Should JRE 7 be kept in Program Files (x86) or Program Files in Windows 7 (64-bit)?

Question

I have updated JRE to version 7 update 4 and JDK to version 7u4. I have two Java folders, one in Program Files another on Program Files (x86). JRE was automatically downloaded to Program Files (x86) and JDK version 7u4 along with second copy of JRE 7 was downloaded to Program Files.

Now I have two copies of JRE7. Should I uninstall JRE7 and delete Java folder from Program Files (x86)? Will I have to make changes somehere?

My JAVA_HOME is set to c:\Program Files\java\jdk7 and PATH has JAVA_HOME.

Solution

Java comes in both 32 and 64 bits you have installed both of them.

According to http://www.java.com/sv/download/faq/java_win64bit.xml you need either or both depending on what applications you want to run. If you have no clue keep both.

Comments

[Asif]

Don't just delete, do a uninstall :)

[Gaurav Agarwal]

Ok, got the point. Do we need both?

[Asif]

@darkcrow well its not necessary, but what happens that some of the internet application based on Java may be compatible with 32bit or may be 64bit JRE. thus its recommended to keep both JRE libraries, but one JDK, which you like :)

[Fiasco Labs]

Depends, there are 64 bit java apps and 32 bit java apps. My java data logging app requires the 64 bit one to be installed for it to function. If you don't have any 64 bit apps, then no, you don't need both.