Java 1603 install error...

Installing Java on my Windows 7 Professional 64-bit OS results in this error:



Neither the previous (8.0.60) nor the new version (8.0.66) of Java show up in the "Programs\Uninstall a program" in the control panel. Java is not detected by third-party uninstall programs either, such as Comodo program manager. In Explorer both versions' folders are in the "C:\Program Files (x86)\Java" folder. Scanned the registry for java entries and there are a slew of them.

Attempting to run javacpl.exe in the "C:\Program Files (x86)\Java\jre1.8.0_66\bin" folder results in an "Unable to run program... " error message. For that matter, any other executables, like jawa.exe, javaws.exe, etc., result in the same. Checking the java version on line at java.com shows that no java detected. Java does not show up in Qualys browser check either.

Despite the above, java shows up in the browser as enabled and it actually does work, both in IE and FF. Searched online for resolving the error 1603 and none of them worked for my system. What I have not found is how to clean the system for the current installations, both the registry and the folders. Deleting the folders is trivial, but the chances are that some registry setting causing this error. Any suggestion would be appreciated...
TIA...

Thanks UsernameIssues...

While initially JavaRA did not locate java installation for running the uninstall routine, it did manage to remove 11 items of the JRE. It also installed version 8, update 60, and and it works as it should. Trying to update to version 8 update 66 resulted in error 1603 again. For now, I'll just skip 66...

Java is still needed since business apps, be that local or browser based, still use it.