How to Make Java Work in Windows XP

Created by Sun Microsystems, Java is an object-oriented programming language. It lets developers compile their programs into class files, which can run on any operating system as long as the Java Runtime Environment (JRE) software has been installed. To make the JRE function properly on your Windows XP computer, you must manually remove all existing versions of the software and then install an updated edition using a specific setup package.

Instructions

1. Close all open programs and browser windows.

2. Click the Windows "Start" button and click "Control Panel." If you use the Classic Start Menu, the Control Panel item will be located within the "Settings" folder.

3. Double-click the "Add or Remove Programs" icon.

4. Locate the Java installation in the list of programs and single-click its name.

5. Click the adjacent button labeled "Remove."

6. Click "Yes" when prompted to confirm your choice.

7. Repeat Steps 4 through 6 until all existing Java installations have been uninstalled.

8. Open a browser window and go to the Java website (see Resources).

9. Click the "Free Java Download" button.

10. Click the "All Java Downloads" link.

11. Click the link labeled "Windows 7/XP/Vista/2000/2003/2008 Offline" and save the setup program to your desktop when prompted by your browser. Do not confuse this link with the similarly labeled "Online" option.

12. Close all open programs and browser windows.

13. Double-click the icon of the setup program you downloaded from the Java website.

14. Click "Install."

15. Check the box next to the name of any optional software you want to install in addition to the JRE package, then click "Next" to start the installation process.

16. Click "Close" after the installation completes.

References

• Java Tester: Installing Java
• Java: How Do I Uninstall Java on My Windows Computer?
• Java: What Is the Offline Method for Downloading and Installing Java for a Windows Computer?

Resources

• Java: Download Java