Solved Uninstall Old Java Version - Cannot Find

[MourningStar]

If the MS FIXIT tool did not find them, then one of the other tools removed them from the list of installed stuff.

Removed from a 'list' but still on my computer somewhere?

You probably don't have to do any more steps...

what does this mean?

but you can check each browser to see if some part of Java is still around. You can do that by visiting this link: How do I test whether Java is working on my computer?

Hmmmm, ... curious. I uninstalled the latest java. I then went to java.com to use the check for/remove older versions tool and could not do it because the tool requires java!

I do suggest that people remove all versions of Java, but I worry that they will stumble across a website that is offering to install something other than Java.

interesting - I suppose your 'remove all things java' suggestion is due to ... er, uh, it is not needed?

 

[UsernameIssues]

Start > Control Panel > Programs and Features
If the MS FIXIT tool or one of the other tools removed Java from the list of installed programs, then you do not need to do any more steps because the MS FIXIT tool cleared the registry of Java related stuff.

If most (all?) references to Java are gone from the registry:
...then no browser could make use of Java
...then no malware can make use of Java
...then Secunia won't say Java is out of date
...so you should be done.

> Removed from a 'list' but still on my computer somewhere?
Yes, the Java files could still be there. Look at this post again.


>Hmmmm, ... curious. I uninstalled the latest java. I then went to java.com to use the check for/remove older versions tool and could not do it because the tool requires java!
And that is how you check that the browser does not have access to Java. There might be better ways to check, but that way should work on each browser flavor (IE, Firefox...)


Java is not needed by a lot of people. For those people to have it installed is just silly. They are putting themselves at risk for absolutely no gain. If their computers become infected, that can impact the rest of us online.

But I use Java almost everyday. I have it set to show a the Java icon in the notification area each time a website loads it. And I keep my W7 UAC set all the way to the top. I've never seen a drive by infection (and I've looked for them).

 

[MourningStar]

> Removed from a 'list' but still on my computer somewhere?
Yes, the Java files could still be there. Look at this post again.

No need, I did the manual delete of these 'remnant' folders per that post. Uninstalled the java listed in CP. Ran CCleaner cleaner & registry a few times, then went over to java.com and ran the older versions checker and those 3 (as per post #1) are still being reported. Beats me where those buggers are on my system. Any ideas?

 

[UsernameIssues]

Sorry - I missed that the old versions are still showing in some tool. Let me look into it a bit.

 

[UsernameIssues]

If you opt to manually remove stuff from the registry, then do this first:
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/697-system-restore-point-create.html

It will not hurt anything to leave the keys in the registry - since the files are gone from your computer. Maybe someday, CCleaner will remove them.



That one spot seems to be the only place that the Java removal tool looks for version info.

 

[Slartybart]

I haven't had java on this machine for quite a while and there are only few instances when I need it (OpenOffice macros).

Java was sun, now oracle - I wonder if the folder names have changed. Unsernameissues post mentioned specific folders.

Have you searched your machine for 'java' AND 'jre'. If the Java Removal Tool still lists the older versions, then, as you say, there are some "ghost" files or registry entries.

The last placee to look might be your browser add-ons. I would think that your efforts so far would have erradicated those, but.....

and finally, some older apps carried java with them - the search should ferret this out if that is the case. What to do if an application with it's own 'distributed java' is found? Not sure, that would depend on the need for that application. If this is the case see if an update is available that uses "standard" java installed instead of packaging java with itself.


Good luck and thanks for all the clarification. I'll really bow out this time.

Bill

 

[Slartybart]

I forgot about this: In january 2013, DHS reported a serious security risk in java - most tech rags suggested disabling or uninstalling java.

