Installing Java Runtime Environment Updates

This document explains how to identify which version of the Java Runtime Environment is installed, how to install updates and how to remove old versions of the client.

Determining Which Version of Java Runtime Environment is Installed

  1. Open the Control Panel. The Control Panel can be found in the Start Menu under Start > Control Panel or Start > Settings > Control Panel. In Windows 8, right-click on the start menu then click Control Panel.
  2. Double-click the Java entry in the Control Panel to open the Java Control Panel. If you don't see Java, switch to icon view or type "Java" into the search bar.

  3. The version number can be found in the General tab of the Java Control Panel.

    • After clicking About you will see the Version listed on the first line.

Changing the Java Control Panel Update Settings

  1. Open the Control Panel. The Control Panel can be found in the Start Menu under Start > Control Panel or Start > Settings > Control Panel.
  2. Double-click the Java entry in the Control Panel to open the Java Control Panel.
  3. Click on the Update tab.
  4. Click Advanced.
  5. SCS recommends having the Frequency set to Weekly, and the When is up to you.

  6. Click OK.
  7. Click Apply.

Installing Java Runtime Environment Updates

Java Runtime Environment updates can be downloaded from http://www.java.com/en/download/index.jsp, can be installed through the Java automatic update client, or can be manually updated through the Java Control Panel.

Java Automatic Update Client

    1. If Java is configured to check for updates automatically, a Java icon will appear in the taskbar when a new update is available.

    2. To download the update, click the Java icon and select Download.
    3. Once the updates have been downloaded, click the notification to install the updates.
    4. Click Install to begin.

    5. Select Install at the next screen.

    6. Uncheck 'Install the Yahoo! Toolbar' and then click Next.

    7. Click Close to complete the installation.

*Note: It is important to only have the latest version of the Java Runtime Environment installed because earlier versions may contain vulnerabilities. Previous versions of Java Runtime Environment are not uninstalled automatically with updates. Follow the instructions below to remove all previous versions.

Java Control Panel

  1. Open the Control Panel. The Control Panel can be found in the Start Menu under Start > Control Panel or Start > Settings > Control Panel.
  2. Double-click the Java entry in the Control Panel to open the Java Control Panel.
  3. Click on the Update tab.
  4. Click Update Now.

  5. If prompted by UAC, click Yes.

  6. Now Java will either tell you that you already have the latest Java installed or it will tell you that there is an update. If an update is needed, follow the adove instructions on how to update through the Automatic Update Client.

*Note: It is important to only have the latest version of the Java Runtime Environment installed because earlier versions may contain vulnerabilities. Previous versions of Java Runtime Environment are not uninstalled automatically with updates. Follow the instructions below to remove all previous versions.

Removing Old Versions of Java Runtime Environment

  1. Open the Control Panel from the Start Menu.
  2. Select Add or Remove Programs.
  3. Locate the Java(TM) 6 Update XX in the list.
  4. Select the outdated version and click Uninstall.
  5. Click Yes to remove the update.
  6. Repeat steps 2-4 for all versions of Java Runtime Environment except for the most current version.

See Also


Keywords:
Install Installing Java Runtime Environment JRE update updates remove removing old versions uninstall 
Doc ID:
5345
Owned by:
Help Desk KB Team in DoIT Help Desk
Created:
2007-01-30
Updated:
2022-10-09
Sites:
DoIT Help Desk, DoIT Staff