Lost My JAVA?

In my recently renewed quest to "be a geek", I have some how lost the Java registry key (?!?).

Java 6 Update 17 is showing in my Add/Remove Programs, but I seem to have lost my ability to access is after "tweaking" its settings :-o ... I think I screwed-up by stopping it in Services (I know, I know - I should NOT have messed-around in there).

I get this error message when I try to access/configure JAVA from the CP:

"The system cannot find the registry key specified ..... JavaSoft\Java Runtime Environment\1.6.0_15"

What should I do now please? And can someone please point me to a good article to try and understand JAVA, Java Script, and the difference between the two?

 

have you tried to completely uninstall it then a fresh install?
that would be my first step.

 

Thanks - I will try that...

Does not having this program (functioning properly) pose a security risk please?

 

Perhaps I did something incorrectly (not surprising as zipped files are usually problematic for me for whatever reason) , but rather than any "removal/removing", JavaRA pretty much took me directly to Sun's site where I am asked to download (from a dreaded list of options) one of the latest and greatest from Sun-Java.

If there are potential security vulnerabilities within this program, maybe I don't need it? What is it really good for anyway?

I'm confused ... as usual.

 

Thank you David, I will try again, though it may be 12 or more hours before I am able to tend to it again.

And yes, I erred, in that the other respondent did suggest (supplied) the MG link.

Thanks again...

 

Would "remove", here/above, mean this:

All Programs>Java (or Sun-Java)>Updater>Delete - please?

 

Glen, I believe you use StartUp CPL.
In the HKLM/Run tab un-check "SunJavaUpdateSched"
Do check for Java updates manually every now and then. If and when available, follow Halo's advice in #7 to remove the previous version and update to current.
Cheers...

 

Beautiful thank you.

I sort of figured-it-out after I posted the question (as I occasionally do) - but thank you very much just the same!

I will check for Java updates every now and then.

:wave