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Cannot find Java SE Runtime Enviroment 1.6

843798Jun 27 2009 — edited Jul 2 2009
This problem has been bugging me for a long time now. I have no idea what may have caused this error to occur where an applet can't find the SE runtime enviroment, and in fact I may not even be able to recall if it ever worked since getting an upgrade to Vista. Since I don't really know how I'd go about forming an initial log or investigation for finding clues, I'll just bullet point my situation;

1. I'm using Vista 32bit with a single HDD partition.

2. I'm attempting to use 1.6 in the use of virtually all free Java applications I can get my hands on.

3. I have re-installed countless times with no effect.

Problem: Tried to use a downloadable open-source program that uses Java or access any page in Firefox that has a Java applet embedded. Programs will return with the message "Error: could not find Java SE Runtime Enviroment". Firefox applets will tell me I need to install Java.

Information: Re-installing shows that, if I don't uninstall first, the installer will detect Java being already installed. Java appears under the Control Panel. Firefox can detect a Java plugin installed. Whenever, according to the ever so useless Help Center page, I try to enable the Java Plugin through the Control Panel, it keeps claiming that a web browser window is open, even when I've made sure to terminate the processes of all browsers myself. Using regedit, I can find the folder related to Javasoft (although I have little knowledge what to look for) and that it's currentversion shows up as 1.6, but several folders keep denying me access despite having admin access, although it says I can alter permissions strangely.

I'm afraid that if you wish to help me, you'll have to assume I know nothing about Java other than the average consumer since I'm not a developer, although I understand some concepts in IT such as using the command prompt and registry unlike the average consumer.

Another possibly related problem is that .jar files haven't been associated, but that now appears to be an isolated incident with only one specific program.

Comments

796365
As a first step, go to http://java.com and Click "Do I Have Java?" - just below the big blue button.

If it says you have it, click "Test your Java Virtual Machine (JVM)"

If not, return to the first page and click "Need Help?"

Continue as needed with the site's Help information.
843798
That would be the obvious way to fix most common problems, but since it only seems to support the mandatory requisite of teaching with those with no technological skill how to re-install, I have searched it for everything relevant and found nothing that has changed anything.

Maybe you could help define what in the registry determines where the runtime is so I could locate it and see if it's incorrect? I'm starting to think there may be a possibility that in an effort to prevent malware and spyware from affecting the registry, my old anti-spyware software may have messed with the permissions on several entries, most likely Java being one of them because of how it handles online applications. I've found I can change the permissions to allow myself access to the folders but it requires some time trying to alter the permissions and I'm not sure if it may have had an effect on the contents. I presume if the contents are damaged, I could re-install to repair them, but then I risk having to manually uninstall and waste more time figuring this out. Has anyone got any help or advice on this?
796365
So you didn't find mentions like these in the website Help pages?

Note:

If the normal uninstallation process (as mentioned above) fails, then please try Microsoft Windows Installer Cleanup Utility. This tool will ensure that all irrelevant Java Runtime Environment Microsoft Installer (msi) registries are removed. Detailed information and download is available at: Description of the Windows Installer CleanUp Utility
843798
Oh, didn't see that.

Then again, all my uninstalls appeared to succeed, so it never crossed my mind.

Will update post if it works (EDIT: Maybe tommorow, too busy tonight.)
843798
Okay, a few days late, but here's what happened:

Attempt 1: Continued till re-installation. Got a 25099 error, searched the Help Files for it and found that despite the fact the cleanup utility wiped Java from my system, it didn't stop the process. Ended the process and tried again.

Attempt 2: Re-installed successfully, however pages and applications continue to fail when searching for the runtime enviroment. Restarted when I saw no process running.

Attempt 3: On restart, I attempted to open an application and the Java verification page. Both continue to fail in find the runtime enviroment.

So the problem still exists stubbornly.

