Java Platform, Standard Edition Installation Guide

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16 JRE Installation for Microsoft Windows

This page describes how to install and uninstall JRE 8 for Windows.

The page has these topics:

"System Requirements"

"Proxy Settings and Authentication"

"Installation Instructions Notation"

"Installation Instructions"

"Uninstalling the JRE"

"Java Start Menu"

"Java Plug-in"

"Java Web Start"

"Java Update Feature"

"Option to Disable the "JRE out of date" Warning"

"Installation of JRE on 64-Bit Windows Computers"

See "JDK 8 and JRE 8 Installation Start Here" for general information about installing JDK 8 and JRE 8.

System Requirements
See http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/java/javase/certconfig-2095354.html for information about supported platforms,
operating systems, and browsers.

See "Windows System Requirements for JDK and JRE" for minimum processor, disk space, and memory requirements.

If you have any difficulties, see http://docs.oracle.com/javase/8/docs/technotes/guides/troubleshoot/index.html,

"Windows Online Installation and Java Update FAQ", or submit a bug report at http://bugreport.java.com/bugreport/.

Proxy Settings and Authentication

To use the Windows Online Installer, you must be connected to the Internet. If you are running behind a proxy server, you must have your proxy
settings correctly configured. If they are not configured, or are incorrectly configured, the installer will terminate with the following message:

The installer cannot proceed with the current Internet Connection proxy
settings. Please check the Installation Notes for more information.
If you see this message, check your proxy settings: From the Start menu select Settings, click Control Panel, double-click Internet Options,
select the Connections tab, and click the LAN Settings button.

If you do not know what the correct settings should be, check with your Internet provider or system administrator.

Installation Instructions Notation

For any text in this document that contains the following notation, you must substitute the appropriate update version number:

version

For example, if you were downloading the JRE installer for 32-bit systems for update 1.8.0_01, the file name: jre-8version-windows-i586.exe
would become jre-8u1-windows-i586.exe.

Similarly, if you were downloading the JRE installer for 64-bit systems for update 1.8.0_01, the file name jre-8version-windows-x64.exe
would become jre-8u1-windows-x64.exe.

Installation Instructions
Installing the JRE consists of two main steps:

"Downloading the Installer"

"Running the Installer"

Downloading the Installer

You have a choice of the following kinds of JRE installers that you can download:

Windows x86 Online: jre-8version-windows-i586-iftw.exe (The letters iftw mean "install from the web.")

Windows x86 Offline: jre-8version-windows-i586.exe

Windows x64: jre-8version-windows-x64.exe

The Windows x86 Online Installer is a small program that will download more installer files based on your system configuration. Using this
installer can help you avoid downloading large amounts of unnecessary files. For more information, see "Windows Online Installation and Java
Update FAQ".

The Windows x86 Offline Installer, as well as the installers for 64-bit systems, contain everything needed to install the JRE.

Note:

The Microsoft Windows Installer (MSI) Enterprise JRE Installer is also available, which enables you to install the
JRE across your enterprise. It requires a commercial license for use in production. For more information, see the
MSI Enterprise JRE Installer Guide at https://docs.oracle.com/javacomponents/msi-jre8/install-
guide.

Click the JRE Download link for the installer you want to use. A dialog box opens. Depending on your browser, click Save or Save File to save
the JRE installer without installing it. Verify that you have downloaded the entire file by comparing the size of the file you downloaded with the
expected size shown on the download page. Alternatively, (depending on your browser) click Run or Open to run the JRE installer from your
browser.

Running the Installer

Note:

You must have administrative permissions in order to install the JRE.

If you saved the JRE installer to your computer, run the installer by double-clicking it. Follow the instructions the installer provides. The installer
notifies you if Java content is disabled in web browsers, and provides instructions for enabling it. If you previously chose to hide some of the
security prompts for applets and Java Web Start applications, the installer provides an option for restoring the prompts. When you are finished
with the installation, you can delete the downloaded file to recover disk space.

Note the following:

The public JRE installed with the JDK is not registered. (This also applies to the 64-bit version of the JDK.) You must set the PATH
environment variable to point to JAVA_HOME\bin (where JAVA_HOME is the location where you installed the public JRE) to register the
JRE. See "Private Versus Public JRE" for more information about the public JRE.

By default, Java Access Bridge is disabled. To enable it, see

http://docs.oracle.com/javase/8/docs/technotes/guides/access/enable_and_test.html#enabling_jab.

After installation, use the Java item in the Windows Start menu to get access to essential Java information and functions, including help, the
Java Control Panel, and checking for updates.

Java Executables Installation Locations

The Java executable java.exe is installed in the bin directory of the JRE. In addition, a symlink to the java.exe executable is created in the
%ProgramData%/Oracle/Java/javapath directory, and this path is prepended to the system RegKey value
HKLM\SYSTEM+\CurrentControlSet\Control\Session Manager\Environment\Path. Consequently, the java.exe executable is
added to the user's system path and can be launched from any directory location without giving the full path to it.

