IE for Dummies: How do I "bind version X of Java" to my browser?

Factual Questions
1

I’m having problems with software and tech support guy emailed me that I need to make sure I’m using version 1.5_03 of Java and that I have it bound to my default browser.

  1. I’m using IE. How do I tell what current version of Java, if any, is bound to it?

  2. If it’s not 1.5_03, how do I bind a new version of Java?

Thanks for any help… There is no entry for “Java” in the IE help index, and Googling “bind Java” pulls up pages like “Java Architecture for XML Binding” and “Schema Binding for Java Web Services.”

2

Try opening a command prompt (click Start, then Run, then type in ‘cmd’ and hit OK). Then type “java -version” and hit enter. Hopefully this will tell you what version you have installed (hopefully the java interpreter is your path environment variable, or this won’t work).

If you have the wrong version installed, I’d assume downloading and installing the right version would replace the old version, so I’d think IE would use it.

3

You might also be able to see what version is being used by going Tools, Internet Options within IE, and then clicking on the Advanced tab. Scroll down to the Java section and there’ll probably be a version number there.

4

If you have the latest IE and XP SP2, you can go to Tools - Internet Options - Programs (tab) - Manage Add-Ons (button) and see what versions of Java you have available. There’s a few places you’ll see Java (and/or Sun Java) listed.

Also, if you have XP Sp1 or 2 (i think 1…) make sure the Sun Java is the default Java by going to START - Set Program Access and Defaults (or if you don’t see it there, Start- control panel - add remove programs - Set program access and defaults) and there will be an option in there for Java Virtual Machine. Make sure the “Microsoft Virtual Machine” is NOT the one that is chosen.

5

You can have multiple Java VM’s loaded on your system and this is where you choose which one to use.

Most systems (not sure if they still ship this way or if the MS Java VM is not shipping at all anymore) came with a Microsoft VM which is a modified version of the Java VM and screws up some software, while other software was written specifically for this and only this (thanks Microsoft, way to screw things up).

Ultimately you need to download the Java VM runtime 1.5_03 (if not already on your machine) from www.sun.com, and, following Just’s instructions above make sure that version is checked and the Microsoft VM is not checked.