Windows 7: Java Question for 32 bit and 64 bit browsers

With the recent news about Java security issues I have been learning more about Java.



The Java 32 bit Control Panel includes an Update tab that will automatically check for updates.

The Java 64 bit Control Panel does not include the Update tab so I assume you have to "manually" check for and download updates on a regular basis from the Java website.

The Java website states that if you use both a 32 bit (Chrome) and a 64 bit browser (IE and Firefox) as I do and probably many people do that you should install BOTH the 32 and 64 bit versions of Java. I currently have Java 32 bit installed so tonight I also installed Java 64 bit. With both versions installed Windows Control Panel only shows the 64 bit version and the Java Control Panel is missing the Update tab although the 32 bit version is also installed on my machine.

I didn't know about this Java 32 bit vs 64 bit issue until I started researching Java.

Can anyone give me their thoughts - do I need to install both Java 32 and 64 bit on my 4 Windows 7 Pro 64 bit machines? If I do it looks like I would have to check the Java website on a regular basis for updates as the Java Control Panel Update would not be available.

Thanks!

And if you want to change the settings on that update tab, you will need to start the CPL applet with elevated privileges.
"C:\Program Files (x86)\Java\jre7\bin\javacpl.exe"

I had been meaning to test a couple of updaters:
FileHippo's updater does not handle this well. If either the 32bit or the 64bit java program is up to date, FileHippo app is happy.







Secunia's PSI tool is flaky in a number of ways, but it seems to handle both the 32bit or the 64bit java program. The installer allows you to make these choices - then it ignores your choice. And you can get it into a state where it thinks Java is up to date when it is not... just install an older version after the PSI tool has scanned things.






Maybe other forum members know of better updater tools.

Thanks for your information. I tried using the command line to change the update schedule for the 32bit control panel and the change wtill wouldn't save. Don't know why. Since the Java website said to install both the 32bit and 62bit Java if I use both 32bit and 64bit browsers I will do a Google search on Java updaters. Maybe I can find one that is better than the two you mention since you say each of them have their issues.

I would think that if Java is so important to have installed on your computer that Oracle would do a better job of making the Java app do updating automatically.

The requirement for using elevated privileges might be due to the area that the info is being written to in the registry. Did you try your command line code using an "elevated" command prompt window?

There are lots of people looking for a way to reliably and silently update Java, so you'll have to wade thru tons of search returns. PSI has (had?) a good reputation for handling updates. It may be that version 3 was a total re-write (just a guess) and they just need to get the bugs out... but there are several things that don't seem to work well.

Let us know what you find :-)

I have did several Google search trying to find auto update apps for Java 32 and 64 with no luck. I also did a Google search for RSS feeds that might announce when a new update is available with no luck.

I have read several search articles that recommended Java be un-installed from a computer as most sites now days do not require Java. With that said I have un-installed Java on 2 of my 3 Windows 7 Pro 64 bit machines. I will monitor how my browsers and machine perform. If I am a website that wants to use Java I'll decide at that time if I want to re-install it.

Any thoughts?

I don't install java unless there is a need. I had wondered if you see a performance gain by using IE 64bit. Microsoft used to say it was not as good as IE 32bit, but I'm not sure about IE10 64bit.

My browser of choice is Chrome then Firefox. I hardly ever use IE. Thanks for your thoughts on not installing Java unless there is a need.