I also found reference to 'Fake java' so a full scan, using a myriad of malware tools, of your machine might be in order. I don't know if this is the case on your machine, but if all other efforts fail it can't hurt to scan it for malware.
Here's my routine:

I start with the AV installed on my machine, then Malwarebytes, Kapersky TDSSkiller, and ESET Online scanner. There are a few other well regarded security scanners - Roguekiller, Adwcleaner, Farbar Recovery Scan Tool. (just be alert when/if you install - many freeware pkgs offer unrelated software - toolbars, etc - untick any boxes that don't apply to the application itself)
​

 

[MourningStar]

If you opt to manually remove stuff from the registry, then do this first:
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/697-system-restore-point-create.html

It will not hurt anything to leave the keys in the registry - since the files are gone from your computer. Maybe someday, CCleaner will remove them.



That one spot seems to be the only place that the Java removal tool looks for version info.

- can you help me understand what is going on in the uTube video? Also, I do not seem to get any audio/sound out of the video.

thank you

 

[UsernameIssues]

There is no audio :-(

The video shows using Process Monitor to determine where in the registry the java.com tool looks to see if you have old versions installed. Once I locate the registry keys that the java tool is looking for, I change them just to verify that those are the only places that the tool looks to detect "installed" versions. Near the end of the video, I delete two registry keys. If you delete those keys, the java.com website will not detect old versions of Java on your computer. However, it will not hurt to just leave those two keys. You don't have Java installed, you just have left over registry keys.

 

[Layback Bear]

All Java's aren't the same. Just a reminder.

JavaScript - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Java (programming language) - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Slartybart in post #27 has a great idea.
If it was my computer I would check for infections.

I stopped using Secunia about 6 mo. ago because of all the problems it caused.

 

[Intuit]

I usually just go to the installed directories and run

for /r %a in (*.dll) do %systemroot%\system32\regsvr32.exe /u /s "%~a" & %systemroot%\syswow64\regsvr32.exe /u /s "%~a"​

I check for browser attachments and then delete all corresponding registry CLSID entries.
Lastly I delete the main install folder(s), plus any corresponding %localappdata% and %appdata% folders for all system and user accounts.

There are also a few files located under %systemroot%\system32 and/or %systemroot%\syswow64 that are unregistered and deleted. Off the top of my head, "*deploy*.dll" and "*java*.dll" files, of course excluding "fdeploy.dll" and any other signed Microsoft files.

Even on "successful" uninstalls, these files and CLSID entries often will remain.

My script is in batch but I'm sure it would be simple for someone to write-up a vbscript doing the same thing.

 

[MourningStar]

There is no audio :-(

The video shows using Process Monitor to determine where in the registry the java.com tool looks to see if you have old versions installed. Once I locate the registry keys that the java tool is looking for, I change them just to verify that those are the only places that the tool looks to detect "installed" versions. Near the end of the video, I delete two registry keys. If you delete those keys, the java.com website will not detect old versions of Java on your computer. However, it will not hurt to just leave those two keys. You don't have Java installed, you just have left over registry keys.

thank you.

question : is there danger if one simply goes to regedit, cliks the find/find next on the term 'java' or 'jre' and delete all occurrences? I did this out (w/o deleting) out of curiosity and the 'find' function found a lot of entries)

 

[UsernameIssues]

Yes, there is a danger...

There are a lot of references to Java (and javascript - which is different) in the registry on computers that have never had java installed. It would be too time consuming to manually figure out which ones belong (per Microsoft) and which might be left over from Oracle/Sun installs of java.

The only two keys that I would suggest removing are the two shown near the end of the video... or just leave them. Extra registry keys do not noticeably harm performance.

 

[MourningStar]

Yes, there is a danger...

The only two keys that I would suggest removing are the two shown near the end of the video..

That did it!!! Wooo-Hooo!!!!

Thank you UsernameIssues!!!

... and thnx to everyone for the excellent advice

 

[UsernameIssues]

You are welcome. I enjoyed learning a bit more about Java. I had never used the Secunia online scanner nor the one from java.com.

For what it is worth - for anyone else finding this thread:
You can have Java 7 update 40 installed...
Run the test on the java.com website...
Remove the two keys shown in the video...
Then uninstall Java 7 Update 40.

Removing those two keys does not harm the normal uninstall process.

 

[andrew129260]

Nice job, couldnt rep so I am letting you know UsernameIssues