Java software updates

[Gene Moore]

Java is used by many of the programs we run. I noticed in my notebook WinXP software add-removes programs file that I numerous J2SE Runtime Environment 5.0 updates, 1 through 9. Since each Java update is about 145 MB this takes up quite a bit of disk space. Question is, will the most recent update Java SE Runtime Environment 6 update 1 supersede the previous updates? That is, can I delete the others and save a large amount of hard drive space, or 7 x 145 MB?

 

[Rob Herman]

Mine only has:

2SE Runtime Environment 5.0 Update 4
J2SE Runtime Environment 5.0 Update 6
J2SE Runtime Environment 5.0 Update 11
Java(TM) 6 Update 3
Java(TM) SE Runtime Environment 6 Update 1

I wonder if it would be prudent to uninstall all of these and just reinstall the latest version of Java???

 

[rdale]

I think that's just a 'reporting error' by Java's installer - if you want to be safe, just remove them all and then just install the very latest.

 

[Gene Moore]

I think that's just a 'reporting error' by Java's installer - if you want to be safe, just remove them all and then just install the very latest.

Ok I did and left the latest which was already in the system. Seems to work fine and I have more space.

Thanks all for the help

 

[Dave Gallaher]

And thanks for asking this question, Gene--I had been noting the large files in the various versions when cleaning up my hard drive. Now I can get rid of the previous versions.

 

[ssimmons]

Yes, you guys are correct in that removing the other Java updates will not affect the latest install. You can actually uninstall the latest version and it will go back to the previous version you have installed on your computer. But if the current version is running fine, then I would delete the older updates too since they do take up a lot of space.

 

[Dan Cook]

Sweet thanks for the info. This should clear up a little bit of data on my HD.