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Java Web Start - Auto-update

JWS auto-update offered the ability to automatically upgrade the Win/IE (notably not other browser/OS combos.) user to any JRE available through the auto-update page at Sun's site.

This ability has now been removed, with Sun deciding it is impractical for the latest Vista OS.

Image: need to upgrade
Image: upgrade needed, no download URL specified
Image: the reason is buried in the console

autodl (automatic download) can be used to ensure that the end user has the version(s) of Java installed, needed to run the application.

Notes

autodl was disabled on Windows Vista. Java SE 6 Release Notes ..."AutoDownload of JREs is Disabled in the Control Panel. Since the posted autodl bundles cannot run on Vista (without being re-written, and re-staged for all releases) the autodl feature is turned off by default, and the entry is disabled in the advanced tab of the Control Panel.