Solved deleting Java/Oracle entries from old installations

[Windymiller]

I am trying to rid my computer of all entries referencing Java/Oracle but am nervous of interfering with the registry without advice. Searching for Oracle via Start I have the following. Can anyone help me to decide whether it would be safe/useful to continue deleting these entries please. Especially the one at the top of the list which has SYSTEM in its name.

 

[MoxieMomma]

Hi:

I'm no Java expert, as I have not used it on any of my systems for a long time.

But there is a 3rd-party removal tool, JavaRa, that used to be pretty good at cleaning up Java remnants.
I've recently learned that it's no longer being actively maintained, so I guess I would recommend it "at your own risk".

Oracle does publish a "removal tool". I have no personal experience with it. But here is the link:

Java Uninstall Tool

I hope this helps a bit.

Thanks,
MM

 

[Alejandro85]

Uninstalling Java is pretty simple, just use the control panel and in "programs and characteristics" applet you'll find the Java runtime entry, which will launch its uninstaller and remove it completely. Searching the file system for anything named "java" is subject to lots of false positives, and most important, completely unnecessary once you've ran the official uninstaller.

As for searching "oracle", that doesn't even makes any sense. What are you trying to achieve with that? That's even more doomed to find lots of things, completely unrelated to each other. In particular, as for the highlighted file, as you can guess from the folder, it belongs to the .NET Framework. Deleting it may cause problems in some software that relies on it, and besides deleting it just because it says "oracle" is just plain wrong.

 

[MoxieMomma]

Good catch on the "Oracle" issue, @Alejandro85.

However, JRE (aka Java) is notorious for leaving behind leftovers, bits and remnants.
We see this at the malware removal fora quite often.

So the OP still might need to use a removal tool (3rd-party or Oracle) to fully clean up leftovers?

Just a suggestion.

Cheers,
MM

 

[Windymiller]

Thanks for the replies. I searched for Oracle entries because Oracle and Java appear to be linked in some way and I do not think I have ever downloaded anything from Oracle apart from Java stuff.

I will try the Oracle Java uninstaller and then give up. I daresay if I get any trouble, it will be best approached by Malware Bytes or similar any way. I am just trying to follow advice I read on keeping my computer safe ! Not sure what "Good catch on Alejandro85" means - is this a reference to Windows Seven Forum Contributor ?

Shortcutter

 

[MoxieMomma]

Thanks for the replies. I searched for Oracle entries because Oracle and Java appear to be linked in some way and I do not think I have ever downloaded anything from Oracle apart from Java stuff.

A manual search for "JAVA" might have been more rewarding, if you were going to take that approach.

I will try the Oracle Java uninstaller and then give up.

JavaRa v.1.16 was and is still being used quite recently in a number of computer support fora.
I suspect it would probably work OK under Windows 7.
But I do not speak from personal experience, and it might be prudent to set a system restore point before running it.

I daresay if I get any trouble, it will be best approached by Malware Bytes or similar any way.

I'm not sure what you mean by that?
Malwarebytes Anti-Malware (MBAM) will not detect, target or remove legitimate software, such as "Java".
However, certain computer disinfection tools (such as Zoek or FRST) could be used to remove Java remnants. Doing so would require the help of a trained malware expert who could write a customized script for that.

Not sure what "Good catch on Alejandro85" means

I meant that @Alejandro85 caught the fact that you were somewhat futilely trying to find JAVA remnants by searching for ORACLE entries on the computer.
That is all.
Either way, it's not a very good or safe way to remove the leftovers.
There's too much chance you might inadvertently remove something that ought not to be removed.
You could create a new problem by trying to fix one...

It's important to remove old Java leftovers from the system for security reasons.
But it's not worth obsessing over it.
The 2 removal tools ought to be sufficient.
If not, then I might either wait for someone expert here to help you get rid of it with custom scripts, or head over to a reputable computer disinfection forum for that.

Cheers,
MM

 

[Windymiller]

Thanks Moxie and Alejandro85. You have confirmed I was treading on dodgy ground which I already suspected. And I am getting obsessive about Java. Re: Malwarebytes, I only meant they would warn me if
a virus got through not that they would look for Java. I have downloaded Revo Uninstaller and they can`t find anything so I am marking this solved.

 

[MoxieMomma]

Hi:

Revo Uninstaller is a good tool for many 3rd-party applications, but it's probably not the best one for this purpose. That's why we suggested the JavaRa tool or Oracle's own uninstaller.

But if you are satisfied, that's all that matters.
Thanks for taking the time to let us know.

Cheers,
MM