JAVA update/upgrade question. Added question

[Kyle1886]

One of my wife's friends sent me an email about updating/upgrading JAVA. I don't have JAVA installed on any of my PC's so I don't know the answer to her question.
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Question: "...should I uninstall Java to update it? I have read it is recommended to do so..."
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If it's just and update, I'd say let it update, but if an upgrade---I don't know. Your opinion?

Thank you fot the advice.

Respectfully,
Kyle

[bigbearbear]

Typically, yes. The Java updater program scan's Oracle (formerly Sun) web site for new versions of Java, which are generally better and contain bug fixes that you would want to have on the computer.

One nice thing about Java is that you can always revert back to older version if you really want to, but unless you're developing software in Java, there's usually no reason to.

[Kyle1886]

So "typically" uninstall for upgrade and update or just the upgrade? Years ago I had a PC with Java, but it just updated every so often with out uninstalls, but those were just updates and when it was a Sun product.

Thanks
Kyle

[msound]

Just let it update, no need to uninstall. Did that on ~130 PCs at work with out any issues. Never had a problem with my personal machines too.

[bigbearbear]

There is no need to uninstall, the Java Updater will take care of everything automatically for you.

[10rounds]

Just updated to the latest java versions (JRE & JDK) on my laptop. I uninstalled the old versions per their instructions before installing the latest version. Don't know why some software ask that the old version be uninstalled first while another software doesn't care? A little confusing. The JDK version is for java developers.

[Kyle1886]

Thanks for the info I'll email her your opinions/experiences. (Can't call, she is hearing impaired--a true lip reader).

Any other opinion/advice, I'll pass it on.

Respectfully,
Kyle

[Kyle1886]

It seems now that she did update Java, but still is having issues.

I've never had Java installed on any of my computers, except one old system that was purchase used. It was already installed.

The lady asked today how I can run all my PCs without Java? Is Java similar to Adobe's Flash Player, which I do have?

I don't Facebook or play Zynga games but my wife does on occasion and she does not have Java installed.

Am I missing something?

Thank you for some insight.

Respectfully
Kyle

[bigbearbear]

It seems now that she did update Java, but still is having issues.

I've never had Java installed on any of my computers, except one old system that was purchase used. It was already installed.

The lady asked today how I can run all my PCs without Java? Is Java similar to Adobe's Flash Player, which I do have?

I don't Facebook or play Zynga games but my wife does on occasion and she does not have Java installed.

Am I missing something?

Thank you for some insight.

Respectfully
Kyle

I don't quite understand this post.

1. What is the issue?
2. Do you have or do you not have Java installed? You said you did the Java update but did not have Java installed. Which is which?

[Bryansix]

There is no need to uninstall, the Java Updater will take care of everything automatically for you.

I wish this was true. However when Java advances versions, it usually leaves the old version installed. This is as opposed to advancing updates. SO if you had Java before version 7 came out then you probably still have Java 6 as well and maybe even Java 5. What you can do is first update, then launch control panel and look at the installed programs and uninstall all the ones that are not the latest version. Why do this? For security reasons.

[10rounds]

See the link below on why you might need Java on your computer.

http://askville.amazon.com/JAVA-computer/AnswerViewer.do?requestId=3077052

[bigbearbear]

I wish this was true. However when Java advances versions, it usually leaves the old version installed. This is as opposed to advancing updates. SO if you had Java before version 7 came out then you probably still have Java 6 as well and maybe even Java 5. What you can do is first update, then launch control panel and look at the installed programs and uninstall all the ones that are not the latest version. Why do this? For security reasons.

That's no longer the case, they've changed it so that updates install into a single directory (vs the different directories that used to be the case). If you have older versions installed you should remove it, the link below will show you how.

See this:

http://www.java.com/en/download/faq/remove_olderversions.xml

[Kyle1886]

Sorry Bigbear about the confusion.

I'm trying to help a lady that has updated her JAVA to JAVA-7 on her PC. She is having (undisclosed type to me at the time) issues after the update install. (I relayed the previous info from this thread to her and she chose to update without removing the previous versions). That was the intent of the original post, to uninstall previous versions or not.

I mentioned to her that I do NOT have JAVA installed on any of my "in operational" PCs (I do have one old PC that does have JAVA installed that was purchased used, but not in daily service. So I know nothing about JAVA and its need)

Her question to me was how do I run my PC's without JAVA? Hence my question to you guys as to my need for JAVA. She thought it is required.

Update this AM.

I received an email from her this AM stating that she is getting "bad sector" errors and sometime Internet Explorer or Firefox won't run or erratic since the upgrade. Also some web pages will not open now.

I hope it is clearer now. Thanks all for the feed back.

Respectfully
Kyle

[Kyle1886]

10rounds, thanks for the info/link.

Respectfully
Kyle