If you don’t see navigation buttons beneath the logo on The Busy Needle Website (www.busyneedle.com), it’s because the navigation buttons are a Java applet, and your computer isn’t properly configured to run Java applets. It’s not a big problem to overcome, but you should first read through the following to understand not only what to do, but also why you must do it.

The Microsoft Java Virtual Machine (MSJVM) is technology that has been included in some versions of Microsoft Internet Explorer, a component of Microsoft Windows®. This technology allows certain types of programs, called Java applications or Java applets, to run on Windows-based computers.

A number of products use the MSJVM in Java applets. They depend on the MSJVM to be installed in order to work properly. Java applets start automatically and may perform a variety of functions, ranging from simple loan calculators or stock quote tickers to more complex functionality for the services the Web site provides.

MSJVM is included with versions of the Windows operating system (and the Windows Internet Explorer browser software that came bundled with the operating system) that were released before the legal issues between Microsoft and Sun Microsystems began (which led to a settlement in April 2004). Windows 95, Windows 98, Windows Millennium Edition (Windows Me), and even early versions of Windows XP came with Microsoft’s JVM (Java Virtual Machine) already installed. The MSJVM is not included with Windows XP SP1a, Windows XP SP2, or any future Microsoft software. Thus, some consumers may now find themselves unable to run the Java applets they could run on older computers with the older Windows software. Most computer vendors are aware of the JVM issue, and install a JVM to their computers before selling them to consumers. But consumers caught with no JVM on their computer can easily download and install one, so they can once again run Java applets.


If Your Computer Already Has Microsoft Java Virtual Machine (MSJVM) Installed

If you’re using a computer with the MSJVM already installed with your operating system, you can easily control the use of the JVM through Security and Advanced options in Internet Explorer. The following explains how to enable MSJVM:

Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.xx or 6.xx for Windows:

1. Click the 'Tools' menu on your browser
2. Select 'Internet Options'
3. Click the 'Security' tab.
   For the Internet zone, be sure that the Security level is set to 'Medium' or below.
   (If you have chosen to customize your security settings for the Internet zone, be sure that under the 'Java' heading, 'Java permissions' is not set to 'Disable Java'.
   You will want to select one of the three safety levels instead.
   Also be sure that under the Scripting heading, 'Scripting of Java Applets' is set to 'Enable' or 'Prompt').
   Click OK to close the 'Security Settings' dialog
4. Next, click the 'Advanced' tab.
   Scroll down till you see the sub heading 'Java VM'.
   Check the boxes next to 'Java logging enabled' and 'Java console enabled'.
   (Note: If you checked the box next to 'Java JIT compiler enabled' and are experiencing freezing problems, uncheck that box)
5. Click OK to close the 'Internet Options' dialog.

Here is a Website that shows how to perform steps 3 and 4:  http://www.tru-test.com/stafix_new/instruction.asp.

With JVM enabled, you will now be able to see and run Java applets that are present on a Website.


If Your Computer Doesn’t Already Have a Java Virtual Machine (JVM) Installed

If your Web browser doesn’t have the built-in Java VM, and if an alternate Java VM has not already been installed on your computer, you can easily download and add one.

The standard Java VM is provided by Sun Microsystems as a plug-in for Internet Explorer, Netscape 6/7 and other browsers. It automatically runs applets inside Internet Explorer. You can get this free plug-in at the Sun Microsystems Website: (http://www.java.com/en/index.jsp), by clicking on the “Free Download” link in the upper right-hand area of that screen.

Alternatively, you can go to this link: http://java.sun.com/j2se/1.4.2/download.html. Scroll halfway down the page to the "J2SEv1.4.2_06 JRE" area, and click on the "Download J2SE JRE" link to start the download. On subsequent screens you need to select the "Windows" download, and then decide whether to download the big (13MB) "offline installation" download, or the smaller (1.3MB) online installation version. It's easier to just click on the smaller file link, and when the popup menu appears, select "Open" to just run it online. After that, just follow the screen prompts (the look like the usual software installation prompts).

Once the "Java Plug-in" software is installed, you'll see its icon show up in Control Panel. More importantly, it will automatically run in your browser software, and you will now be able to see and run Java applets that are present on a Website.


More Info

If you want to learn more, Microsoft has a Website dedicated to the issue. The “Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) page gives a pretty good summary: http://www.microsoft.com/mscorp/java/faq.asp