Completely broken Java JVM

[Foo]

Back in the UK for a few weeks and using my dad's PC, but as with all family PCs it's horribly broken and I had to remove toolbars etc.

One thing I can't seem to fix is Java. Upgrading or uninstalling produces the following error:


I've attempted to remove it manually and by using JavaRA, but it's still showing in add/remove programs and still not functional in any way. I've also tried installing the 64-bit version but I think the broken one is interfering with that in some way.

Any ideas? The program files folders for java are totally gone, and most of the reg entries are too, but they still show in add/remove programs.

[4days]

2753 is the MSI error code for a missing file. The MSI is probably trying to run something in regutils.dll and failing because the file's not there.

You could try finding the appropriate entry (look at the DisplayName to figure out which program's which) in "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall", backing it up to a .reg file and then deleting it - then see what happens when you try and install the latest version.

It might be worth having a google before doing that - if you back up the registry then there shouldn't be any gotcha's, but there might be another key that i'm forgetting to mention (maybe the upgrade code needed deleting as well, i can't remember).

edit, looks like it is just the one key:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/310750

[Foo]

Ta Guv,

After a load of messing around I dug up a retired MS MSI Cleanup utility (msicuu2.exe) and forced the removal of the add/remove programs entries for java.

After doing that I could install a fresh 64-bit JVM, and it appears to be working as expected.

[chorinne]

Is it necessary to keep old Java updates for Java to work properly? My computer is full of information and extremely slow. While looking for old files to delete, I came across some old Java updates that were taking up 400 MB of space. Is it necessary to keep all of them or just the newest one for Java to work?

[obsidian]

Just the newest one. You should uninstall all of them and then do a fresh install of the latest one.

[SoM]

just did the latest update and no problems,

tell your dad to not visit pr0n sites

get rid of the spyware