Sun Java VM

[mapsonx]

Some time ago I was advised to switch to Sun Java VM due to MS VM security issues, the upcoming cessation of MS support for Win98se, etc.

I downloaded & installed "Sun Java 2 Runtime Environment, Std Edition 1.4.1_05", 7.88mb, which I believed to be appropriate for my purposes as a non-programmer.

When I go to the Java applet in my control panel and check for updates, I get "You already have the most up-to-date version of the JavaTM platform."

However, when I go to the Sun website (not the most dummy-friendly place), it tells me that the latest version is j2re-1_4_2_01-windows-i586.exe, which is a huge 14.3mb, & twice the size of the previous version, if in fact they are the same programs.

Furthermore, at http://java.sun.com/j2se/1.4.1/download.html it says that Edition 1.4.1_05 has "begun the Sun End of Life (EOL) process. The EOL transition period is from July 15, 2003 until January 15, 2004. With this notice, customers should now begin to move to current product versions"

In addition, before I had noticed these discrepancies, I loaded the later version (1_4_2_01) on a Win ME machine. Accordingly, when I now go to Windws Update on that machine, it no longer advises me that I need any MS VM related security updates.

But when I go to Windows Update on the 98se machine with the suppossedly older version installed, It still reports that I need the MS VM updates.

Can someone please straighten me out on this confusing mess :cry:

Thx

- J - :)

[Fotix]

Microsoft Java is discontinued, minus the security updates, which they might've stopped those too while I wasn't paying attention.

The latest official Java version is 1.4.2_02, available from Sun. There is also more thoroughly tested 1.4.1_05 available for an earlier series.

If you switch the Sun's version, just ignore whatever WU says and turn MSJVM off through the Internet Options Control Panel.