Problems with Java Virtual Machine

I have Java jre1.6.0_05 installed on both of my computers, which are running XP Pro SP2. The Sun website confirms that Java is active, and the Java icon is present in Control Panel.

There are at least two problems on the desktop computer:

1. When I click on the CP icon to open the Java Console, I get the message seen in the first screenshot.

2. When I go to Secunia's Software Inspector webpage, it attempts to load the Java Applet in Firefox (2.0.0.13), but finally presents me with the message seen in the second screenshot.​

Java runs normally on the laptop.

I have done the following:

1. Uninstalled both Java and Firefox, deleted all remaining folders/files associated with them, scrubbed the Registry of any references to them, and reinstalled fresh downloads of both programs.

2. Compared the contents of the Java folders at C:\Documents and Settings\<username>\Application Data\Sun\Java, C:\Program Files\Java, and C:\Program Files\Common Files\Java on my desktop and laptop computers, and found them to be identical.

3. Googled for a solution in vain. Despite the fact that many people seem to have been presented with the message in screenshot #1, all sites found in the searches seemed oriented toward developers, rather than end users.
​

The problems remain. Can anyone help?

 

Hi Jim

Jim I think you are missing something in the file system.

Try uninstalling with Revo, use the Advanced uninstall on the bottom

http://www.revouninstaller.com/revo_uninstaller_free_download.html

in Revos registry cleanup do not select ALL but check only the Highlited entries and click delete. If there are entries left then click the +'s and drill down to more Highlighted entries and delete them.

Then reboot

Next:
Get Microsoft Installer Cleanup utility and look for Remaining Java if there
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;290301

Then windows search = Advanced Options-Search System Folders-Search Hidden Files and Folders-Search Subfolders

for:

Sun*.* (note watch for and delete only things that apply to Java on this one)
java*.*
jre*.*
*.jar

Regseeker
find in registry
java
jre
Sun (note watch for and delete only things that apply to Java on this one)

Reboot before re-installing Java.

Mike

 

Hi Mike,

Thanks for the quick response and the detailed instructions. I already had Revo Uninstaller on my computer and, while I had looked at it, I hadn't actually used it to uninstall anything.

Unfortunately, after printing your instructions and following them to the letter (would you believe that Revo found 1602 Registry entries for Java?), I'm now in a far worse situation than before. The Java reinstallation stalled out and the computer froze, forcing me to shut down the computer manually. At that point I gave up and went to bed.

This morning the computer appeared to start normally, but Firefox wouldn't run at all, and the computer froze for no apparent reason. After this happened several times, I restored the C: partition (the only one that should have been affected by what was done last night) with an Acronis backup made two days ago. That should have taken things back to the way they were yesterday when I wrote my initial post but, for some reason, the situation remains the same. That makes absolutely no sense to me.

Firefox won't even open in its own Safe Mode, and the only way I'm able to open it at all is in Windows Safe Mode, which is where I am right now (Safe Mode with Networking).

I have my laptop to fall back on, fortunately, but I think I'm going to wipe the C: drive on the desktop. Fortunately, the last time I reinstalled XP, I made a backup of the C: drive at each important step of the way ... after product activation, after installing drivers, after customizing the GUI, etc. That way I don't have to go all the way back to square one. I just wish that SP3 had been released, as an incredible number of MS patches and hotfixes have been released since SP2.

If you have any further thoughts before I take such a drastic step, I'll be glad to hear them.

 

Hi Jim

The procedure I gave should not have caused a problem. And that is also very weird about the Acronis restore. It is good you have a recent backup I hope it is good.

OK confirm that all else works normally in full mode except Java and Firefox.

Reinstalling Firefox may fix it but lets not reinstall yet.

Repeat the procedure from last night again except "do not" install Java.

Then reconfirm to me that all still seems OK except Firefox.

If FireFox still does not work and all else seems Ok do not uninstall Firefox yet but just do a reinstall and see if it will accept a reinstall, to see if Firefox comes back on line!

Let me know!

Mike

 

Mike ...

Unfortunately, it did.

I've tried it three times, with the same results each time ... Firefox won't open, and the computer freezes. I just realized that I have another backup only a few days older than the one that's giving me problems so, after posting this, I'll reinstall it.

I guess I didn't make myself clear ... the computer freezes and must be shut down manually, so I can't confirm that anything works. The only way I'm able to do anything is in Safe Mode.

Your suggestions will have to remain on hold until I get the computer back to "normal" (if I can ).

 

Hi Jim

OK the point I was trying to make about my procedure is that this indicates a deeper problem in windows that was not apparent.

On the lockup I thought you meant only when you tried to run Firefox!

The fact that your attempt to un-install failed in the first place.

Have you had any other issues at all lately or suspicions?

I just did the entire procedure I gave you, on my own computer and it went as it was supposed to!

Re-install of Java also went normally!

But there is one place that could have caused this problem.

Revo is an excellent un-installer but once you use the Advanced you must know how to handle the remaining registry entries.

When it displays the registry entries ONLY High lighted "BOLDED" entries should be deleted. No non bolded entries should ever be selected.

