In a recent post regarding the Flashback virus, John Carter reported that he had a problem with Java. This “bug” appeared only after a recent update to Java. He brings us up-to-date here:
"There is a workaround for the problem with Java in Lion. (The problem is that in the Terminal the command ‘java -version’ returns an error message: unable to locate java runtime to invoke) The workaround is accomplished by adding the system environment variable JAVA_HOME to the login environment in the file /etc/bashrc.
"The variable should be set to '/System/Library/Frameworks/JavaVM.framework/Home'
"There is no easy way to instruct the non-technical person on how to add a line of code to a system file. Anyone having a problem with Java should contact John Carter and he will install the workaround free." Go to the PMUG site > About Us and scroll down to Contact Us and click on Webmaster.
John closes with this, "The JAVA_HOME variable should not have to be added, so there is still some kind of Java problem that needs to be researched."
Now, John Carter to the rescue! Here's the very latest help: "Regarding why Java fails on the iMac Lion that I have, I just discovered this fix:
Remove this file: /Users/[logname]/Library/Preferences/ByHost/com.apple.java.JavaPreferences.plist
That file does not exist on the Mini, MB Pro, or MB Air.
The next time you execute ‘java -version’ in Terminal, you get:
java version "1.6.0_31"
Java(TM) SE Runtime Environment (build 1.6.0_31-b04-414-11M3626)
Java HotSpot(TM) 64-Bit Server VM (build 20.6-b01-414, mixed mode)
"This is confirmed by: osdir.com/ml/java-dev/2010-10/msg00974.html by Mike Swingler, Java Engineering, Apple Inc."
Any other questions? If so, email John. And remember, he's speaking this Saturday for PMUG. See you there?