JDK-6294083 : Please disable auto-update by default
  • Type: Enhancement
  • Component: install
  • Sub-Component: install
  • Affected Version: 5.0
  • Priority: P5
  • Status: Closed
  • Resolution: Not an Issue
  • OS: windows_xp
  • CPU: x86
  • Submitted: 2005-07-05
  • Updated: 2011-02-16
  • Resolved: 2005-07-14
Description
A DESCRIPTION OF THE REQUEST :
Our customers are uneducated about when they should update the JRE.
When the auto-update dialog appears prompting them to update their JRE
they select the update option.  This forces us to make sure our software
works with the latest JRE regardless of OUR development priorities and schedule.

JUSTIFICATION :
Since the software prompts uneducated users to update their JRE this forces developers to make sure their software works with the latest JRE regardless of the developer's priorities.  This puts Sun in control of OUR release schedule.  This is not acceptable to us, and we suspect it is not acceptable to other developers.

EXPECTED VERSUS ACTUAL BEHAVIOR :
EXPECTED -
We would like to see the auto-update disabled by default.  Then we can tell our clients when to update their JRE.
ACTUAL -
The default behavior has an icon on the system tray pop up a baloon informing the user that they need to update their JRE.

CUSTOMER SUBMITTED WORKAROUND :
We have to inform all 5,200 of our clients to disable the auto-update functionality.
###@###.### 2005-07-05 09:56:09 GMT
Comments
WORK AROUND For companies that want to disable Java Update on all systems, they may roll out the following registry key: [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\JavaSoft\Java Update\Policy] "EnableAutoUpdateCheck"=dword:00000000 This will effectively disable the update check in Java Update. In addition, Java Update only runs if users have administrative privileges. Thus, for enterprise that has locked-down desktop, general users do not have sufficient privileges, so they won't be affected by Java Update. ###@###.### 2005-07-14 03:06:10 GMT
14-07-2005
EVALUATION By design, Java Update is enabled by default, so end users would be able to get the latest greatest update proactively. For companies that want to disable Java Update on all systems, they may roll out the following registry key: [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\JavaSoft\Java Update\Policy] "EnableAutoUpdateCheck"=dword:00000000 This will effectively disable the update check in Java Update. In addition, Java Update only runs if users have administrative privileges. Thus, for enterprise that has locked-down desktop, general users do not have sufficient privileges, so they won't be affected by Java Update. The default policy will not be changed, but customers may use workaround to achieve what they want. ###@###.### 2005-07-14 03:06:10 GMT
14-07-2005