Most computer users have heard of the Java programming language because it will be installed on a lot of machines and required on some websites. One good thing about Java is it’s cross platform and runs in it’s own self contained virtual machine, meaning the same applets and programs can be run on different operating systems such as Windows, Linux and Mac OS without using different code.

To allow the Java Runtime Environment to run codes, the Java Development Kit includes debuggers that test and find errors in the written language as well as the Java Compiler to compile the codes. The Java Virtual Machine is included in the Java Runtime Environment package because the JRE software uses the JVM to run compiled codes. Java Plug-in technology, included as part of the Java 2 Runtime Environment, Standard Edition (JRE), establishes a connection between popular browsers and the Java platform. Java allows applications to be downloaded over a network and run within a guarded sandbox.

The Java Runtime Environment (JRE) management workflow consists of the following components: User Interface (UI), Server, and agents. This topic describes the JRE architecture: UI: The user interface for JRE Management is facilitated through the Desktop and the Status tabs in the Advanced Management Console. The Java Control Panel dialog box is displayed. NOTE: if the Control Panel is in Category mode and you cannot see the Java option, switch the Control Panel to Classic View. Click the Java tab. In the Java Application Runtime Setting box, click View. The JNLP Runtime Settings dialog box is displayed. Make a screenshot of the listed. Java Plug-in technology, included as part of the Java 2 Runtime Environment, Standard Edition (JRE), establishes a connection between popular browsers and the Java platform. Java allows applications to be downloaded over a network and run within a guarded sandbox.

Some users claim it slows their computer down because of the extra processes loading with Windows such as the Quick Starter process jqs.exe. One thing a Java install does do which annoys a lot of people is leave the previous versions in place to supposedly help with compatibility. The small utility JavaRa was designed to help clean out any old installation files. Exploits do appear from time to time which can potentially allow malware to be installed onto a computer if the user clicks the Yes button when visiting a website created by a hacker, but these exploits are rare and fixed pretty quickly.

Although the Java Runtime Environment (JRE) package requires installation and there is no official portable version, it is still possible to run applets and applications without installing Java into Windows. An unofficial portable version from PortableApps.com allows you to copy Java to your USB flash drive or hard drive folder and run it from there. Here’s a guide on how to do that.

1. First insert a USB flash drive into your computer. For this example the letter of our USB flash drive is the F: drive. Obviously substitute F: for your own drive letter.

2. Download Java Portable from PortableApps.com. Once finished downloading, run the downloaded executable file and click OK -> Next -> I Agree and then you’re asked to choose an install location. By default the destination folder will show {path}CommonFilesJava, add F: at the front so that it becomes F:CommonFilesJava and click the Install button. The latest Java installer will download which is currently around 30MB.

3. When the Portable setup has finished, download and run the PortableApps.com jPortable Launcher tool which is a small program that can execute Java .JAR files. During the install take note of the destination folder again. Add F: in front so that the destination folder becomes F:JavaPortableLauncher and click the Install button.

4. To run a Java applet or application, open the F: drive and execute the F:JavaPortableLauncherJavaPortableLauncher.exe file which will open a file dialog asking you to select the .JAR file of the applet or program you want to run. If you are getting a “jPortable Launcher cannot be started…” error, it means that you installed Java Portable at the wrong location in step 2. Make sure that it is installed in {drive:}CommonFilesJava.

You cannot use this method with currently installed software that requires Java to function like LibreOffice or jDownloader or Java applets in web browsers. If you try to open a webpage in an installed browser which requires Java then you’ll just be told it needs to be installed. The torrent client Vuze/Azureus did at least ask for the location of the Java files on install and worked using the portable Java.

The good thing is PortableApps.com have made this version of Java compatible with their portable applications that require or use Java such as LibreOffice or Firefox. Just make sure to have CommonFiles in the same folder as the portable application folder, e.g; F:folder1CommonFilesJava and F:folder1FirefoxPortable.

