Java 8 Update 20

[nalo89]

Hello, I have Java 7 Update 67 on Vista 32 bit and with each update the previous version has been automatically uninstalled. Yesterday Avast Free told me I needed to update to Java 8 Update 20. I did so via Avast but it just churned on and on without an end. I came out of the install but it had actually installed Java 8 on the system. It did not uninstall Java 7 so should I uninstall it manually? I also went to the Java site and it appears that the latest Java is not available for install, just the Java 7 update 67 version.
Should I uninstall the latest version and keep the previous one? Avast shows the two versions are installed where normally it would only show the latest update made. Is there a glitch in Avast that caused it to incorrectly indicate the latest Java update?  Thanks for any advice.

[REDACTED]

Another user had the same problem.  Please see the thread here: https://forum.avast.com/index.php?topic=153847.0.  It sounds like you may have installed a developers version, which is usually a higher version number than those regular users use. 

Java has it's own uninstaller http://www.java.com/en/download/faq/uninstaller_toolinfo.xml.  I would recommend that you download the current version of java (7 update 67) to your HD or somewhere you will know where it is.  Download the java uninstaller tool to your desktop and keep it there since the java versions change so often .  Uninstall all versions of java and REBOOT.  Install the current version of java (7 update 67) and confirm the version.  Under Computer > Java > check the version number to verify > disable automatic updates > Apply > OK > Reboot.

There is a known glitch in the Avast Software Updater that has some people confused that will be fixed with the next release.  In the meantime, use the Updater to alert you that there is an update, but check the vendor's site to verify or check the forum here under General Topics it is often listed here as well.

Let us know if you have any questions.  Thank you.

[Gopher John]

JRE 8 U20 and JRE 7 U67 are both official releases.

http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/java/javase/downloads/index.html

Note that both the release notes state development kits.  These are the SE.

http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/java/javase/7u67-relnotes-2251330.html
http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/java/javase/8u20-relnotes-2257729.html

JRE 7 is nearing EOL.

[bob3160]

JRE 8 U20 and JRE 7 U67 are both official releases.

http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/java/javase/downloads/index.html

Note that both the release notes state development kits.  These are the SE.

http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/java/javase/7u67-relnotes-2251330.html
http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/java/javase/8u20-relnotes-2257729.html

JRE 7 is nearing EOL.

Once I install version 8, can I then remove version 7

[DavidR]

JRE 8 U20 and JRE 7 U67 are both official releases.

http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/java/javase/downloads/index.html

Note that both the release notes state development kits.  These are the SE.

http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/java/javase/7u67-relnotes-2251330.html
http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/java/javase/8u20-relnotes-2257729.html

JRE 7 is nearing EOL.

Once I install version 8, can I then remove version 7

Previously new updates/installations of JAVA should have removed the old version. Generally if the update/install doesn't remove older versions, then you should remove it. Otherwise you still have the vulnerabilities associated with it and the reason for the update.

This however is further complicated by the withdrawal of XP as a supported OS for the later JAVA versions. That said it shouldn't allow you to install the later JAVA versions if the OS isn't supported.

[Gopher John]

It is possible to have both JRE 7 and JRE 8 installed at the same time.  Installing JRE 8 will not remove JRE 7.  Updating JRE 7 U65 will update/remove JRE 7 U65.  On my Win 7 machine, I uninstalled JRE 7 before updating to JRE 8.

[Gopher John]

JRE 8 U20 and JRE 7 U67 are both official releases.

http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/java/javase/downloads/index.html

Note that both the release notes state development kits.  These are the SE.

http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/java/javase/7u67-relnotes-2251330.html
http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/java/javase/8u20-relnotes-2257729.html

JRE 7 is nearing EOL.

Once I install version 8, can I then remove version 7

Yes, for most applets it won't matter unless you have something that specifically calls for JRE 7.  That's highly unlikely.