# Anyone know why I can't install .....

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-know-why-i-cant-install/120183>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [July 22, 2002, 7:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-know-why-i-cant-install/120183 "2002-07-22T07:07:33Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![LeeJam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ee7513/32.png) [@LeeJam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LeeJam)\
**Post date:** [July 22, 2002, 7:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-know-why-i-cant-install/120183/1 "2002-07-22T07:07:33Z")

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I need to install Java Virtual machine in XP. for some reason I can’t install it, and there is nothing in the windows update to say that I can.

There’s a couple of sites that I go to that have chat functions that need to download it. It takes me to the autodownload thing in microsoft and then it won’t download at all…  
I’ve tried going through the auto update procedure in XP, but I can’t see anything about Java Virtual Machine there.  
Help?  
Lee

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**Author:** ![Horseflesh](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/horseflesh/32/7502_2.png) [@Horseflesh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horseflesh)\
**Post date:** [July 22, 2002, 8:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-know-why-i-cant-install/120183/2 "2002-07-22T08:00:33Z")

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Java is actually a Sun Microsystems technology. The latest Java plug-in from Sun can be found [here](http://java.sun.com/getjava/download.html). Maybe that will get you what you need.

The Java VM distributed by Microsoft is, IIRC, installed with Internet Explorer (or at least it used to). I don’t believe you’ll see it listed separately in the Windows Update section. If there has been an updated release, click the button at the top of the Windows Update page that will show all of your Installed Updates and then scroll down to see if it’s (Java VM) is listed. If not then… uninstall and reinstall IE6 maybe?

Good Luck

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**Author:** ![LeeJam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ee7513/32.png) [@LeeJam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LeeJam)\
**Post date:** [July 22, 2002, 8:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-know-why-i-cant-install/120183/3 "2002-07-22T08:05:02Z")

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mmmmm a scary move that… uninstalling and reinstalling IE6… 🙂

I might see what Sun Microsystems have to say for themselves…