Sun Java WON'T install

Hi, everybody.

I had some viruses on my computer (POLLALL1R.EXE, TROJ_IMSERV.C, TROJ_AGENT.EG, Win32/Parite and the worm BADTRANS.A). I also had l kinds of nasty adware lurking about. I wanted to get clean, so I followed MajorGeeks.com's How to: Spyware, Trojan And Virus Removal instructions. The great news is that I have been virus and adware-free for three days now. The bad news is I don't have Java.

Here's my system info (let me know if I leave out anything pertinent): HP Pavilion 8766C/Intel P3-900 MHz/Windows ME 4.90.3000 (WinME Retail Version)/IE 6.0.2800.1106 (IE 6.0 SP1). Can provide motherboard/chipset/BIOS info if needed.

Here's the high points of my experience with MajorGeek.com's 10-step program for killing spyware, viruses and trojan files. Overall, it went great, as evidenced by the cleanliness of my system. I don't know how much if any of this part of my post has to do with the Java problem I now have, but I want to be thorough.

Temporarily disabled System Restore. Downloaded all recommended software, got updates and set checkboxes as recommended for each.

Ready to do Scanning And Cleaning step 1 (Virus And Trojan Scanning).

First weird thing: I don't have "safe mode with networking support" as an option. I had to boot into regular safe mode to get updates and do the online scans, etc. Anything that didn't need a network connection I did in regular safe mode.

Had LavaSoft Ad-Aware v. 6, downloaded Ad-Aware SE. During the install, the program detected Ad-Aware version 6 and recommended I let the SE Installer delete AA v6 so there won't be any conflicts. I told it to uninstall v 6. It said it did. Later I found out that version 6 was still on my system. I don't know what files if any had actually been deleted. I removed v 6 through Control Panel--Add/Remove Programs. I also removed SE the same way and then re-installed it--I'll tell you why now. I could not get SE to run in a normal boot mode. It freezes every time I start the program. I get the "loading definitions" screen, then it freezes up. I have to shut it down through the Task Manager. It runs fine in safe mode, so that is how I use it now. Since I can't get it to run when I have networking support, I don't know how I'm going to ever update the definitions.

I already had GriSoft AVG Anti-Virus and run it every night. I actually ran it right before Ad-Aware, and it got rid of the viruses I had. McAfee AVERT Stinger ran fine, no problems on system. Did Trend Micro and Symantec's online scans--both clean. Ran CC Cleaner, it went OK. Ran Ad-Aware SE using the VX2 plug-in. It found around 700 (!) files, registry entries and keys. Quarantined them all. Ran SpyBot. I think it cam back clean, If not, I followed instructions to remove whatever was found. Ran CWShredder and Kill2Me--came back clean. Ran about:Buster even though the program said I didn't appear to have the about: problem.

HERE'S where the problem started. I removed Microsoft Java Runtime Environment as instructed, being very careful to follow the instructions to the tee. Two things--after reboot, I went to remove the file java.PNF as instructed. It was not there. Neither were the files jview.exe and wjview.exe. I looked in the proper folders for them. I had unhidden the system operating files and as well as extensions for known file types. The three files just weren't (and still aren't) there. I went into regedit and deleted the two subkeys.

I downloaded Sun Java from their web site, using the link from Majorgeeks.com. The download went fine, but the software would not install. The InstallShield wizard starts, the Windows Installer configures, the box pops up that says "Installing.....", then it is replaced in about half a second by one that says "Java 2 Runtime Environment, SE v1.4.2_05 Installer Information Error 1324. The path My Pictures contains an invalid character." Then another screen pops up saying the InstallShield Wizard is completed and that the wizard was interrupted before the installation could be completely done. It says my system has not been modified.

I looked through Sun's FAQs and Help areas. It says that error codes like this are InstallShield errors (duh!) but doesn't explain them. Sun recommends downloading and doing an offline install (been there, done that, same results--same error with end result of an aborted install of Java). I've looked everywhere I can think of and don't find anything that explains how to fix this. I posted a web site e-mail to Sun, but I really don't expect a response from them. I don't want to poke around in the registry with out guidance because I don't want to make things worse.

I know that I could do a System Restore to a day or two before I cleaned my system. I really don't want to do that except as a last resort, because I'll have to go through the hours-long cleaning routine again. If I end up having to do that, though, so be it. Maybe I should re-install IE. I have repaired IE through Control Panel--Add/Remove Programs and that made no difference. Maybe a guided visit (I'll need help) to the system registry will fix this. Maybe there's something I haven't thought of or discovered yet.

My wife does an online crossword puzzle every day, and she can't because it's a Java thing. She's gettin' kinda itchy. I want to fix this. I have purchased wireless networking components (I've got a 3-terminal wired network now with a cable modem connection), but don't want to install those until I get this problem fixed.

Help, please.

Thanks,

Steve/Drummytwo

 

Since the installer complains about the path to My Pictures is invalid, then you could try to "reset" the path to My Pictures and try the install again

The easy way to do this is to use Microsoft Powertoy Tweak UI (Install it -> Start it through Control Panel -> Select the fan My Computer -> Select My Pictures in Special Folders -> Press Change Location and set the path you want)

You can also do it with a registry editor

 

Problem solved.

I was rooting around in Control Panel and came across the "Java Plug-In" icon. Double-clicked, went to the "Update" tab, then clicked "Get Java Update". Downloaded and installed the update, now everything works just fine.

Thanks for the suggestion. I have actually downloaded and installed Tweak UI also, but for some reason, there's no "Tweak UI" icon in Control Panel like there's supposed to be. When I go to the Tweak UI directory on my C:/ drive there's 5 files, none of which causes Tweak UI to start. I think I'm just going to leave well enough alone and not pursue Tweak UI any further, although I know it's a useful tool for customizing stuff.

Once again, thanks for the suggestion on how to fix the Java problem. This web site is a very valuable resource. Since I recently downloaded the free software programs suggested by the site for virus, spyware and trojan removal, all three of my computers on my home network have been free of all of the trash that had previously been on them. I still pick up a tracking cookie or two every so often, but take care of those easily. It's great to be free of all of the clutter and annoyances.

Take care,

Steve