The java.exe symlink always points to the newest JRE on the system. The symlink is updated during install and uninstall using the JavaHome
RegValue in the HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\JavaSoft\Java Runtime Environment\<JRE Version> key. The java.exe
symlink points to the bin directory of the latest <JRE Version> key. This ensures that the user can always launch the newest JRE from the
command line.

For example, if you have JRE 8u20 and JRE 7u60 installed on your system, and you run java -version from your Windows command
prompt, then you will see the the version and build details for JRE 8u20.

The JRE installer installs the Java executables javaw.exe and javaws.exe in a similar manner. The following table lists the Java executables
and symlinks that are installed:

Table 16-1 Java Executables and Symlinks Installed by the JRE Installer

Java Executable Symlink

%Program Files%\Java\jre<version>\bin\java.exe %ProgramData%\Oracle\Java\Javapath\java.exe

%Program Files%\Java\jre<version>\bin\javaw.exe %ProgramData%\Oracle\Java\Javapath\javaw.exe

%Program Files%\Java\jre<version>\bin\javaws.exe %ProgramData%\Oracle\Java\Javapath\javaws.exe

Uninstalling the JRE

To uninstall the JRE, use the Java Uninstall tool, which you can access in the following ways:

If the JRE is version 8u20 or later, uninstall it with the "Add/Remove Programs" utility in the Microsoft Windows Control Panel. The Java
Removal Tool is integrated with the uninstallation process, and it will guide you through the removal of older JREs.

Use the online Java Uninstall tool:

https://www.java.com/en/download/uninstallapplet.jsp

The Java Uninstall tool helps you improve your computer security by simplifying the process of finding and uninstalling older versions of Java.
The Uninstall tool shows you a list of the Java versions on your computer and then removes those that are out-of-date.

Note:

The Java Uninstall tool will not run if your system administrator specified a deployment rule set in your
organization.
 A deployment rule set enables enterprises to manage their Java desktop environment directly and continue using
legacy business applications in an environment of ever-tightening Java applet and Java Web Start application
security policies. A deployment rule set enables administrators to specify rules for applets and Java Web Start
applications; these rules may specify that a specific JRE version must be used. Consequently, the Java Uninstall
tool will not run if it detects a deployment rule set to ensure that no required JREs are uninstalled.

See
http://docs.oracle.com/javase/8/docs/technotes/guides/deploy/deployment_rules.html for
more information about the Deployment Rule Set feature.

Java Start Menu

Starting with JDK 7u40 release, Java menu items are added to the Windows Start Menu to provide easy access to Java resources.

During JRE install, a Java folder is created in the Windows Start Menu, which contains the following items:

About Java: Opens an About Java window that shows the latest JRE version installed on the system.

Check for Updates: Opens the Java Control Panel with focus on the Update tab.

Configure Java: Opens the Java Control Panel with focus on the General tab.

Get Help: Opens the URL http://java.com/en/download/help/index.xml.

Visit Java.com: Opens the URL http://java.com/en/.

During JRE install and uninstall processes, the appropriate start menu items are updated to be associated with the latest JRE version on the
system.

Java Plug-in
Java Plug-in technology, included as part of the JRE, establishes a connection between popular browsers and the Java platform. This connection
enables applets on web sites to be run within a browser on the desktop. Java Plug-in is automatically enabled for supported web browsers during
installation of the JRE. No user intervention is necessary. See
http://docs.oracle.com/javase/8/docs/technotes/guides/deploy/applet_dev_guide.html for more information about Java
Plug-in technology.

Note:

In Java SE 8, the version of Java Plug-in that is available in versions of the JRE prior to Java SE 6 Update 10 has
been deprecated. However, this earlier version of Java Plug-in is still shipped with Java SE 8 for compatibility
purposes but is no longer fully supported. It will be removed in a future release. For backward compatibility
purposes, you can specify which Java Plug-in is used to run applets in the Java Control Panel. To specify this, run
Java Control Panel, go to the Advanced tab, Java Plug-in node, and toggle the check box labeled Enable the
next-generation Java Plug-in. See Java Control Panel
http://docs.oracle.com/javase/8/docs/technotes/guides/deploy/jcp.html#JSDPG759 for more
information. In addition, you can use the Java Control Panel to manage multiple JRE versions used for applet
execution.

