Java install error: "java update cannot install, required directory locked"

Try doing a clean boot and installing it (you know, msconfig?).  Perhaps there is something using java that we can't see.  Alternatively, you could log in as another user with admin rights and install the update (if you're not using Administrator, try it first).

Does it happen to mention which directory is locked?  You said you can't choose it, but does it say which one it is?  Maybe you can use one of those fancy-dancy "unlocking" tools to unlock the folder.

Also, do you have anything against the new 1.5 RC2?  It's possible that upgrading like this will take care of it.

It does not say which directory is locked. I have tried doing both express and custom installtions, choosing the installation directory for the Java app, and still get the same message. I have tried stopping every possible background process, and I've tried doing a clean boot, and logging in as a user (I'm normally logged in as administrator).

I tried 1.5 RC2 and the same thing happened. (I've gone back to 1.07 because I've learned to rely on many extensions which are not yet compatible/upgraded for 1.5).

Here is the exact sequence of alerts:
1. Near end of installation: "Java Update cannot be installed on this machine because the directory you have chosen to install is locked.

Please close any browser or application that is using the directory you have chosen for installation."

2. After hitting "retry" a few times, when I finally hit cancel, I get:

"Error 1722: There is a problem with this Windows Installer package. A program run as part of the setup did not finish as expected. Contact your support personnel or package vendor."

Weird, but thanks for the error.  Here's something I've found on it:
http://www.java.com/en/download/help/error_1722.xml
http://bugs.sun.com/bugdatabase/view_bug.do;jsessionid=a05366c2fc15a5e2f9c2483a8eae:YfiG?bug_id=5006328 (this one actually says to uninstall java, reboot and try to install it again).

Another possible solution is to update your windows installer (if you haven't already).  They're up to version 3.1 last I checked: http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=889482fc-5f56-4a38-b838-de776fd4138c&DisplayLang=en

If you want to track down the 'locked' directoy filemon from www.sysinternals.com will assist.

Your first link, dopyiii, is one that I had found myself, but is elementary for any kind of advanced user, and useless.
Your second link looked very promising when I saw the reference to unchecking "allow indexing". Unfortunately, after re-starting and installing to a directory with a different name, it did not help.

Thanks, sweatbeast, but it's clear from what I've been able to learn on the Sun bug database that it is the installation directory that either gets locked, or appears locked to a portion of the installation. It also seems that the bug has not been resolved, as posted by others to that site.

And I forgot to mention, dopyiii, that I do already have Windows Installer 3.1 installed, which is the latest.

Looks like I have to live with the problem for now. I intend to close this question.

Thanks.

"Your first link, dopyiii, is one that I had found myself, but is elementary for any kind of advanced user, and useless."

Well, Occam's Razor teaches us that the simplest explanation is often the correct one.  So, just because you think that you need some grandiose solution for it to be correct doesn't mean that you'll get one.

So, here's some "advanced" extra information (http://java.sun.com/products/archive/j2se/1.4.2_06/install-windows.html):

"Choosing an installation path containing characters that are not part of the system code page - On Windows 2000, XP, and 2003, it is possible to name directories using characters that are not part of the system locale's code page. If such a directory is part of the installation path, then error 1722 occurs, and installation is not completed.

To prevent this problem, make sure that the user and system locales are identical, and that the installation path only contains characters that are part of the system locale's code page. User and system locales can be set in the Regional Options or Regional Settings control panel. "

Another solution that I found from EE (https://www.experts-exchange.com/questions/21071679/Unable-to-uninstall-Cisco-VPN-client-ver-3-6-4-A.html) is to use the Windows installer cleanup utility (http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;290301).  

1. I don't NEED a grandiose solution.
2. I've now followed up on the locale code page issue, and the installer clean up issue; neither has the desired effect.

This morning I tried installing the JRE to my D hd, generally reserved for data. It worked.

I end up with a different problem - the Sun verification page recognizes the installation, but the scripts don't run! That becomes another question, but this specific one, at least, is resolved - even though it is without really understanding the problem.

Thanks anyway.