Java Runtime Environments

[John]

Hi folks,

I'm trying to free up as much free disk space as I can, as my PC is running slower than it used to, even though I've only used up 23Gb from 80Gb.

Attached is an image representing which Java Runtime components I currently have installed. I'd like to know which one(s) I can safely remove to free up some more disk space. It's only 100-200mb but I'm trying to clean my system up as best I can.

Will be running registry scans too (I know what I'm doing) and defragging my drives.

Thanks for your help.

[bigcumba]

For defragging it's weel worth getting hold of Diskkeeper - the best there is, much better than the Windows version.... I even paid for my copy!

[John]

Cheers mate, will check that one out.

May I recommend Registry Cleaner to anyone who likes to keep their system registry plush.

[Win2Win]

If you get Diskeeper, make sure you defrag the paging files, if you haven't done this before, it may take 3 days :yikes: (...but can be stopped at any point)

Also dump anything out of the MSCONFIG startup you don't need.

How much memory you got John....? Processor speed...etc...

[John]

Will do Keith, had this PC for 2 years and not done it before so it looks like it may take ages if that's a necessity!

Spec:
2.0 GHz Processor
512Mb RAM
80Gb HDD

[Fadetoblack]

Actually John could I thumb a lift on this thread to ask for any hints and tips for keeping my machine as fast as possible...I sometimes hear my laptop groan when it bends down.

[John]

Yeah, keeping a machine fast is another thing. My PC was so fast when I got it, even after installing a few applications. I wouldn't have thought 23Gb of used HD space would slow it down as I've got ample space (80Gb). I reckon it's leftover program components that get left, when uninstalling applications, that slow it down over time. Either that or I'm missing something that lurks above my knowledge.

[Win2Win]

Always make sure your disk is defragged and 20% free min. (and the paging file)

Cleaning & defragging the registry helps, I use Fixit 4 for this, always done a good job.

Uninstall anything you don't use.

Laptops are usually helped by bunging in more memory, my speed increased around 25%, and the disk is not used for memory now, since I stuck in 1GB, but an extra 512MB will do the trick, it usually easy to put in.

If you have plenty of space on the HD, you can always partition it into (or add another drive), and stick on a clean version of windows. Then move over to it in your own time. Clean installs are always much faster.

[plater]

After a clean install follow the link for an how-to for the activation problem you may have, someone may have a better solution (keith ??) :)

http://www.aviransplace.com/index.php/archives/2005/09/18/keep-your-windows-activated-after-reinstall/

[Win2Win]

I wouldn't know, but I'm aware people get bootable copies on Torrent!

The film industry has clamped down on torrents now, so people are switching to eDonkey, when they take that to court they'll just switch to something else....

[plater]

The above is true for when you have already activated the product, if you do a clean install you just copy the activation files back and you are off and running, I think it only works if you have made no hardware changes though :)

[bigcumba]

so people are switching to eDonkey,

According to Computer Active, eDonkey is being shut down now as well.... :rolleyes: and they have Limewire in their sights.... we'll see...

[Win2Win]

...and CA is one hell of a magazine :laugh

Plenty of FTP if you know where to look :)

[bigcumba]

...and CA is one hell of a magazine :laugh


I know - I only get it for the wife... most other computer mags are way too technical for her...:)

[Win2Win]

I'm currently developing eBola

[John]

Cheers K,

I've already thought about partitioning my drive into two, but a) I don't know where to start (is it complicated if you have good PC knowledge?) and b) I don't have a Windows XP Professional disk (I bought the PC with XP already installed).

I didn't know you could defrag the registry. I guess Windows' Disk Defragmenter only defragments the hard drive then?

A messy registry might be slowing my PC down.

Any thoughts on the initial thread - which Java components can I safely remove?

[John]

Any thoughts on the initial thread - which Java components can I safely remove?

That's a no then? :doh

[Win2Win]

Not sure, probably the Update packages. You could take them all off, and then reinstall the all new version from Sun

[GlosRFC]

I think Java just installs a complete new version each time, rather than updating an existing version. I'd go along with Keith's suggestion - uninstall them all and then download the latest version which is 1.5.0_04. Most of the changes are cosmetic and deal with giving the Java Control Panel a more Windowed look; including Java Webstart in the Control Panel rather than a separate item on your desktop; a few security improvements; and supposedly an decrease in program loading time and memory usage. If you want to stay with the previous version, download JRE 1.4.2

Alternatively just uninstall the earlier numbered ones, leaving the highest number alone. You'll need to do the same with the J2SE updates. Remove the oldest and leave the latest.

Because of the way that Java has developed, both components do similar yet different things. JRE is the run-time environment that creates the virtual Java Machine that becomes embedded into your browser whereas J2SE contains all of the compiler, code, and API's for running Java-based applets. So if you only want to run Java applications (99.99% of all PC users) then you only need to have JRE installed. If you want to create and compile Java applications, you'll need to have J2SE installed.

[John]

Cheers, s'what I did in the end. :)

[John]

Thanks Glos, looks like we replied at the same time!

An interesting few comments about what each of them do, I've wondered before, so thanks.