Java 6 Update 14: How I've got it working in Windows 98SE with Internet Explorer and Firefox.
I have KernelEx 4.0 Final installed, but this proceedure may work with earlier versions too.
Download the Offline installer from:
http://javadl.sun.com/webapps/download/AutoDL?BundleId=31620Run the Offline installer: jre-6u14-windows-i586-s.exe
This will fail with:
Error 1723. There is a problem with this Windows
Installer package. A DLL required for this install to
complete could not be run. Contact your support
Personnel or package vendor.
This however has extracted the MSI installer into:
%windir%\Application Data\Sun\Java\jre1.6.0_14
Use Windows Explorer to navigate to this folder (copy and paste the above line into the Address box).
Run jre1.6.0_14.msi (setting compatibility tab to WIN 98SE).
You will then receive the following message:
Thank you for choosing the Java( TM ) Platform. You may continue with this
installation, but for best results we recommend running on one of the following
operating systems: Windows XP Professional (SP2), Windows XP Home (SP2),
Windows Server 2003, Windows 2000 Professional (SP4+), and Windows Vista.
Click on Continue.
After install, the following setting must be disabled to ensure Java applets work.
In Control Panel, Java, Advanced, Java Plug-in, uncheck:
Enable the next-generation Java Plug-in (requires browser restart).
Now you should be operational with both Internet Explorer and Firefox, Opera, and others.
For more information, see:
http://www.java.com/en/download/help/new_plugin.xml