installing new version of Java

Pardon my display of ignorance here, but I want to do this right.
I'm apparently missing the Java plug-in for FF, and would like to install it. But having read a number of posts here about Java, I see that it's recommended any old versions be uninstalled first. I used to have functional Java in FF, but following some security issues in late March of this year, it seems I must have disabled it.
A "search" for the word "Java" gives me 32 entries on my computer - I'm going to try to attach snapshots of the listings (haven't done that before, so don't know how successful I'll be). There's no Java listed under my Control Panel or under my Add/Remove Programs, so I don't think there's anything left for me to uninstall. But can anyone tell me if I can/should/need to get rid of any of the files/folders showing up in my Search, and if so, how (simply delete?)? And yes, I realize that the very last entry is a RegSeeker backup - please, I'm not trying to start another debate about whether or not novices should be messing with Registry-editing programs. That must've been from when I tried doing what sounded right in response to the aforementioned Java security issue -- I know I can restore the backup, if necessary (I used the "Find in Registry" feature of RegSeeker, with the word "Java "; that's all!).
Basically, I just want to make sure that when I install the missing Java plug-in, there isn't going to be any "old" Java stuff that's going to foul things up on my computer. Of course I'd also just as soon get rid of any old stuff that's just lying around useless, too, but that's definitely a secondary goal.
Thanks!

 

In response to Jim's last post to my other thread, I ran a Search for "Sun JRE ".
Found the following:
Sun old (a file folder in C:\WINDOWS, dated 7/31/2004)
Sun old (a file folder in C:\WINDOWS\Application Data, dated 7/23/2004)

The one dated 7/31 contains a folder called "java old ", which in turn contains a folder called "Deployment" (which is empty)

The one dated 7/23 shows the same thing, except that the Deployment folder contains the following:
cache (folder), with two folders therein, "javapi old" and "tmp "
ext (folder)
javaws old (folder)
log (folder), with a 1KB file called "plugin 142_05.trace ", dated 3/21/2005
security (folder), with two 1KB files, "deployment.certs" and "deployment.jssecerts ", both dated 3/21/2005
deployment.properties (1 KB in size)

So in addition to the old Java folders on my computer, I also have two old Sun folders - anything I should do with them?

 

Hi Rebecca,

Trying to follow your problem through multiple threads is giving me a headache!

It looks to me as though you should be able to dump everything in the first screenshot, with the possible exception of the "ZDNet Developer" entry ... I don't know what it is.

In the second screenshot, keep the "Open Office" entries, as they are internal program files telling Open Office how to work with Java, once it's installed.

Dump the "Sun" folders, too. Start with a clean slate.

Before doing any of this, I'd make a system backup, if possible, and set a Restore Point, as well.

 

Sorry, Jim!
I figured my original thread was wandering off-topic, and I didn't know when you were going to be online next, so I thought I'd post this question in a new thread.
I did as you suggested, and everything seems to be working fine - thanks for taking the time to follow through on this for me.

 

Hi Rebecca,

Glad to hear that everything is working well. Thanks for posting back.