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Java SE 6 Runtime unavailable on Mountain Lion

I bought OS X Mountain Lion from the App Store today (previously on Lion 10.7.4) and it downloaded and installed itself apparently without issue. However, when I checked back on my machine (Mid 2011 MacBook Pro) after letting it boot up properly I had a message telling me that I needed to install the Java SE 6 Runtime environment - so, I click yes and wait for it to find and install the software, only for it to fail and complain that the software is currently unavailable.


I've tried using the Applications > Utilities > Java Preferences application; I've tried going in to the terminal and typing 'java -v'; I've tried rebooting (and shutting down, then turning back on again); I've tried using Disk Utility to verify the disk - all to no avail: I keep getting the same outcome. I've had a look on the Java website to see if I could get the software there, but it just tells me to use the Apple Software Update feature. Sadly, I can't use the Software Update feature, as it takes me to the Mac App Store now (which doesn't work either, as it complains about being unable to verify its connection with itself).


Anyone got any clue how to solve this? I've looked at other threads here and also browsed other sites, but the only solutions suggested were the ones I listed above.


Thanks.

MacBook Pro, OS X Mountain Lion

Posted on Jul 25, 2012 11:38 AM

Reply
58 replies

Jul 25, 2012 12:39 PM in response to Alexj55

Alexj55,

I am in the same boat as you and, unfortunately, didn't see your post until I already posted an equivalent question.


I really need Java SE 6 - the whole SDK - because the software I'm developing depends on the API at that level - but if you just want to be able to run Java applications (i.e. if you're just an end-user of Java), you might be able to make due with the Java 7u5 that is offered by Oracle. The download site is here:

http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/java/javase/downloads/index.html

I installed it and it works - albeit the runtime seems quite a bit slower than the Apple JRE.


To re-iterate: can someone point us to the Apple site that has the Java SE 6 SDK and JRE?

Jul 25, 2012 12:49 PM in response to macjack


macjack wrote:


Go to /Applications/Utilities/Java Preferences.app and launch it. It should prompt you to install?


Like I said, I've tried running the Java Preferences app. It starts "Finding software" but doesn't actually make any progress, then after about 20 seconds it gives up and I get the message:


The software is currently unavailable.

To install a Java SE 6 runtime later, open "Java Preferences" again.


I get that exact message no matter what method I try.

Jul 25, 2012 1:01 PM in response to Alexj55

Alexj55 wrote:



macjack wrote:


Go to /Applications/Utilities/Java Preferences.app and launch it. It should prompt you to install?


Like I said, I've tried running the Java Preferences app. It starts "Finding software" but doesn't actually make any progress, then after about 20 seconds it gives up and I get the message:


The software is currently unavailable.

To install a Java SE 6 runtime later, open "Java Preferences" again.


I get that exact message no matter what method I try.

It is possible that there is now a server problem as I am sure the

servers are getting really hammered now and probably get worse as

the day goes on. I followed that procedure earlier and had no issue getting

java loaded.

Jul 25, 2012 1:09 PM in response to Alexj55

Alexj55,

I just tried this (I was simply trying to verify whether my removal of Java 7 worked :-):


I opened a Terminal and just typed "java". Mac OSX knew that there was no JRE installed and offered to install one. I agreed. When I did a "java -version" from the terminal after the install was complete, I found that it had installed 1.6u33:


dhcp-110-03:~ twolf$ java -version

java version "1.6.0_33"

Java(TM) SE Runtime Environment (build 1.6.0_33-b03-424-11M3720)

Java HotSpot(TM) 64-Bit Server VM (build 20.8-b03-424, mixed mode)


You might want to give that a try. It was 16:00 US Eastern time when I did this. Good luck.

tom

Jul 25, 2012 1:12 PM in response to woodmeister50

woodmeister50 wrote:


It is possible that there is now a server problem as I am sure the

servers are getting really hammered now and probably get worse as

the day goes on. I followed that procedure earlier and had no issue getting

java loaded.

Yes, I suppose it could just be because of the demand on the servers. I'll keep trying, and if anything changes I'll update this post. If anyone else has any additional advice in the meantime it would be appreciated.

Jul 25, 2012 1:17 PM in response to tjwolf

tjwolf wrote:


Alexj55,

I just tried this (I was simply trying to verify whether my removal of Java 7 worked :-):


I opened a Terminal and just typed "java". Mac OSX knew that there was no JRE installed and offered to install one. I agreed. When I did a "java -version" from the terminal after the install was complete, I found that it had installed 1.6u33:


dhcp-110-03:~ twolf$ java -version

java version "1.6.0_33"

Java(TM) SE Runtime Environment (build 1.6.0_33-b03-424-11M3720)

Java HotSpot(TM) 64-Bit Server VM (build 20.8-b03-424, mixed mode)


You might want to give that a try. It was 16:00 US Eastern time when I did this. Good luck.

tom

Tom,


Thanks for the suggestion. Glad to hear some progress is being made by someone! Sadly though, this did not work for me; I got the same error as before. Sticking with it.

Jul 25, 2012 7:31 PM in response to Alexj55

I have an even weirder situation. I have the same problem as Alexj55. I try to launch Adobe CS 4 and get a message about needing a Java runtime, and then when I try to install one, I get the message about the software being unavailable. But I was able to find a runtime online, so I downloaded it. When I went to install it, I got a message that a newer version of Java was already installed! But it's not. When I launch Java preferences, I get the same message that there's no runtime installed with an offer to install it, which then fails. I managed to find Apple's Java runtime on the Apple website, downloaded it, and when I tried to install it, I got the same message: that a newer version is already installed.


So when I try to run something that requires Java, I get a message Java is not installed. When I try to install it, I get a message it's already installed. So which is it?

Jul 26, 2012 4:30 AM in response to Alexj55

In the end, since I was experiencing multiple problems with Mountain Lion in general (not just the Java issue), I caved and went through the backup / erase / format / clean install process last night. While this obviously shouldn't have needed to be done, I am happy to report that every problem I was having - with Java, Messages, Game Centre, the App Store - has now been fixed.


I'm glad to see that others are able to fix their problems without needing to do this though, and I'd be interested to know if it was a server issue, or something else.

Java SE 6 Runtime unavailable on Mountain Lion

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