my HP printer all in one installed it. Can you run your system without it or would there be problems. I am trying to understand the whole concept. Thanks, Ken

hi ken545, you mean the little coffee cup icon? thats sun java. no you dont need it. you most likely have MS javaVM already on your computer. sun and MS were or still may be in a legal battle over there java platforms.

shelf life, Thanks for the reply, how do I know if I have MS java VM on my system? I just can't figure out where it came from, I don't ever remember installing it. Would it be installed along with printer software, that is the only major software that I have installed lately. Ken

i dont think printer software would install it as it is used by browsers for displaying applets.

see link;

http://javatester.org/version.html

Hey Shelflife,

The reason I was wondering about this is because about the sametime I noticed it , not all, but some web pages in IE had the Red X where a picture should have been. My Firefox browser is fine, no problems at all.

I am going to read the link you sent first chance i get.

Thanks for your time.

Ken