Java update

Noreen · Jul 14, 2008, 10:20:53

I've got a notification on my computer that an update for Java is available to install, should I?

Rik · Jul 14, 2008, 10:21:52

I have done, Noreen, but that's XP. You should be OK though.

Gary · Jul 14, 2008, 10:24:39

Quote from: Noreen on Jul 14, 2008, 10:20:53
I've got a notification on my computer that an update for Java is available to install, should I?

I installed it anyway Noreen on vista, I like to be up to date software wise just to be sure

Noreen · Jul 14, 2008, 10:38:33

edit: now installed.

Sebby · Jul 14, 2008, 13:28:40

I would, especially given that it'll be a security update.

Lance · Jul 14, 2008, 14:14:19

Do you still have to manually uninstall the older Java versions - I've not looked recently!

Baz · Jul 14, 2008, 14:18:42

Ive had this notice before and wondered how/where is the setting that lets Java automagically check for updates?

How often does it check? Bit paranoid me, I like to be in control of whats checking what and when

vitriol · Jul 14, 2008, 14:48:55

Baz,

If you want to permanently disable the java update.

START > Run > msconfig (press enter) > Startup tab > Untick the item named jusched, or go into the control panel and double click on the Java icon. Click on the Update tab and then untick the Check for Updates automatically.

AFAIK it updates about once per month, they are normally security related to I would recommend leaving it on. Besides some websites require you to have the latest version of Java to display things properly.

Sebby · Jul 14, 2008, 15:15:30

Mine seems to update fairly regularly. I never uninstall first.

Baz · Jul 14, 2008, 16:53:10

Thanks Vitriol, had a look and you are indeed right its once a month.

Noreen · Jul 14, 2008, 17:26:07

Just checked via Control Panel and it checks for Updates on the 13th day of the month. News to me.

Baz · Jul 14, 2008, 17:29:29

Me too Noreen

guess it depends when you install it as mine set for the 27th

Simon · Jul 14, 2008, 17:38:33

I had an update today too. I don't think it reinstalls, just applies the patch, or whatever is it.

LesD · Jul 14, 2008, 20:27:42

Quote from: Lance on Jul 14, 2008, 14:14:19
Do you still have to manually uninstall the older Java versions - I've not looked recently!

I certainly do Lance with XP.

A look at the Add/Remove list with Control Panel may surprise anyone that is under the impression that Java cleans up after itself!

Sebby · Jul 14, 2008, 20:29:30

I think there's still only one installation of it, but it likes to keep every version listed in add/remove for some strange reason!

LesD · Jul 18, 2008, 16:31:07

Quote from: Sebby on Jul 14, 2008, 20:29:30
I think there's still only one installation of it,

I saw what you said Sebby but had my doubts.

I would agree that there is only one active installation but had it in my mind that I had read somewhere sometime ago that there were old files that were not deleted when the latest update is installed.

Today I was offered Java(TM)6 Update 7 so I installed it and then I had a look that the properties of my C: drive and saw the used space as 27,861,954,560 bytes.

I then went to Control Panel Add/Remove and saw in the list both:

Java(TM)6 Update 5
Java(TM)6 Update 7

So I removed Java(TM)6 Update 5
I don't know what happened to Update 6!

After this I closed Control Panel and took another look at the properties of my C: drive and saw the used space as 27,829,293,632 bytes.

This difference surprises me but I wrote the numbers down very carefully so I am pretty sure they are right.
The second one was verifiable till I started IE to post this and I did get the same number a second time too.

Sebby · Jul 18, 2008, 18:13:07

It's a strange one. I would have thought that there are no new files - the updates just replace the updated files. Anyway, when has anything been as we expect?

Rik · Jul 18, 2008, 18:16:35

Not since Santa stopped visiting.

MoHux · Jul 18, 2008, 18:25:17

I don't know enough about it to know if this is correct, but I read somewhere, that it left the old versions because some older software still needed them.

$:-\$

Mo

Rik · Jul 18, 2008, 18:31:53

Perfectly possible, Mo. I wonder how many old versions we'll have eventually?

LesD · Jul 18, 2008, 19:20:10

Quote from: MoHux on Jul 18, 2008, 18:25:17
but I read somewhere, that it left the old versions because some older software still needed them.

This could well be the case Mo but since I started removing old versions I have not had any issues that I am aware of and I have been doing it for some time now. We do it at work as well and the same applies there too.

Don't let me influence you though, I am an advocate of caution being the better part of valour.

MoHux · Jul 18, 2008, 19:41:30

Thanks Les. All my software is pretty uptodate, so that's nice to know!

I will proceed cautiously!

Mo