# Java Dead in IE under Win XP - any suggestions appreciated **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [January 15, 2003, 3:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/java-dead-in-ie-under-win-xp-any-suggestions-appreciated/148681 "2003-01-15T03:58:32Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 14\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2003, 3:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/java-dead-in-ie-under-win-xp-any-suggestions-appreciated/148681/1 "2003-01-15T03:58:32Z")
Java seems to be non-functional under my IE under Win XP Pro (all updates applied) in that anything that requires java (apparently lots of stuff) does not respond at all, even though all the Java options are enabled under the IE Options “advanced” tab. I don’t seem to have turned off any of the java toggles that I am aware of. Is there some master toggle for Java or is it likely a corrupted binary (ies) requiring an XP re-install? For example even the SDMB smiley icons to the left cannot be inserted as I type this. Clicking on them does nothing. Any suggestions appreciated. ---
**Author:** ![GIGObuster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gigobuster/32/421_2.png) [@GIGObuster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GIGObuster)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2003, 4:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/java-dead-in-ie-under-win-xp-any-suggestions-appreciated/148681/2 "2003-01-15T04:45:43Z")
Well, first the obvious: Java is not installed because Microsoft sees it as a competitor, you have to connect to the Internet and download the latest Java release for your browser from the Sun website. I noticed that the Java radio buttons are available in the settings of XP, but even though they are there, does not mean Java is installed. This is Microsoft being helpful 🙂 so you will not have to change settings when you find the time to download the virtual machine. Anyhow, they lost the case recently against Sun, (AFAIK this was a case of breach of contract). So the next release of Windows will get Java installed at setup. ---
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2003, 4:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/java-dead-in-ie-under-win-xp-any-suggestions-appreciated/148681/3 "2003-01-15T04:58:59Z")
I must be missing the boat then. I thought MS IE was inherently java compliant. It has the java check boxes in the options section and normally runs javascript routines tight out of the box. ---
**Author:** ![Early\_Out](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/6f9a4e/32.png) [@Early\_Out](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Early_Out)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2003, 5:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/java-dead-in-ie-under-win-xp-any-suggestions-appreciated/148681/4 "2003-01-15T05:07:48Z")
I’ll second **astro** , here. I don’t know what the solution to the problem is, but **GIGObuster’s** assertions are just nonsense. I’ve never downloaded anything from Sun, and Java stuff works just fine on my WinXP machine. In fact, some of the recent WinXP patches from Microsoft have explicitly been upgrades of the virtual machine software. ---
**Author:** ![SouprChckn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/5f9b8f/32.png) [@SouprChckn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SouprChckn)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2003, 5:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/java-dead-in-ie-under-win-xp-any-suggestions-appreciated/148681/5 "2003-01-15T05:28:46Z")
I have no insight but I have an identical problem. Javascript works but Java applets do not. I have messed w/ all the privacy, security and advanced options. No effect, I want my yahoo pool, heh. To my recollection, I have never been able to access any java applet on my computer running XP ever. All updates and service packs have been installed as well. ---
**Author:** ![GIGObuster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gigobuster/32/421_2.png) [@GIGObuster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GIGObuster)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2003, 5:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/java-dead-in-ie-under-win-xp-any-suggestions-appreciated/148681/6 "2003-01-15T05:36:52Z")
Ok, take that nonsense talk away **Early Out** , well I deserve it a little for not finding sources early :p. Here is the info: [http://www.microsoft.com/java/xp.htm](http://www.microsoft.com/java/xp.htm) > [@](#): > > In March of 2002, Sun Microsystems sued Microsoft, alleging in part that distributing the Microsoft VM in Windows XP to customers who wanted it via the Web was not authorized by Microsoft’s license and therefore constituted copyright infringement. Although we dispute Sun’s claim, Microsoft chose to