Do you need to install Java with an MSI installer? This is how you do it with the latest JRE 8 / Java 8.
Apparently Java in their infinite wisdom have changed where and how you can get your Java MSI. Download the offline installer (I assume you know how to do that) but on the download java page there’s a section under the big red button to download that reads: “Not the right operating system? See all Java downloads.”
What you have to do is download the offline installer > right click > runas administrator > then without touching anything on the installer it extracts the MSI to this folder: C:\Users\administrator\AppData\LocalLow\Oracle\Java\java_version_here
Example: C:\Users\administrator\AppData\LocalLow\Oracle\Java\jre1.8.0_121
Copy that msi file and deploy it on your network!
A note about java site exceptions; you know…when you get a site that has Java and Java continually prompts you to accept it then denies you because it’s not in your security exceptions. So you have to navigate into your control panel > click on “java” > security tab > exceptions > add…blah blah blah blah blah.
You can make a batch file that runs in a group policy with this content:
copy /Y “\\your_domain_here\your_share_here\exception.sites” “%homedrive%\%homepath%\AppData\LocalLow\Sun\Java\Deployment\security\”
The file contents of the “exception.sites” file is like this:
https://www.site.com
http://site.com
This should overwrite the security exceptions and when Java fires up it will use any number of sites in that list so your users don’t get the prompts. I believe this site list gets wiped out on upgrades. This way you can centrally control your exceptions list to any number of PC’s.
Archived tutorial / notes:
* Based on instructions from Sun with tweaks because their instructions are a bit off
Download the latest Java from here but pick the “Offline” link –> Java
Install it without the Yahoo Toolbar – (who really wants that anyway?). Once installed go to this folder on your Windows XP system or WIndows 7 systems.
Windows XP location: “C:\Documents and Settings\%username%\Application Data\Sun\Java”, there you’ll see folders for whatever versions you’ve installed. Open the newest folder and find your MSI.
Windows 7 Location: “C:\Users\%username%\AppData\LocalLow\Sun\Java\jre1.6.0_22” <–or your version, they change like every other day! :)
* C:\Documents and Settings\%username%\Application Data\Sun\Java\whateverversionyoujustinstalled\yourjavaversion.msi
You can push it out via several methods.
- Make an Active Directory Group Policy (best method!)
- Batch file: msiexec /i jre1.6.0_17.msi
Test your Java Version here –> Test Java Version
One last thing I thought I’d post (first post in January of 2010 and I’m updating 8 months later) you can download OLD Java versions here: –> Link
Any questions let me know and I’ll post them with a solution!