Those of you who use the Java games are probably familiar with the Great Disappearing Browser problem, where switching between games can cause an error, crash your browser, or even (in rare cases) crash your computer. This is due to a problem with the Java runtime form Sun (details here).
I thought I'd mention that I've had much, much less trouble with this since loading Java 1.6 (aka "Java 6"). For some reason, Java 1.6 isn't available on the consumer site (www.java.com) yet, but you can still get it. Alternatively, I'm also told by a player here that the very latest version of Java 1.5 (aka "Java 5") on www.java.com, Java 1.5 update 10, is also much more stable for her.
What do I mean by "much more stable"? With Java 1.5 update 9, my browser crashed about once every other day (which was an improvement over some earlier versions, but worse than some versions before those). With Java 1.6, I've had only one browser crash in three weeks (and I'm not at all sure it was because of this problem). Similarly the other player who wrote in was getting multiple crashes every day, and with Java 1.5 update 10 isn't having that trouble anymore.
Update (added a day later): See the message from ChristiRose below. She was the player I was talking about above, so apparently Java 1.5 doesn't fix this problem, she just had a run of good luck. So if you can load 1.6, I'd do that. -- T.J.
So if you're having trouble with Java crashing your browser while you're playing your games here, it may be worth at least getting the latest, greatest consumer version (Java 1.5 update 10) and you might consider getting Java 1.6.
You can get Java 1.5 update 10 from www.java.com in the usual way. (If you don't already have update 10, you may need to uninstall what you do have; Sun's automatic check to see whether you have the latest is famous for saying you have the latest when you don't.)
Or you can get Java 1.6 from here: http://java.sun.com/javase/downloads/index.jsp. (Uninstall your current version first.) The item you want is "Java Runtime Environment (JRE) 6", which is about fourth on the list -- click the "Download" link to the right of it, then click the "Accept" radio button on the next page, and choose the kind of installation you'd like to do. For most people, the "Windows Online Installation, Multi-Language" is the best as it downloads only the things you need. Click the link to download the small program that does the installation (jre-6-windows-i586-iftw.exe), virus-scan it if you don't have an automatic virus scanner, then run it to walk through the installation. For most people, the "typical" installation is sufficient.
Hopefully one or the other of those will be more stable for most of us!
However, it appears that if you don't have the latest updates (SP2) for Windows XP, it makes the situation worse. It is now 5 past 1 in the morning and 4 hours after installing it... and a system restore later, I can get my PC to stay on for more than 2 minutes at a time. I guess it could be unrelated, but I suggest making sure you have the latest updates.
To find the version you have, right click the Java icon in your taskbar (if you have it, it should look like a coffee cup) and press "About Java Technology". Version 1.5.0 (build 1.5.0_10-b03) means that 1.5 Update 10 is installed, with the 10 indicating the update you currently have installed.
Bad news with the 1.5 version 10, TJ... I just had a spontaneous restart twice in a row trying to move in the same game... I'm going to try to get the 1.6 now
Re: Latest Java Seems To Be More Stable
Message #5677 Replies: 1
posted by robin (Happy Johns other half x) on 02/03 at 09:23
i have version Version 1.5.0 (build 1.5.0_06-b05) is that the old one?
i have version Version 1.5.0 (build 1.5.0_06-b05) is that the old one?
Yes, that's "update 6" of 1.5. The latest is "update 10". If you go to http://www.java.com in theory it should offer to update you to the latest, although it would appear that ChristiRose is still having this problem with update 10. :-( -- T.J. Crowder First Primate Pocket-Monkey.com
Re: Latest Java Seems To Be More Stable
Message #5686 Replies: 1
posted by robin (Happy Johns other half x) on 02/03 at 16:02
ive tried three times and then go to verify but it tells me i havent the latest version. do i have to uninstall before the update or should it just update?
It probably wouldn't do any harm. But I'd expect their update thing to work correctly. But then again, I don't really think much of Sun's handling of end-user stuff, so... -- T.J. Crowder First Primate Pocket-Monkey.com
I have Java 1.4 and never have any problems...as long as it works, I refuse to download a newer version. I use Mozilla Firefox browser...don't know if that makes any diff.
I'm glad you're not having trouble with 1.4. I used to use it and had this problem with it, but it's very computer-specific. If it ain't broke, no need to fix it!
That said, I hope you're being sure to stay current with security updates for it (the latest version of 1.4 is 1.4.2 update 13, details here). Otherwise, you may be vulnerable to malicious sites taking advantage of security holes...
I tried installing the Java 1.6 but it still doesn't work. I use firefox as a browser and if I use the Java version browser, it kicks me off with a message that my display driver has shut down. For some strange reason, it just does it here, on PM. I don't have any problem at all on any other site. So I use the non-java version.
