patndoris TechnoGeek

Well, yes, it IS coffee, and I do love coffee - but that’s not the Java I’m talking about here. Java software (from Sun Microsystems) lets you to run applications called “applets” written in the Java programming language. Applets are “small programs” often designed to run inside a web browser to perform specific tasks. Applets are small files, work with many different platforms, and cannot be used to access a user’s hard drive. For this reason, they are very secure and ideal for use on the internet.

Applets are often used in online games, chat programs, interactive tools used for calculations and viewing images such as animated graphics or 3D images (such as streaming webcams.) On their own, applets are somewhat useless. They require interaction with a host (website or program) so they may perform their given task. (There are other specific types of applets besides Java, but their basic function is the same.) Together with their “host” these applets run as a Java application.

In order to use these applications you need to have Java installed on your computer. Unless you’re building your own machine, it’s likely Java came pre-installed. However, depending on how you’ve set your preferences for updates, it can get out of date. Java, like any other program, has routine updates to fix problems and enhance it’s functionality. If your Java is severely out of date, you may experience problems running Java applications, or in some instances the applets may not work at all. More importantly, out of date Java installations can contain vulnerabilities that may make you more vulnerable to malware attacks.  You should always ensure your Java is up to date.

You can look in your Add/Remove programs (for XP) or Programs and Features (Vista and Windows 7) to see if you have old versions of Java on your machine and to remove them.  You should remove all but the latest version.  I would recommend using Revo Uninstaller to get rid of old versions for a thorough clean up as you uninstall.

Some Java applets open and run in a pop-up window. If you try to access a Java site and all you get is a blank white screen, it’s likely the application is being blocked due to your pop-up blocker settings. There are lots of places pop-up blockers hide. If you want to turn pop-up blockers off, check your settings in your internet properties and any and all extra toolbars you may have installed. Firefox has it’s own pop-up blocker so if you use it as your browser be sure to check it as well. Even one pop-up blocker on can cause this to happen. Some people do prefer to block pop-ups (as they can be annoying on other sites.) A workaround to this is simply holding down the Shift+Control keys when you click the link to the Java application, this bypasses your pop-up blockers.