Last night as root I downloaded the most recent Java Runtime Library, installed it into /root/j2re... I then installed (again as root) the most recent open office to /usr/lib/openoffice and told it where to find my java libraries. I finally downloaded the java plugin for Firebird (located in /usr/lib/MozillaFirebird. Feeling smart, I logged in as my regular user and tried to run a java applet in Firebird. I got the message to download the plugin. I did it and it is as if nothing happened. The plugin was there, but the symbolic link was pointing to the wrong place. I deleted and recreated the link (pointing it to the proper place), to no avail. Thinking it was a problem with Firebird (not java or me) I tried to run ./setup for open office. When I ran it from the GUI nothing happened so I ran it from a console to see the error messages. It got a series of errors all relating to libraries it could not find. Should I try to fix my java problems, or uninstall the VM and try a reinstall? I don't know what I've done wrong, as I'm pretty sure I followed all the directions. Thanks in advance.

I just found an rpm package of java. I think I will install that one, but I am not sure what to do with wha I already have. I failed in installing two different versions of the VM. Is there an uninstall for them, or can I safely blow them away, knowing that whatever needs Java will link to my (hopefully) soon to be installed properly working version? Also, what should I do about openoffice that won't run? Uninstall keep there and try to make it work once I get java properly installed?