stop IOD as requested by Sun, and did so as of July 10, 2002. Practically speaking, for Windows XP users who do not have the Microsoft VM and want a copy, there was a short period from July 10 until the release of Windows XP Service Pack 1 (SP1) during which Windows XP users were unable to get a virtual machine from Microsoft. > > While this was a change that Microsoft did not want to make, it impacted only a small number of customers. Customers who have the Microsoft VM already installed on their machine will still be able to get important security updates through Windows Update. IOD is also still supported on operating systems other than Windows XP, which included the Microsoft VM in their default installation, to ensure that our customers get critical updates to the Microsoft VM. My theory was that you were one of the unlucky users. This problem usually happens if you have one of those Windows XP installer disks. The installation of Java is not automatic in that case, this BTW is from personal experience: the disk I have of XP pro ( pre service pack 1) does not install Java VM at set up. BTW: Java script is different from Java VM. Check here for updates if your installation does not have Java: [http://java-virtual-machine.net/download.html](http://java-virtual-machine.net/download.html) Or if you have broadband, check the service pack 1 from Microsoft. ---
**Author:** ![Duckster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duckster/32/1244_2.png) [@Duckster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duckster)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2003, 5:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/java-dead-in-ie-under-win-xp-any-suggestions-appreciated/148681/7 "2003-01-15T05:37:13Z")
The Microsoft / Sun Java suit is now more than five years old. Here is [Sun’s version](http://java.sun.com/lawsuit/) of the lawsuit. You can also check [Microsoft’s take](http://www.microsoft.com/java/) of Java here. > [@](#): > > Microsoft stripped Java from Internet Explorer when it launched its Windows XP operating system last fall. Microsoft said at the time that it feared that including the software could spur Sun to try to block release of XP through legal action. Source: [http://techupdate.zdnet.com/techupdate/stories/main/0,14179,2853802,00.html](http://techupdate.zdnet.com/techupdate/stories/main/0,14179,2853802,00.html) > [@](#): > > Attorneys launched the first day of arguments before a federal judge on Tuesday, as Sun Microsystems attempts to force Microsoft to ship a current version of Java with every copy of Windows XP. > > – snip – > > Sun argued that Microsoft attempted to handicap Java because it represented a threat to Windows. **Initially, Microsoft shipped a proprietary version of Java with Windows, then, following an earlier Sun lawsuit, it shipped an out-of-date version. Then, last year, it stopped supporting Java entirely in Windows, leaving users to download third-party Java interpreters if they wanted to run Java programs.** Microsoft later resumed shipping its own Java interpreter with Windows, but will do so only until 2004. Source: [http://www.internetwk.com/breakingNews/INW20021204S0010](http://www.internetwk.com/breakingNews/INW20021204S0010) There is also a recent Java debugger hoax going around as well, contributing to this issue. It is entirely possible that Microsoft actually _contributes_ to this hoax. Unless you are a programmer in need of this Java program, Microsoft says you do not need to reinstall the file if you follow the directions of the hoax and delete it. > [@](#): > > “The Microsoft Debugger Registrar for Java (Jdbgmgr.exe) is only used by Microsoft Visual J++ 1.1 developers. If you follow the e-mail message instructions and delete this file, you do not have to recover it unless you use Microsoft Visual J++ 1.1 to develop Java programs on Windows XP, Windows NT 4.0, Windows 98 Second Edition, Windows 98, or Windows 95.” Source: [http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;q322993&ID=q322993](http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;q322993&ID=q322993) So who’s to say this hoax may be inspired by a Microsoft “true believer” out to kill Java support on M$ computers. After all, M$ just lost a Sun lawsuit on this very issue. ( **SouprChckn** Java and JavaScript are entirely two different animals.) ---
