Java 2013 installer fails
I had no luck from Apple tech support on this one! I hope this works for you and is helpful.
I had the logic board replaced on my MacBook Pro and had to wipe the hard drive. When I got it back, of course Java 6 is gone. I tried to install the Java 2013, but when it was almost finished it gave me a message that the install failed, and I should contact the software manufacturer. Figuring it was apple--as the Oracle site says--I called.
They walked me through installing Java 7, which I didn't want or need. And then when I went back and tried to install again, same message. They gleefully informed me that since I now have Java (7) that their work was done, even though Chrome was now broken, none of my java 32 bit games worked, and I could no longer access my bank accounts. Not their problem, too bad.
Here is the fix I finally stumbled upon, and I hope this is the correct order.
1. I followed the instructions for uninstalling Java 7 on the oracle website
2. I went into /System/Library/Frameworks/JavaVM.framework/Versions
3. The folders "Current" or "CurrentJDK" (sorry I can't remember if one or both!) appeared to be empty or orphaned or otherwise not working.
4. I deleted both of them.
5. I ran the java 2013 install program again, and it worked, it did not fail, and successfully installed
6. I then had to futz with the browsers to get them to use Java 6. Chrome worked well, safari is not cooperating so far.
I am really disappointed that the tech people not only did not solve the problem of their installer not working, they made it worse by having me install java 7 and making it much much worse, leaving stuff I relied on unusable.
If there are other hints any body has, do share.
1.5 GHz PowerBook G4, Mac OS X (10.4.9)