Java programs

[silkie]

Prompted by another Forum post I checked and downloaded the latest Java version - Version 6 Update 5.

I then checked Add or Remove programs and there listed were what appeared to be ten Java programs  -
  J2SE Runtime Environment 5.0 updates 6, 8, 10.
  Java 2
  Java DB 10.3.1.4
  Java (TM) 6 updates 2, 3, 5
  Java (TM) Development Kit 6 updates 5, 1.

Can I remove all updates  prior to the latest (Update 5) or do I need to keep all these? 
Also, what is "Runtime Environment" and "Development Kit" in these contexts?

Help/explanations appreciated.

[silkie]

Further to my post - Java does not appear in the "All Programs" list on the start page.  Is there some reason for this?

Thanks

[patio]

Keep the top one on the list...you can safely remove the rest using Add/Remove.
The Developer kit is DLoaded by mistake by many users because java doesn't make it clear what to DLoad for updates...
It's used for developing java apps.

[soybean]

J2SE Runtime Environment 5.0 updates 6, 8, 10.

No such thing.  Do you mean you have:
J2SE Runtime Environment 5.0 updates 6
J2SE Runtime Environment 5.0 updates 8
J2SE Runtime Environment 5.0 updates 10
etc.?

In other words, in addition all the other stuff you listed in your original post, you also multiple versions of J2SE Runtime Environment? 

After doing what patio advised, I suggest you download the latest version of Java.  They no longer call it J2SE Runtime Environment; it's now just, for example, Java (TM) 6 Update 5.   BTW, Java (TM) 6 Update 5 is what I have installed; I believe that's the latest version/update.  Install it and remove all the older J2SE Runtime Environment 5.0 updates from your system.

[patio]

Thanx for the clarification Soybean...

[Broni]

Java does not appear in the "All Programs" list on the start page

That's the way, it's suppose to be. Java is not a program, you need to open, and work with. That's why it's not listed there.

[silkie]

Thanks for all replies and advice and explanations.

soybean - The J2SE Runtime Environment 5.0 updates are all listed separately, as you suggested. All the other updates that I mentioned are likewise listed separately.  I suppose I must have  downloaded them when prompted without checking if the previous updates were still valid. 

I thought that updates to programs just made changes to the original - am I right in thinking that these Java updates are complete new versions of the original?

I do have Java (TM) 6 update 5, so I'll take your collective advice and remove all the others.

Thanks again.

[soybean]

I thought that updates to programs just made changes to the original - am I right in thinking that these Java updates are complete new versions of the original?

Yeah, the term "updates" can be confusing here.  As you said, these Java updates are complete new versions of the original.  So, yes, you can remove all the others.