**Author:** ![Early\_Out](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/6f9a4e/32.png) [@Early\_Out](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Early_Out)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2003, 6:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/java-dead-in-ie-under-win-xp-any-suggestions-appreciated/148681/8 "2003-01-15T06:04:08Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by GIGObuster \* > \*\*Ok, take that nonsense talk away **Early Out** , well I deserve it a little for not finding sources early :p. \*\* OK, I take it back, and all is forgiven! The whole subject certainly is sufficiently murky that almost any answer is unlikely to be able to cover all the ins and outs. We’re still left with a mystery here, as **astro** maintains that he’s installed all the patches, including, I have to assume, XP SP1, which should have cured his problem. I’m puzzled about why it hasn’t. Anybody? ---
**Author:** ![Zagadka](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zagadka/32/7272_2.png) [@Zagadka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zagadka)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2003, 6:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/java-dead-in-ie-under-win-xp-any-suggestions-appreciated/148681/9 "2003-01-15T06:17:24Z")
\Reinstall.\ _shrugs_ Oh, footnote: Sun can blow Java out its ass, and footnote 2, IE is more likely to be Java-enabled than any other browser, which usually ship with Java as an optional 12 mb or so installer so they look less bloated. ---
**Author:** ![Caught\_Work](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/919ad9/32.png) [@Caught\_Work](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Caught_Work)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2003, 9:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/java-dead-in-ie-under-win-xp-any-suggestions-appreciated/148681/10 "2003-01-15T09:24:14Z")
I’m not sure the patches actually come with the full Java machine. They may patch the machine, but I don’t think they do a full install of the machine. As GIGOBuster suggests, find a JVM out on the web and install it, see if your problem goes away. ---
**Author:** ![tourbot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e95f7d/32.png) [@tourbot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tourbot)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2003, 2:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/java-dead-in-ie-under-win-xp-any-suggestions-appreciated/148681/11 "2003-01-15T14:39:33Z")
In the week that I have thus far spent poking around XP, I’ve come across something that may be relevant. Go to control panel -\> Add remove programs. Click the Set program Access and Defaults button. There are three radio buttons. Both non-Microsoft and Custom have selections for what Java virtual machine to use, as well as whether it is enabled or not. I would check that. Also couldn’t hurt to reinstall whichever JVM it is, or try a different one. It is possible to download, install, and run Sun’s JVM on XP. On my 98 box, I found this to be much more stable than the one which came with IE. YMMV. > [@](#): > > Oh, footnote: Sun can blow Java out its ass, and footnote 2, IE is more likely to be Java-enabled than any other browser, which usually ship with Java as an optional 12 mb or so installer so they look less bloated. Without Sun, IE wouldn’t have any java to run at all. Also, I run multiple browsers on multiple OS’s (98, 2000, XP, and a couple of flavors of linux) and have never seen any of them **not** support java. How big is the MS JVM installer? In my experience, IE is the most likely to crash while running java. ---
**Author:** ![bensonGemini](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/eb9ed0/32.png) [@bensonGemini](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bensonGemini)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2003, 2:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/java-dead-in-ie-under-win-xp-any-suggestions-appreciated/148681/12 "2003-01-15T14:49:26Z")
SP1 will cure your problem. ---
**Author:** ![dono](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e0b2c6/32.png) [@dono](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dono)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2003, 3:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/java-dead-in-ie-under-win-xp-any-suggestions-appreciated/148681/13 "2003-01-15T15:11:08Z")
I just installed XP Home on Dad’s new machine. Now he can’t call up his Quicken “Advanced Portfolio” (and boy, is he ticked.) I’m pretty sure it was SP1, but perhaps there was some Setup option I didn’t have set right. Anyway, I told him about this thread, and advised him to try **Tourbot** ’s suggestion in Control Panel. We’ll be watching! ---
**Author:** ![SmackFu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/53a042/32.png) [@SmackFu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SmackFu)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2003, 3:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/java-dead-in-ie-under-win-xp-any-suggestions-appreciated/148681/14 "2003-01-15T15:33:42Z")
I’ve seen issues where installing Netscape 6 screws up Java in IE. Take a look in C:\WINNT\Downloaded Program Files (that’s for Win 2000, XP may be different). If you see a Sun JVM listed there, remove it and see if it that helps.