Jarfix

Jarfix is a free utility developed by German computer scientist Johann L. Löfflmann for all versions of the Windows operating system that support Java applications. Originally, Jarfix was mostly used by Java programmers and developers to test and debug certain functions of their projects; it did not take long for PC users to realize that they can also use Jarfix to take care of file association errors and issues caused by improper Java settings, operating system conflicts, and the effects of some malicious software (malware applications).

What Jarfix Does

In essence, Jarfix is a program that automatically looks for software issues that prevent you from running Java apps on your Windows desktop, laptop, or hybrid computer. The most common issues include:

* Hijacked file association of the .jar (Java archive) file type extension.

* Corrupt Java installation.

* Java Runtime Environment (JRE) installation in need of an upgrade.

* Incorrect Windows registry settings.

In some cases, Windows users are not able to run Java apps because the JRE has not been installed at all. Some third-party security software accidentally disables JRE when malware is detected, and this can create a headache for some users. In fact, third-party Java issues were notorious when Nokia mobile phones were at the apex of their popularity during the Windows XP/Vista/7 era; the problem was the Nokia PC Suite application would take over .jar files, thus creating an issue when the program was eventually uninstalled. Some data compression utilities used to cause similar issues, but they later addressed the situation for Windows 10.

Jarfix does not run automatically upon installation; you have to execute the program so that it can go about correctly registering the .jar suffix to JRE. The best way to go about this is to run the utility when you have Windows Administrator rights; otherwise, you will have to execute it within each user account so that the issue can be fixed for everyone who has access to the computer.

Java developers can get far more functionality out of Jarfix by adjusting its parameters; for example, skipping the search for a 32-bit version of JRE that would not be present in a 64-bit version of Windows. Jarfix can also search for issues created by previous installations of the Java Development Kit, which are known to be problematic for later JRE versions.

Should You Download Jarfix?

Virtually all PC repair and help support technicians keep multiple copies of Jarfix on their machines or the rescue kits they make with USB flash drives, DVDs, external hard drives, or network boot solutions. This tiny tool can save you the hassle of reinstalling Windows if the only issues affecting your user experience are Java errors. Since this is a free download, it only makes sense to keep a copy installed in your Windows device along with another copy in removable media such as USB drives.

Jarfix Pros

• Lightweight download.
• Works as promised.
• One-click operation.

Jarfix Cons

• Adjustment of parameters can only be done from the command line.