Java Web Start

Java Web Start is an application-deployment technology that gives you the power to run full-featured applications with a single click from your
Web browser. You can now download and run applications, such as a complete spreadsheet program or an Internet chat client, without going
through complicated installation procedures. With Java Web Start, you run applications simply by clicking a web page link. If the application is not
present on your computer, Java Web Start automatically downloads all necessary files. It then caches the files on your computer so the
application is always ready to be run anytime you want - either from an icon on your desktop or from the browser link. No matter which method
you use to run the application, the most current, available version of the application is always presented to you. See Java Web Start for more
information.
This topic covers the following topics:

"Upgrading from Previous Versions"

"Uninstallation"

Upgrading from Previous Versions

If you have a previous version of Java Web Start, do not uninstall it. Uninstalling it will cause the download cache to be cleared, and all
previously installed Java Web Start application data will have to be downloaded again. This new version will write over previous installations and
automatically update browsers to use this new version. The configuration files and the program files folder used by Java Web Start have
changed, but all your settings will remain intact after the upgrade because Java Web Start will translate your settings to the new form.

Uninstallation

The only way to uninstall Java Web Start is to uninstall the JDK/JRE. Uninstalling the JDK/JRE will not, however, remove the cache for previous
versions of Java Web Start. Previous releases have separate uninstall instructions for Java Web Start.

You may see a misleading message if you do the following:

Download and cache a Java Web Start application with the JDK or JRE.

Remove the JDK or JRE using "Add or Remove Programs" from the Windows Control Panel.

Remove the Java Web Start application using "Add or Remove Programs."

When you remove the application, you see an "Uninstaller Error" dialog box saying "An error occurred while trying to remove Java-Application:
name App. It may have already been uninstalled. Would you like to remove Java-Application: name App from the Add or Remove program list?"
If you say yes to this, then you will see another "Uninstaller Error" dialog box saying "You do not have sufficient access to remove Java-
Application: name App from the Add or Remove Program list. Please contact your system administrator." This is the misleading message. It
implies that the problem is due to privileges. It is not. The problem is that you have already removed the Java Web Start application when you
removed JDK or JRE, but this is not reflected in the "Add or Remove Programs" dialog box until it is refreshed by pressing F5 or it is closed and
reopened.

To avoid seeing this misleading message, either press F5 or close and reopen the dialog box. Any Java Web Start application that was
downloaded and cached with the JDK or JRE will no longer appear in the list of currently installed programs.

Java Update Feature

For issues related to the Java Update feature, see
http://docs.oracle.com/javase/8/docs/technotes/guides/deploy/jcp.html#JSDPG759.

Option to Disable the "JRE out of date" Warning

When the installed JRE (7u10 or later), falls below the security baseline or passes it's built-in expiration date, an additional warning is shown to
users to update their installed JRE to the latest version. For businesses that manage the update process centrally, users attempting to update
their JRE individually, may cause problems.

Starting from 7u40, a new deployment property, deployment.expiration.check.enabled is available. This property can be used to disable the JRE
out of date warning.

To suppress this specific warning message, add the following entry in the deployment properties file:

deployment.expiration.check.enabled=false

For more information, see Deployment Configuration File and Properties.

To disable automatic updates, un-check the Check for Updates Automatically check box in the Update tab of the Java Control Panel.

Silent Installation

To install the JRE silently or non-interactively, which is useful for installing on multiple computers, see "Command-Line Installation".
Installation of JRE on 64-Bit Windows Computers
64-bit Windows operating systems (which may be Vista, Windows 7, or Windows 8) come with a 32-bit Internet Explorer (IE) browser as the
standard (default) for viewing web pages. These operating systems also include a 64-bit Internet Explorer browser. However, using it is optional,
and it must be explicitly selected to view web pages. Note that because some web content may not work properly in a 64-bit browser, it is
recommended that you use the default 32-bit browser and install the 32-bit JRE.

The following topics can help you determine which JRE to install:

"Verifying Your Version of Windows"

"Verifying Your Browser"

"Choosing Which JRE Installer to Download"

Verifying Your Version of Windows

See http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/32-bit-and-64-bit-windows#1TC=windows-7 to determine if your system

is running a 64-bit version of Windows.

Verifying Your Browser

Follow these steps to determine whether you are using a 32-bit or 64-bit version of Internet Explorer:

1. Start Internet Explorer.

2. In the menu bar, click Help.

3. Select About Internet Explorer, which will open an information window.

Follow one of the following methods to determine whether you are using a 64-bit version of Firefox:

Check the About Firefox panel.

Type about:support in the browser address.

If you running 64-bit version of Firefox, it may be indicated as 64-bit (for example, Win64); otherwise, it is a 32-bit version of Firefox.

Note:

The 64-bit JRE is presented as a download option automatically for 64-bit Internet Explorer and 64-bit Firefox for
Windows users.

Choosing Which JRE Installer to Download

Download a JRE installer, depending on which browser you have installed:

32-bit browser: download the 32-bit JRE installer (use either the Windows x86 Offline or Online installer).

64-bit browser: download the 64-bit JRE installer.

Both 32-bit and 64-bit browsers: download both the 32-bit and 64-bit JRE installers, respectively.

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