So on the first registry cleanup screen you should have checked the BOLDED items and click delete. If there were more you would be presented a tree of + signs. You should then drill down to find the Bolded items and select only these and delete. Then drill down again if presented more of a tree. Until it comes up empty!

At no time should a higher up item that is not BOLDED be selected because a bolded item is down in its tree.

Hence my instructions:

I hope you understood this.

I am ready to help you get back up.

Mike

 

Hi Mike,

Lucky you caught me when you did, as I'm only taking a quick break from working on my taxes.

I was able to get back up and running from an Acronis C: drive backup only a couple of days older than the one I spoke of in posts #3 and 5 ... the one presenting me with the same problems I was trying to recover from.

Despite my saying that I followed your instructions to the letter, it appears that I may have misunderstood them. I think the problem arose because Revo (in advanced mode, at least ... I didn't check the others) displays an expanded tree view. While I didn't check All, I did check every highlighted entry.

I really appreciate your willingness to help, but further efforts on my part will have to wait until I'm finished with my taxes ... hopefully, by midweek.

 

Great to hear you have a good backup.

If you did click and delete any unhighlighed entry this would explain it.

Since you have a solid backup!

When you are ready do the procedure again and only select the BOLDED items in Revo.

Mike

 

Hi Mike,

The first time I ran Revo, I did exactly what I understood you to say in your initial post ... I selected all bold entries for deletion, which resulted in a totally bolloxed computer.

Take a look at the two screenshots, which represent only part of the tree that Revo initially displays (I have expanded nothing), and you'll see why I'm in a quandry as to what should be selected for deletion ... virtually every bold item is a subset of something not bold. It seems to me that the second and third paragraphs I've quoted are at odds with each other.

Can you clarify, please?

 

On these 2 screens!

Only the BOLDED items with the Blue and Green Icons should be removed!

Skip all non BOLD items above or below or in between!

Mike

 

That's exactly what I did the first time, when I got into all the trouble.

The first screen shows just the first few of dozens and dozens of entries.

 

OK so that we don't have to resort to a full disk restore again do the following.

Download Install and run ERUNT
http://www.larshederer.homepage.t-online.de/erunt/

Then do a Restore point.

Then do the procedure 1 step at a time and test that the system is OK between steps. Reboot between each step.

With Java gone certain things and web pages can not be expected to work.

Try Firefox last in case it still causes lockup.

Try IE general browsing do not expect all web pages to work.

Download portable Opera
http://www.opera-usb.com/operausben.htm

Test browsing with it!

The reason for testing with IE and Opera is to try and see if they work and your Firefox don't. If so you may need to save your bookmarks etc uninstall Firefox then re-install clean. Before re-installing Java.

So!

1. Revo Java
test as above
if OK

2. Installer cleanup
windows search items
test as above

3. Regseeker

If the system does fail we need to pin point the step above that causes it.

If the system seems stable after all above run a CCleaner temp and registry cleanup before attempting a re-install of JAVA.

Reboot once again after the CCleaner befor installing JAVA.

Also download the full Java install (do not do the online install)
http://javadl.sun.com/webapps/download/AutoDL?BundleId=18713

Mike

 

Hi Jim

If you don't already have it

http://portableapps.com/apps/internet/firefox_portable

If it works and your installed Firefox don't?!

Just to test.

Mike

 

Mike ...

FWIW, I've downloaded Sun's JSC file several times over the past month, and this is the first time that it's been larger than about 350KB. In fact, it's exactly the same size (15,546KB) as the SDLC file I've been using to attempt to get a proper Java installation.

What I don't understand is that, while I'm unable to get a completely working installation of Java, it seems to work properly on many webpages, such as this NYU facial animation demo page and Sun's own "Duke's Zone" page.

Again, I'll have to put off dealing with the Java issue until I'm done with my taxes ... AARRGGHH!

 

You may still have Microsoft Java installed but it seems the Sun Duke (test) is still detecting Sun Java.

Sun Java is more secure and up to date. MS Java should be removed.

http://www.mvps.org/marksxp/WindowsXP/java.php

Perhaps you should uninstall also before installing Sun java, see link above.

OK when you are ready. Big big refunds on the Taxes!!

Mike

 

MS Java is NOT installed, and hasn't been for a long time. In addition to the Duke's Page verification, there's another Sun verification page, which also says I have the latest version of Java installed (see screenshot).

 

OK! Wait!

You did the restore and have not un-installed Java, right?

If so it should show installed.

So if it is installed what issue are you trying to fix?

Mike

 

If your only problem is the Java control panel Applet and the one site Securunia then what happens in IE and Opera with this site?

Mike

 

Mike ...

Correct.

It does.

I'm sorry if I've confused you, but you need to re-read my original post.

 

With IE the original Secunia page simply reloads ... I never get to the second page.

Using Maxthon, an IE shell, the Secunia site exhibits exactly the same behavior as it does in FF ... it tries 50 times to load the required Java applet, then displays the message seen in screenshot #2 in my original post.

I don't have Opera installed.