Windows Disk Space Requirements—
1.4.2 SDK/JRE Installation


Note:

Due to a bug, 371MB or more of free disk space are required for the Windows SDK installation.

Installation Types

With the JRE there are two basic installation options: Typical and Custom. With the SDK there is only the Custom option. For a Custom installation, the following feature options are available:

JRE

For the JRE the features are the following:

Feature 1: Java Runtime Environment
Feature 2: Support for Additional Languages
Feature 3: Additional Font and Media Support

SDK

For the SDK the features are the following:

Feature 1: Development Tools and private JRE
Feature 2: Demos
Feature 3: Source Code
Feature 4: Public Java Runtime Environment

Disk Space Requirements

For disk space requirements, there is a simple statement that can be made, and a more complex one for those who want to know all. Both types of statements are presented below.

The Simple Statement

If you have around 200MB on your computer, you should have no problem any of the installation types for the JRE or SDK. While the installer may temporarily need this amount during the installation, the number will be much smaller when the installation is complete.

The Complex Statement

Notes:

  • For the SDK the installed image consists of all the files installed under <install_dir>/j2sdk1.4.2, where install_dir is the directory chosen by the user for installation; for the JRE it consists of all files installed under <install_dir>/j2re1.4.2. The update repository (or base image update repository) consists of zip files for the various features. They are stored under Program Files/Common Files/Java and are used for the purpose of updating or modifying the SDK or JRE.
  • The installed image will, by default, be installed on the Windows drive—the drive where the Windows operating system is installed (sometimes called the system drive). Most often this will be the C drive. However, it is possible to install it elsewhere. For instance, the installed image for the SDK could be installed to a non-Windows drive. (Note, however, that if Feature 4 is selected—Public Java Runtime Environment—it will be installed on the Windows drive.) For a Custom installation of the JRE, Feature 1, the Java Runtime Environment, could also be installed to a non-Windows drive.
  • The update repository will always be installed on the Windows drive.
  • In addition, there are temporary files that will be deleted after installation is complete.

In considering disk space requirements, it is important to consider the various releases. For the 1.4.2 products, there are the following:

Beta, Beta 2, RC, ... FCS (GA), _01, _02 ...

The Betas are early releases for customers to test and evaluate. RC is a release candidate. It is close to the officially released product. FCS is the first officially released product. A _0X release is an update release of the FCS release.

From Beta to FCS, the disk space requirements will vary somewhat. The numbers will grow slightly as "late-binding" features are added. With the first update release (_01), the numbers will jump significantly. A patcher is used for the update release and it adds about 40 MB to Feature 1, which is always installed with any release. (The 40MB is actually needed only during installation; the temp files are deleted after installation is complete. Thus an update release requires little more space than the FCS release.) The patcher keeps the download size small for a user who already has the FCS version installed. It uses the base image update repository to create the updated version while preserving the old version. Further update versions (_2, _03, ...) add only a small amount of additional space, as they only include a small number of bug fixes.

Below are figures for the FCS release of 1.4.2 and the 1.4.2_01 release. These give a good idea of disk space requirement for the various versions

Version 1.4.2 (FCS) disk-space requirements

In addition to the disk space required for the installed images, there must be sufficient disk space for the update repository, located in the Program Files/Common Files/Java subdirectory. The table below shows the various disk space requirements for the JRE and SDK:

JRE
Installed Image
Update Repository*
Total
Feature 1
45 MB
33 MB
78 MB** 
Feature 2
Add 14 MB
Add 3 MB
Add 17 MB**
Feature 3
Add 3 MB
Add 2 MB
Add 5 MB**

 

SDK
Installed Image
Update Repository*
Total
Feature 1
82 MB 
108 MB
190 MB**
Feature 2
Add 13 MB 
Add 9 MB
Add 22 MB**
Feature 3
Add 10 MB 
Add 12 MB
Add 22 MB**
Feature 4
Add 139 MB*
Add 0 MB
Add 139 MB*  

Version 1.4.2_01 (update release) disk-space requirements

JRE
Installed Image
Update Repository*
Total
Feature 1
89 MB
36 MB
125 MB**
Feature 2
Add 19 MB
Add 3 MB
Add 22 MB**
Feature 3
Add 5 MB
Add 2 MB
Add 7 MB**

 

SDK
Installed Image
Update Repository*
Total
Feature 1
126 MB  
116 MB
242 MB**
Feature 2
Add 28 MB  
Add 9 MB
Add 37 MB**
Feature 3
Add 31 MB  
Add 11 MB
Add 42 MB**
Feature 4
Add 255 MB*
Add 0 MB
Add 255 MB*  

  * This would be added to the Windows drive, which may or may not be the same as the drive where the installed images for Features 1-3 are installed. E.g., if the installed images for Features 1-3 are installed on a non-default drive, say D, then the installed image for Feature 4 would not be installed on that drive; it would be installed on the Windows drive, typically C.

** This may or may not be on the same drive with installed images for Features 1-3. See * above.