Click Tools | Internet options. Then click the 'advanced' tab and scroll down until you see the Java VM section like below. Make sure it is checked just like the picture. If you do not see this section, you do not have the Java VM installed...
Silent - how did you get Internet Explorer on your machine? Did it come with it (i.e. it's XP)? Either way, just go to the MS IE site and reinstall IE6, which will add in your (oddly) missing Java support; I'd recommend doing this and seeing if it works before installing Sun's Java VM, as the Sun version does not operate quite the same and can have some unexpected behavior.
<a href="http://www.microsoft.com/windows/ie/downloads/ie6/default.asp" target="_blank">Download and Update Internet Explorer 6</a>
It's hard to explain without going into a long discussion about Java as a language. The simple description is, some java code behaves differently in the Sun VM than it does in the MS VM. The MS VM is the more widespread one (as IE is the browser on 99.999% of the Windows machines people use), so web designers will usually spend more time getting Java code running right on the MS VM. That makes it the better of the two to use these days for site combatibility.
As a matter of fact, if that IE6 came with your Windows XP, it didn't come with Java. I remember that being a big issue before WinXP came out, with the Sun/Virtual Machine thing, and the petitions, and the rants, and blah, blah, blah. Basically, Microsoft wants you to download the Virtual Machine to run Java. Try going <a href="http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com/default.htm" target="_blank">here</a>, and then click on Product Updates. It will get information on your computer, and give you downloads it feels you would appreciate. Read through them, and be sure to read the EULA <!--emo&;)--><img src="http://www.natural-selection.org/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=';)'><!--endemo--> . MicrosoftVM should be in there.
And on a topic that has nothing to do with anything...Howdy folks. Miss me? Yeah, I've missed you, too. I'll have to live without you for a bit longer as I attempt to pay my overdue phone bill. Apparently, my boss doesn't think it's good to spend my time watching the Natural Selection site, constantly hitting the refresh button for something new. I can only see you from the library for the next few days, I suppose...
Perhaps it's for the best.
-Ryan!
"Humor distorts nothing, and only false gods are laughed off their earthly pedestals." -- Agnes Repplier
Edit: I almost forgot, if you had Java at one time, and it now doesn't work, you may want to try reparing your installation of IE. Just go to your Control Panel, and act like you're removing IE in Add/Remove Programs. It will offer to add a new component or repair your installation. Not sure if it would fix Java, but, hey, can it hurt?
I dunno if I missed something, but if you meant fix for my issue, I already have XP on one of my comps, I just have Linux on another one of my comps, otherwise ignore this.
Comments
Click the advanced tab. Scroll down until you find Java enabled or something like that. Check the box.
no microsoft vm
<a href="http://java.sun.com" target="_blank">http://java.sun.com</a>
<a href="http://www.microsoft.com/windows/ie/downloads/ie6/default.asp" target="_blank">Download and Update Internet Explorer 6</a>
<!--EDIT|MonsieurEvil|Aug. 12 2002,15:02-->
and i find no probs with it on my 98se
what r those strange probs then ?
Usually.
And on a topic that has nothing to do with anything...Howdy folks. Miss me? Yeah, I've missed you, too. I'll have to live without you for a bit longer as I attempt to pay my overdue phone bill. Apparently, my boss doesn't think it's good to spend my time watching the Natural Selection site, constantly hitting the refresh button for something new. I can only see you from the library for the next few days, I suppose...
Perhaps it's for the best.
-Ryan!
"Humor distorts nothing, and only false gods are laughed off their earthly pedestals."
-- Agnes Repplier
Edit: I almost forgot, if you had Java at one time, and it now doesn't work, you may want to try reparing your installation of IE. Just go to your Control Panel, and act like you're removing IE in Add/Remove Programs. It will offer to add a new component or repair your installation. Not sure if it would fix Java, but, hey, can it hurt?
<a href="http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;q299672" target="_blank">here</a>
Since I always keep my (still test) XP laptop patched with windows update, I managed to miss this peculiarity entirely. Kudo's.
<a href="http://www.cdw.com/shop/products/default.asp?ProductID=310332" target="_blank">Fix for your issue</a>