EDIT: Found that I incorrectly labelled the thread with "runtime enviroment 1.6" when I meant "16.4", but now I can't change it.
jschellSomeoneStoleMyAlias
What specifically did you install?
What do you get when you open a command window and type "java -version"?
796365
Got a 25099 error...
Read the replies and solutions in this thread
[http://forums.sun.com/thread.jspa?threadID=5354798]

Did you search for mentions of the error? The java.com Help pages also have other resolutions of it.
843798
jschell wrote:
What specifically did you install?
I just simply went to this page: [http://java.com/en/download/inc/windows_new_xpi.jsp|http://java.com/en/download/inc/windows_new_xpi.jsp]
What do you get when you open a command window and type "java -version"?
Ah, here we're getting somewhere.
cmd wrote:
C:\Users\Mikey>java -version
Error opening registry key 'Software\JavaSoft\Java Runtime Enviroment\1.6'
Error: could not find java.dll
Error: could not find Java SE Runtime Enviroment
And I briefly mentioned in the above that I had already searched the 25099 error and thus was able to perform additional attempts.
ChuckBing wrote:
Read the replies and solutions in this thread
http://forums.sun.com/thread.jspa?threadID=5354798
Well that was briefly entertaining, seeing someone with little forum etiquette double posting like Twitter while completely missing the point in common sense.
My solution was a lot simpler than the lengths those who replied went to; I simply ended the Java process and tried again. So that problem is now irrelevant to this thread.

Edited by: MikeyTWolf on Jul 1, 2009 3:19 AM
MikeyTWolf wrote:
cmd wrote:
C:\Users\Mikey>java -version
Error opening registry key 'Software\JavaSoft\Java Runtime Enviroment\1.6'
Error: could not find java.dll
Error: could not find Java SE Runtime Enviroment
So something is definitely bad.

Given that you already uninstalled/installed if it was me I would edit the registry directly. That might not be an appropriate path for you.
Editing it directly I would
1. Uninstall
2. Use regedit to search for "java" and carefully verify each found entry and remove them when I determined they were specific to the Sun install.

If you mess up step 2 then you will disable/destroy different applications and/or mess up the OS. Messing up the OS will probably require re-installing it. Re-installing has the benefit that it fixes the problem though.
843798
Shh. Be vewwy, vewwy quiet! I'm hunting java!

(Ctrl + F's "java" then gives both barrels to anything that A) doesn't have Microsoft/MS in it and B) Adobe products (why do I have Dreamweaver installed again?)).

To be safe, I'd restart, but it's getting late so fingers crossed for tommorow.

Since I can safely type this message out, I guess I pretty much dodged anything important. :D

Edited by: MikeyTWolf on Jul 1, 2009 2:11 PM
843798
Unfortunately, despite reaching the end of the registry twice, it appears that my problem is still not solved. I've checked the cmd prompt and it still has the same error, and Java.com continues to tell me to install Java when I go to "Do I have Java?".

Since uninstalling has no effect, perhaps we could focus on the installation aspect? Since there's no chance that files in odd places or dodgy keys in the registry I'd check where Java.dll is supposed to be, but I don't have a working system readily available to see where that should be. Can anyone else search their computer and registry for a more specific location as to where it should be installed please? If it's not there, we could try and inject one, and if it still fails or I can't move anything there, then permissions may need to be altered.

Just throwing out ideas here, since you guys are the experts. I hope anyway.

EDIT: Ran a whole search on the computer checking that it searched every field for the criteria "java.dll". Results are as follows (note: "---" means same folder):
MikeyTWolf found:
-- Computer -- (all found in Program Files)
java\jre6\bin "java.dll"
Azureus\jre\bin "java.dll"
Common Files\Adobe\Adobe Version Cue CS3\Server\jre "JavaWebStart.dll"
--- "java.dll"
adobe\Adobe Dreamweaver CS3\JVM\bin "java.dll"
adobe\Adobe Flash CS3\JVM\bin "java.dll"
--- "JavaWebStart.dll"
I didn't bother with a registry search, since I would only find what I had previously attempted to delete, which has presumably returned from today's install.

Edited by: MikeyTWolf on Jul 2, 2009 6:33 AM
MikeyTWolf wrote:
Unfortunately, despite reaching the end of the registry twice, it appears that my problem is still not solved. I've checked the cmd prompt and it still has the same error, and Java.com continues to tell me to install Java when I go to "Do I have Java?".

Since uninstalling has no effect, perhaps we could focus on the installation aspect? Since there's no chance that files in odd places or dodgy keys in the registry I'd check where Java.dll is supposed to be, but I don't have a working system readily available to see where that should be. Can anyone else search their computer and registry for a more specific location as to where it should be installed please? If it's not there, we could try and inject one, and if it still fails or I can't move anything there, then permissions may need to be altered.
You have a java in your path however. It must be in the PATH env var. So figure out where.
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Locked on Jul 30 2009
Added on Jun 27 2009
#java-runtime-environment-jre
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