The hugely popular download manager jDownloader is programmed in Java and will obviously need a Java runtime installation to work. Although not officially available at PortableApps.com, it can easily be used in a portable way with the above method. Simply download the MultiOS zip file from “Other” on the jDownloader download page and extract it to your USB flash drive or hard drive folder. Now simply launch JavaPortableLauncher and locate the jDownloader.jar file.

To launch jDownloader directly from a shortcut so you don’t need to open the JAR file manually every time requires a few extra steps, you need to:

1. Copy the contents of the JavaPortableLauncher folder to the jDownloader folder.

2. Create a shortcut of JavaPortableLauncher.exe, right click on the shortcut -> Properties, then append “jDownloader.jar” in the Target box. Create the shortcut AFTER copying the jDownloader folder to its final location or the paths in the shortcut will be incorrect.

The CommonFiles folder HAS to be one folder level up from where you have placed the JavaPortableLauncher.exe. For example, if you have:

“D:Portable ToolsjDownloaderjDownloaderJavaPortableLauncher.exe”

The CommonFiles folder will be:

“D:Portable ToolsjDownloaderCommonFiles”

Using this method you can have a portable jDownloader folder with Java included which can be placed in any hard drive folder or external USB drive. Obviously you can do this with many other Java based applications not just jDownloader.

You might also like:

How to Enable Adobe Flash Support in Firefox and Opera PortableRun an Installed Firefox Browser Together with Firefox Portable Versions5 Free and Portable Microsoft Office Alternatives3 Application Launchers with Automated Portable Software Installation SystemCleaning Up Old Java Installation Files in Windows

replaced 1 installation by another …. wow.
Even though it could be tolerated as a means to an end, I dont trust that the jlauncher works as desired, because the his developer does not appreciate the portable concept for his own creations.

Reply

Ray, great stuff. never saw your sight till the last year,but seems every 4th thing i search,you have a solution lately.well done.,you should start a BLOG(joking),great stuff,the right solutions,riight tools,right content,that actually solve something useful.

Great STUFF.

THANK YOU for taking the time.

Reply

It is possible to do it with DocFetcher? There is no DocFetcher.jar, just DocFetcher.exe…

Reply

Much easier with DocFetcher. All you have to do is download java port and place it in the same folder as doc fetcher. Then:
2º) Move docFetcher.bat from the “misc” folder one level up into the DocFetcher folder.
3º) Edit docFetcher.bat and add the path where your portable java is located. Let’s say its in E:BUSQUEDASDocFetcher-1.1.12Javabinjava, you have to replace “java” in
java -enableassertions -Xmx512m -Xss2m -cp %libclasspath% -Djava.library.path=lib net.sourceforge.docfetcher.Main %1 %2 %3 %4 %5 %6 %7 %8 %9
by your path. So the result would be:
E:BUSQUEDASDocFetcher-1.1.12Javabinjava -enableassertions -Xmx512m -Xss2m -cp %libclasspath% -Djava.library.path=lib net.sourceforge.docfetcher.Main %1 %2 %3 %4 %5 %6 %7 %8 %9

4º) Double click the docFetcher.bat to launch docFetcher.
Now you can go a bit further an convert the bat to an exe so you can give it an icon and pin it to the task bar
.

Reply

For one solid week I’ve been trying to java and netbeans portable to run from my flashdrive. Is this possible if the host computer doesn’t have a specific version of java or java installed at all. How would one does this successfully? Do I need to specific version of portable netbeans? because I found portable netbeans 8.0 but I need help…everytime I try to run netbeans it comes up with “Cannot locate java installation in specific jdkhome: D:Portable AppsNetBeans_JavaSE_8.0_PortableAppjdk”
Do you want to try to use the default version?
And then it says “Cannot find Java 1.7 or higher”
I’m very confused, can someone please help me?

Reply

Cad design software, free download. Thanks for this Ray. ;)

Reply

Thanks, now I got an idea of deploying Java application to all my desktop remotely.

Reply

Good one Ray!!
Thanks for the info…

Jre 8 Windows Download

Reply

Install Java Jre Windows 10