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cocodrilo · 11-20-2012, 10:06 AM

hs_err_pid followed by four numbers has appeared twice on my desktop.

I Googled this, and the consensus seems to be that this is a Java error, and that I should uninstall the Java on my computer and install the latest version. (I keep getting notices that a new Java version is available.)

Currently on my computer under Add/Remove are Java (TM) 6 Update 29, Update 3, and Update 7.

Before I do this (if this is the correct thing to do), can someone tell me why I need Java? I went to the Java article on Wikipedia, and it's all Greek to me. If I uninstall Java and don't install the new version, what will happen to me?

LakeGator · 11-20-2012, 01:04 PM

Java is used by a lot of web sites as is described in this article.

As the article states, you will not realize that web pages are using Java. You could uninstall all the Java versions on your system and wait until a web page prompts you to install it. Be sure that you do verify that you remove all the versions of Java installed on your system. It is common for folks to be afflicted with multiple versions.

orangeblueorangeblue · 11-20-2012, 03:06 PM

Java is used outside of Web sites as well, and I'd think it unlikely that Java would dump error log files on the desktop if it were being executed from a browser.

IOW, you may have another application that is written in Java, perhaps on your desktop itself?

cocodrilo · 11-20-2012, 04:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by orangeblueorangeblue

you may have another application that is written in Java, perhaps on your desktop itself?

I haven't downloaded any application recently, so I don't know what it would be.

I will try uninstalling first. Thanks.

LakeGator · 11-20-2012, 08:37 PM

By the way, one possible cause is that your Java was harmed by a virus. I assume you have good malware protection on your system. It would be a good idea to run a scan to be sure.

orangeblueorangeblue · 11-21-2012, 11:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cocodrilo

I haven't downloaded any application recently, so I don't know what it would be.

I will try uninstalling first. Thanks.

It would not need to be a recently-installed application, just an application that recently started having problems.