Java update "Failed to download required installation files."

Question

On my Windows 7 machine the Java update consistently fails with this error message.

(edit: The same thing happens on Windows 8).

This seems to a common problem, does anyone have an insight into what's going wrong, and is there a fix for it other than either disabling the update check (seems a bad idea from a security point of view) or waiting for the nag message and then manually installing the new version (annoying and stupid from a usability point of view).

Note that I did install the previous version manually (updating from 6.23 to 6.30 I think?), thinking that might resolve the issue, but no luck.

Solution 1

I finally got this working after reading the following:

It turns out that when the java updater attempts to download new updates, it uses the Windows service called “Background Intelligent Transfer Service” (BITS). If the logged on user is only a standard user, then the java updater fails to correctly use the BITS service to download the new update. However, if the BITS service is not available for use by the java updater (either the service is disabled or permissions are denied to the calling process), the java updater uses an alternate mechanism for downloading and applying updates that works successfully, even if the original user was just a standard user with limited rights (no administrative rights).

In order to elevate the java updater so that standard users can install java updates, we must first set the application compatibility mode of the java updater so that will run in compatibility mode for Windows 2000, which did not have the “Background Intelligent Transfer Service”. This will force the Java updater to use the alternate mechanism to download the java updates.

http://privilegeforum.scriptlogic.com/Forum/aff/3/aft/193/afv/topic.aspx

So what you do is:

1. find jucheck.exe (typically under %PROGRAMFILES%\Common Files\Java\Java Update or %PROGRAMFILES(x86)%\Common Files\Java\Java Update)
2. open it’s properties and set it to run in Windows 2000 compatibility mode (for all users or at least for your elevated one!)
3. check for updates again through Java Control Panel

The installer will nagg about your OS not being supported, but will allow you to install the update.

I got this working after about ~3 years of searching for a solution. Still waiting for Oracle to fix it. They simply fail to understand that running as superuser all the time is bad practice and a thing of the past.

Solution 2

Another non-permanent but quick solution is simply running jucheck.exe in administrator mode:

1. Find Java updater executable jucheck.exe by using one of the following:
   • type jucheck in the search field of start menu.
   • Look in %PROGRAM_FILES%\Common Files\Java\Java Update
2. Run Java updater jucheck.exe in administrator mode via context menu:
   1. Push right mouse button on `jucheck.exe
   2. Select "Run as administrator".

Comments

[pion]

I'd not heard of it before and was a bit sceptical of allowing a random app to install other software, but Ninite does seem to be legit (worth mentioning that it's recommened by Tom's Hardware, Lifehacker, Techcrunch ninite.com/press ). And it works really smoothly.

[d4v3y0rk]

I'm glad you liked it. I use that program all the time to do updates on my machine and to rebuild it.

[pion]

Annoyingly this doesn't actually stop the problem from re-occurring - I seem to have to manually re-run the ninite install for each new Java release.

[pion]

Nice, I'll check that out!

[pion]

I'll accept this, though I've upgraded to Windows 8 since I asked the question and this doesn't work there since the compatibility mode functionality has changed. Would be good to get another answer that works for Windows 8.

[predi]

@therefromhere: hmm.. You are right. The Windows 2000 mode is no longer around on windows 8. Have you tried other available modes (OSes older than XP)?

[Dave Cousineau]

This worked for me, but I had to choose "Change Settings for All Users" when setting compatibility mode.

[jvriesem]

FYI: This doesn't work on Windows 8.1.

[Per Quested Aronsson]

Today, almost two years later, I still have the same problem. It is unbelievable that Oracle still hasn't fixed it.

[Yura Shinkarev]

jvriesem, work for me.

[SweetWisher ツ]

I am still not able to update java with your given answer. I followed your all steps. Can you please help me ?

[Dave Cousineau]

based on this answer, what I got to work was use net stop bits, and then check for updates. (well since bits didn't stay stopped, I temporarily disabled it through the services snapin)

[Dave Cousineau]

...and now I see myself in the above comments... <_<

[Line]

Works for me on Windows 7. @YShinkarev, if the answer helped you, you should rather upvote than write such comment. Then everyone can see that solution is appreciated by community, and the author gain reputation.

[Georg W.]

This is a very simple solution. I can confirm that it works on Windows 7.

[user25366]

Nah. Didn't work for me on Windows 7.