This article applies to:

• Platform(s):
  Windows XP, Windows 2000, Windows 98, Windows ME
  
  
• Browser(s):
  Internet Explorer 7.0, Internet Explorer 6.x, Internet Explorer 5.5, Firefox 2.0, Firefox 1.x, Netscape 7, Netscape 6.2x, Mozilla 1.4+
  
  
• JRE version(s):
  
  1. JDK and JRE 5.0 Update 9 and earlier
  2. JDK and JRE 1.4.2_12 and earlier
  3. JDK and JRE 1.3.1_18 and earlier

The following procedure is strongly encouraged to remove older version Java components:

• Close any open programs you may have running, especially your web browser
  
  
• Click Start > Control Panel (Depending on your OS or configuration, you may have to click Start > Settings > Control Panel)
  
  
• Open Add or Remove Programs (If you have Windows 98 or Windows 2000, open Add/Remove Programs)
  
  
• Click once on any item listing J2SE or Java Runtime Environment in the name.  (Not every version of Java will begin with "Java" so be sure to read each entry in the list)  Here is a sample of what you might find:
  
  
  
  Vulnerable versions of Sun Java Runtime Environment (JRE) include the following and should be uninstalled:
  
  
  1. JDK and JRE 5.0 Update 9 and earlier
  2. JDK and JRE 1.4.2_12 and earlier
  3. JDK and JRE 1.3.1_18 and earlier
  
  
• Click the Remove or Change/Remove button
  
  
• Follow steps 4 and 5 as many times as necessary to remove all versions of Java
  
  
• Search "Programs" and "Application Data" and remove old version files manually
  
  
  1. C:\Program Files
  2. C:\Documents and Settings\USERNAME\Application Data
  
  
• Restart your PC once all vulnerable Java components have been removed
  

Following those instructions will help keep your computer not only updated but also less vulnerable to infections inherent in older versions of Sun Java software