For User: I have Jave 6, Update 7; Do I need to keep Older JRE?

[bizadi]

Hi,

I'm not a developer, just a "customer" who uses Java. I currently have Java 6, Update 7 for my XP system. Last night I was running an in-depth scan with NOD32 and noticed a few entries that referred to JRE v1.6.0.b105, which I had previously installed around April 2007. The NOD32 entries just said "MIME - is OK (internal scanning not performed)." I decided to look around my Java folder and found a patch for JRE called patch-jre1.6.0_07.b06 that was installed on July 13, 2008.

My question is, with Java 6, Update 7 installed do I still need JRE for anything? I'm not exactly worried about the NOD32 entries but am just trying to clean up my system.

Thank you for looking.:)

[Eranga]

JRE(Java Runtime Environment) is a subset of JDK(Java Development Kit). The JRE includes the Java Virtual Machine (JVM), core classes, and supporting files required to run Java programs. So you can't survive without JRE.

Best thing is, you don't need to use separate JRE package, just install JDK latest version. As I said earlier it contains all the resources you need to work with Java applications.

[bizadi]

So I need JDK and Java 6, Update 7? Remember, I'm just a web-surfing consumer, not a developer.

And once I get JDK I can uninstall JRE, right?

[Eranga]

And once I get JDK I can uninstall JRE, right?

No, what I said is installing JDK, you have them all including there, including JRE. Definelty you need JRE to run Java applications, and as a Java user that's the thing you need only.

Why I say this is, seems to me, after updating may be your JRE version clashes are have some damage to it. So the best thing is, have a re-installation and see what happened. Or just install JRE and see.

[bizadi]

Okay, what I meant to say is that if I install a current JDK, which includes JRE, I should be able to uninstall my existing "standalone" JRE. Is this correct? And if I have JDK, will I need Java 6, Update 7 (v1.6.0_07, which apparently includes JRE ....)? Sheesh, this is complicated. Could you please just tell me which Java apps a typical computer user should have on their system? Thank you very much.

[bizadi]

Why I say this is, seems to me, after updating may be your JRE version clashes are have some damage to it. So the best thing is, have a re-installation and see what happened. Or just install JRE and see.

Actually, as far as I could tell (and with admittedly sparse research) JRE had been replaced or integrated with Java 6. Which products does JRE come with built-in? Or do I really need a separate JRE?

Btw, I apologise if I sound short-tempered or impatient but this is turning out to be a considerable amount of work for a product that shouldn't be all that difficult. I wish that Sun would just come out and say, directly, this is the product that you, the consumer, will need to view Java.

[Norm]

Could you explain why as a non programmer you are interested in the JDK? What does it have that you want to use that is not included in the JRE?
You probably only need the JRE.

[bizadi]

Well, I don't really want JDK. The first time I had ever heard of it was when Eranga recommended it. All that I want (need?) is the minimum application to process Java applets & scripts that I may occasionally come across thru normal web surfing.

I remember that up to about a year ago I would get regular updates from my Java console telling me to install the latest JRE. Now the wording seems to have changed to "Get the Latest Java" (or something like that). OK, I now have "Java 6, Update 7" (v1.6.0_07), which apparently includes JRE. So now that I have a JRE that is bundled with Java 6, Update 7 is that all that I should need?

Thanks for the help.

[bizadi]

I just checked my Java Console and it says that I am using JRE v1.6.0_07 Java HotSpot Client VM.

[Eranga]

Could you explain why as a non programmer you are interested in the JDK? What does it have that you want to use that is not included in the JRE?
You probably only need the JRE.

Actually I recommended it. But, according to our thread starter he never need JDK, need only the JRE. As he said after updating the JRE comes with some issues. Then what I have done is explain about JDK and basis related thing on it, JRE is one of it.

I said that using JDK also he can do whatever he want(actually running Java applications) But it's not useful, because he's not a Java developer. But installing JRE must for him, to run Java application. So I just try to point out that using JDK or JRE he can run any Java application on his machine.

[Eranga]

Well, I don't really want JDK. The first time I had ever heard of it was when Eranga recommended it. All that I want (need?) is the minimum application to process Java applets & scripts that I may occasionally come across thru normal web surfing.

I remember that up to about a year ago I would get regular updates from my Java console telling me to install the latest JRE. Now the wording seems to have changed to "Get the Latest Java" (or something like that). OK, I now have "Java 6, Update 7" (v1.6.0_07), which apparently includes JRE. So now that I have a JRE that is bundled with Java 6, Update 7 is that all that I should need?

Thanks for the help.

bizadi, as I said to run a Java application you must install JRE version. On the other hand, you are right, JDK includes all of those tools you need. But the difference here is JDK is useless for you, because you are just a Java application user. In this way you just have to waste some amount of space in your HDD.

Anyway, have a try and see what happened when you use NOD32.

[thusa]

hey bizadi,

I suggest you to uninstall (remove) all Java installations from your machine, then reinstall the latest JRE from Sun.

HTH.

[bizadi]

I just checked my Java Console and it says that I am using JRE v1.6.0_07 Java HotSpot Client VM.

I have probably answered my own question(s) with this statement. Somehow, I thought that JRE had been replaced with the ubiquitous-sounding "Java 6, Update 7" (v1.6.0_07). And these were the only NOD32 scan items:

C:\Program Files\Common Files\Java\Update\Base Images\jre1.6.0.b105\core3.zip » ZIP » lib/deploy/ffjcext.zip » ZIP » {CAFEEFAC-0016-0000-0000-ABCDEFFEDCBA}/chrome.manifest » MIME - is OK (internal scanning not performed)

C:\Program Files\Common Files\Java\Update\Base Images\jre1.6.0.b105\core3.zip » ZIP » lib/resources.jar » ZIP » com/sun/org/apache/xerces/internal/impl/msg/XIncludeMessages.properties » MIME - is OK (internal scanning not performed)

C:\Program Files\Common Files\Java\Update\Base Images\jre1.6.0.b105\core3.zip » ZIP » lib/resources.jar » ZIP » com/sun/xml/internal/fastinfoset/resources/ResourceBundle.properties » MIME - is OK (internal scanning not performed)

C:\Program Files\Common Files\Java\Update\Base Images\jre1.6.0.b105\core3.zip » ZIP » lib/resources.jar » ZIP » javax/xml/bind/Messages.properties » MIME - is OK (internal scanning not performed)

I just wanted to understand what I was reading and get myself caught up with Java/JRE along the way. Thank you all for the help.:D

[thusa]

Anyway it's nice to hear that your issue is resolved.