Name: gm110360 Date: 11/22/2002


FULL PRODUCT VERSION :
java version "1.3.1_06"
Java(TM) 2 Runtime Environment, Standard Edition (build 1.3.1_06-b01)
Java HotSpot(TM) Client VM (build 1.3.1_06-b01, mixed mode)

Java 2 v1.4.1_01 had previously been installed and uninstalled.

FULL OPERATING SYSTEM VERSION :
Microsoft Windows 2000 [Version 5.00.2195]


EXTRA RELEVANT SYSTEM CONFIGURATION :
Microsoft Internet Explorer 6.0 SP 1 is used in this case,
but others have encountered the same issue with a variety
of MSIE versions.

A DESCRIPTION OF THE PROBLEM :
After having once installed the Java 2 v1.4.x Plug-In on a
Windows (2000) machine, it does not appear possible to use
the 1.3.1_0x (_06 in my case) Plug-In in MSIE again
thereafter -- even if all JDKs and JREs are uninstalled and
Java 2 v1.3.1_0x is then installed!

Upon attempts to visit HTML pages containing plug-in tags
in MSIE (that specifically request 1.3.1_06 by classid and
jpiversion), I get a dialog stating:

  Java Plug-in 1.4 Fatal Error
  Java Plug-in 1.3.1_01 cannot be located because values in
    the registry key
  HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE/SOFTWARE/JavaSoft/Java Plug-in
    /1.3.1_01 is not found or is no longer valid.

Since I no longer have 1.4.x installed and have nothing
which should reference 1.3.1_01 (and nothing in the HTML
does), this dialog is completely erroneous.

I have searched my registry, hard drive, etc, etc, to
expunge any spurious references to 1.3.1_01 or 1.4, any
stale JRE or JDK files, etc, etc -- all to no avail.

I've had it -- and I shudder to think what end-users at our
customers must be going through if they happen across this!

Note that the Java Forums have numerous complaints along
these lines -- none of which have any definitive answer or
workable workaround. Most notably see
http://forum.java.sun.com/thread.jsp?forum=14&thread=269654
but also just do a search for
  +"Fatal Error" +Plug against Forums and Bug Database
and you'll find plenty of hits along these lines.

The problem even gets worse it that I've encountered
situations wherein both 1.3.1_06 and 1.4.1_01 Plug-Ins are
installed where any page which requests the 1.3.1_06 Plug-
In causes an immediate crash of MSIE! [This was after I
copied all the registry entries for 1.3.1_06 under
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE/SOFTWARE/JavaSoft to corresponding
entries for 1.3.1_01 just to get the applets working again -
- see workaround below.]

It is unclear whether these issues always occur, but I've
yet to see a case wherein they don't!

STEPS TO FOLLOW TO REPRODUCE THE PROBLEM :
1. Install 1.3.1_06 JDK (and JRE)
2. Install 1.4.1_01 JDK (and JRE)
3. (Optionally) Uninstall 1.4.1_01 JRE, JWS, and JDK.
4. Attempt to access any HTML page in MSIE that
   specifically requests the 1.3.1_06 Plug-In.

Note that this appears to be more widespread than just
1.3.1_06, i.e. it may be general to all 1.3.1_0x releases.
It may or may not be general to all 1.4 Plug-In versions.

EXPECTED VERSUS ACTUAL BEHAVIOR :
The installed 1.3.1_06 should simply be used without error
or download.

ERROR MESSAGES/STACK TRACES THAT OCCUR :
Java Plug-in 1.4 Fatal Error
Java Plug-in 1.3.1_01 cannot be located because values in the registry key
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE/SOFTWARE/JavaSoft/Java Plug-in/1.3.1_01 is not found or is
no longer valid.


REPRODUCIBILITY :
This bug can be reproduced often.

CUSTOMER WORKAROUND :
There is no complete workaround -- especially for
a "normal" end user.

As a developer you can get MSIE to use 1.3.1_06 in this
situation by copying all 1.3.1_06 branches underneath the
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE/SOFTWARE/JavaSoft portion of the
registry tree to corresponding 1.3.1_01 branches. The
1.3.1_06 JRE / Plug-In is then used.

This is completely unworkable for non-developer users (and
is painful for them!). Moreover, there are cases wherein
crashes occur after this (actually it appears that this
workaround is not even completely necessary to achieve the
crashses!)
(Review ID: 173345)
======================================================================