Darn, I'm really sorry to hear that. You're using what I'm using -- Firefox w/Java 1.6. (Are you using FF 1.5 or 2.0, though?)
The problem seems to be specific to applets embedded in pages, not ones that open their own windows, and it happens that relatively few game sites use applets embedded in pages -- either they're HTML-based (like IYT, GoldToken) or separate windows (there used to be one, but I don't recall who it was).
Well, it was just a thought/hope. Our plan for really finally dealing with this problem was still going to go ahead anyway, so... -- T.J. Crowder First Primate Pocket-Monkey.com
Re: Latest Java Seems To Be More Stable
Message #5687 Replies: 1
posted by robin (Happy Johns other half x) on 02/03 at 16:12
ive tried three times and then go to verify but it tells me i havent the latest version. do i have to uninstall before the update or should it just update?
You've posted this in two different places; I replied above.
-- T.J. :-)
Re: Latest Java Seems To Be More Stable
Message #5690 Replies: 1
posted by robin (Happy Johns other half x) on 02/03 at 16:39
I know how did that happen...lol..It tells me i need an update but then the update dosent go ahead!
Re: Latest Java Seems To Be More Stable
Message #5691 Replies: 0
posted by robin (Happy Johns other half x) on 02/03 at 16:45
Ok i managed it this time no problem, though for some reason the problem was due to the fact it wouldnt auto matically update, so i did the manual update and that seemed to do the trick. Lets see if its any better now...thanx
TJ I upgraded to the 1.6, unintalled the previous versions first, and am still having problems... it didn't reboot my system spontaneously this time, but the video driver did fail while making my moves.
Re: Latest Java Seems To Be More Stable
Message #7563 Replies: 1
posted by gemini566 (Daniel A Bryson-Peart) on 04/04 at 14:59
Hi, Try this link to get JRE6 for endusers. http://developers.sun.com/downloads/top.jsr
But the JRE listed on the page in the main message above (http://java.sun.com/javase/downloads/index.jsp) is the end-user version of Java, with the plug-in and web start and all that stuff... [Folks: Remember to grab the one saying "Java Runtime Environment", not one of the "JDK" ones -- the Java Runtime Environment is fourth on the list (as of this writing).] -- T.J. Crowder First Primate Pocket-Monkey.com
To Java or not to Java
Message #5693 Replies: 1
posted by ambercruise (Lindarae Shamblin) on 02/03 at 18:15
There is no question that the newest version works much better and yes you are suppose to uninstall the old version first. I run Internet Exployer 6 and windows xp. I two had this problem and only in [PM]and I could play one game and then I'd get kicked out,play one game and get kicked out,one game and get kicked out and it never told me why so I restored and it did work most of the time but was probley because of changes made here. Anyway Thank you very much So far so good and much faster as well.
I am also having problems..put in the new Java and had to remove it and restore to orginal settings..I got a JRE collide message ??? I am running very slow with a blank page between moves..not sure what to do..HELPPPPPP
I am also having problems..put in the new Java and had to remove it and restore to orginal settings..I got a JRE collide message ??? I am running very slow with a blank page between moves..not sure what to do..HELPPPPPP
posted by robin (Happy Johns other half x) on 02/09 at 11:23
My browser crashed 6 times last night most frustrating( on the new up date recommended before in this thread). Ive just updated the update 11....Im hoping this does the trick as the Java crashing seemed worse after the previous update. Lets cross fingers and hope. Ill update the thread with any problems. Thanx T.J for your as always quick and continued support to all of us here at PM :O)
That's really awful. If you're using 1.6, you might try 1.5 update 11; if you're on 1.5, you might try 1.6!
It's really weird: It's very machine-dependent which version works best for you. I was talking with someone who said with 1.6 they crashed on nearly every move, but with 1.5 they don't. And of course my experience is very different, with 1.5 I got a crash every couple of days, but with 1.6 I never do.
I'll be so glad when I've got the new client code up and running, I'm hoping to work around this problem if I can. -- T.J. Crowder First Primate Pocket-Monkey.com
posted by Lindap957 (Linda G. Parker) on 02/11 at 11:19
I had some trouble with update 10 but don't seem to be having any problems with update 11. Games seem to load faster and I have not run into any problems with being kicked off or making any game moves.
the same here but after 1 week, i found if you clear temp files depending on you play helps to. fast play alot i do it 2 times a week, havent any problems, before i just did upgate. had problem after 1 week playing, cleared temp files 2 times a week, no problem at all for 2 weeks.... but then again it depends on lots of things i'm told., as you go to pocket monkey, before you do click on tools, delete all temp files and restart, i works for alot of I E's i have been told, not to hold me to it but it works for some. i took the new updates and all. in 3 weeks i've been shout out 1 time, but got right back in. i hear there might be other problems at this time also.
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