On Windows 7, the JVM interferes with my work by bringing up a UAC prompt at random times when it notices that it needs an update. I can see how this nagging makes sense, so I type in the admin password and expect it to update itself like any other software which does that.
Instead, it only brings up a baloon in the notification area "A new update is available". (Why does it need UAC for that?!) So I click on the symbol to start the update, which immediately brings up a dialog box saying "update has failed" without further explanation.
The whole game repeats from scratch every time I restart the computer. At some point, I give in, log in as administrator, and update from there. But I find the farce unnecessary and nerve-wracking. Is there a way to make the update process easy(ish)? If not Firefox-like easy, then at least Adobe Reader-like easy?
41 Answer
Manual way
This way is to update it in a machine where you have admin privileges and copying the installed java folder (generally in "program files\java\jre6") to your desired computer with common-user privileges.
Then change user environment variable PATH to include the path where you saved the java. Some programs require you to create JAVA_HOME environment variable also pointing to that location. You can optionally change the java location in the programs you use (e.g. OpenOffice), if there is an option for that.
Portable way
Found in a answer for that question:
But I don't know if it performs autoupdate. Also you have to install it in a computer where you have admin privileges to then use in the desired computer.
Official way
I think you cannot update by an official way...
2Note: If you are on Windows Vista or Windows 7 operating systems, then you will see User Access Control (UAC) consent prompt. The consent prompt is seen when a user attempts to perform a task that requires a user administrative access.
