Most internet users will have heard of Java or the Java Runtime Environment. This is not to be confused with Javascript which is actually something entirely different. Java is a programming language that was devloped by Sun Microsystems (now Oracle) back in the mid nineties. It is designed to run small applications, or “applets” which can then be embedded and executed from inside other applications. This is most often seen in web based applications such as on-line games and features inside web pages. Quite a few websites won’t function correctly without it installed on your system.
Do you have an Android phone? If so, you could be a little surprised to know that although Android is based on Linux, large parts of the Android operating system are also programmed in Java and most apps are made using a Java programming language.
As is the case with most software that is used on the internet like web browsers, security software and Windows itself, the Java Runtime Environment (JRE) is updated at regular intervals as well. Java is no different to other software and needs bugs fixing, code optimizing and security vulnerabilities repaired from time to time. The problem has always been with Java, that when you install a new version, the older version it replaces does not get automatically uninstalled and you are left with more than one version on your system.
This isn’t particularly good for security having the older versions still lingering on the computer, because they may have been replaced due to severe security issues.It’s not unusual to see several different Java versions still existing on the same machine and in some cases Java gets a bit confused with itself about which version it’s actually running, and in turn, this causes it to not function correctly. Then you have no option but to go through the removal process yourself to get rid of all the JavaRE installs.
The latest release of the Java Runtime Environment is always supposed to be compatible with previous versions, but Oracle say it’s not a problem to keep older versions for maximum compatibility. This does though, seem to cause more problems than it solves by keeping them around in my experience, and it’s likely to be a better idea to remove them.
A little utility to help you sort this out by removing the older and therefore redundant Java releases is JavaRa.
One of the primary tasks of JavaRa is to make sure you have the latest version of the Java Runtime Environment installed. When you click on the “Search for Updates” button, you have the choice of trying to update using your installed JavaRE’s jucheck.exe updater tool, or via the Java website.
The other main function of JavaRa is to purge the system of all old Java installation files leaving just the newest version. The “Remove older Versions” button does this and you will be showed a text log file on completion with information about what files and registry entries have been removed. This is obviously good for security, gives you a few Megabytes of free space, and removes some useless registry keys. Before you use this option, it is recommended to close any Internet Explorer windows currently open.
There is an “Additional tasks” button which hosts a few other options such as removing the Java entry from the Windows startup, removing the Sun/Oracle download manager which is included in JRE, checking the current Java installed version, and removing the Internet Explorer Browser Helper Object etc.
JavaRa is a small, portable and free utility that works with Windows XP, Windows Vista and Windows 7. Administrator privileges are required in Vista and 7 (right click, “Run as Administrator“).
Good stuff! Tnx
Thanks a Lot…
this tool is marvellous, thanks alot for the info. It is especially useful to remove old java versions, because of the vulnerabilities to malware.
When I opened up this zip file, it said that JavaRa.exe is an unsafe exe file..
This is nice indeed, wish it would be a cmd line/scriptable, but still it
thanks for the tool :)
re: annonymous & mangalman
even if the updates overwrite older versions and don’t waste hdd space, they should also clean the add/remove list. it’s annoying. so this tool just might do the trick :)
i think this anon guy has a point. Think about raymond.
Raymond, you’re the man. Thanks for all that you do, I really mean it.
Nice find !
It’s like Autopacher for Java. Amazing, Thanz Raymond
At the download site for the latest version of JRE, there are two files: a small p-iftw.exe and a large p.exe. Do I need both? What do they each do?
Handy piece of software. I only had one old version left, but several temp files. I downloaded the latest vers. on Monday (1.06).
And the program author is Paul Mc Lain. He can be found on Lunarsoft Forums.
This is totally incorrect Raymond. Only the MSI files are kept, however every update replaces earlier binaries so disk space isn’t wasted. Also, there aren’t any security holes left if an update is applied, in fact they’re plugged.
Nice find & thank you for sharing.
Thanks Raymond.
Raymond Do You Know Who Wrote This Program?