"Java platform required to run Lacerte is either corrupt or missing." error opening Lacerte

When starting Lacerte, you may encounter the following error message:

"The Java platform required to run Lacerte is either corrupt or missing.  To fix the problem, please run the Lacerte Setup so the Java components can be re-installed on your system."

When you click OK, the program appears to continue starting, but will eventually close by itself.

Before you start:

• This article references default installation paths and uses YY to reference the tax year in 20YY format. C: will always indicate the local drive and X: will always indicate the network drive.

How to resolve:

As the message indicates, the required Java components are either not installed, or they are not functioning.

The programs use different Java runtimes, so one may work while the other does not.  The following directions will work for 2008-present year Java runtime, but the proper year must be specified.

1. Browse to the SetupYY folder for the tax year in question.
   • X:\Lacerte\23tax\Setup23 on the network or local drive
2. Open the file JREsetup.msi.
3. Click OK to allow the installation.
4. If presented with the option, choose Modify or Repair.
5. If the setup completes without any errors, open the Lacerte program.

Known Errors During JreSetup

Error 1327: Invalid Drive X:

The Windows Installer service cannot find a drive for a system folder, such as My Documents, or Local Settings.  The drive maybe a network drive or a removable drive, such as an external hard drive or a USB flash drive.  The folder may not be required by the components being installed, but the Windows Installer service will still generate the error.

• If you recognize the drive letter, and are able to connect to it, then please do so then try running JreSetup.msi again.
• If you do not recognize the drive letter, then the drive letter may be temporarily added to your system to allow the installation to complete.
• To temporarily add a drive letter to your system, complete the steps below:

1. Press the Windows + R key top open the Run window.
2. Type CMD and press Enter.
3. When the Command Prompt window opens, type the following command:
   • SUBST X: %temp%
     (where X is the invalid drive)
4. Press the Enter key to run the command.
5. Now type exit and hit Enter.
6. After completing the JreSetup.msi, you may remove the temporary drive by restarting your computer.

If the issue persist, verify that entries in the registry do not contain invalid drive letters:  

This requires modification of the Windows Registry. Serious problems may occur if the registry is modified incorrectly. Intuit strongly recommends having an IT professional make these changes if you are not comfortable with editing the registry. It's also strongly recommended to make a backup of the registry before proceeding. See here for further instruction.

1. Click Start.
2. In the open field, type regedit and hit Enter.
3. In the Registry Editor, locate the following registry key:
   • HKEY_CURRENT_USER\\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Shell Folders
4. In the right pane, note the values in the Data column of each entry. If any value contains a drive that is not correct for your computer, right-click the entry and select Modify.
5. Type the correct drive letter in the Value data field and click OK.
   • For example, if one of the values is X:\Documents and Settings\Administrator, the drive letter should be changed to a valid drive on the system, such as C:\Documents and Settings\Administrator
6. Repeat steps 4 and 5 for each entry whose Data value contains an incorrect drive.
7. Repeat steps 3 through 6 for each of the following registry keys:
   • HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\User Shell Folders
   • HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion
   • HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Shell Folders
   • HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREMicrosoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\User Shell Folders
8. Close the Registry Editor and run the installation again.

Error 1305: Error reading from file

This error may be caused if the Lacerte program is not installed to the primary C: hard drive of the computer.

• To resolve this, copy the JreSetup.msi file to a folder on your C: drive, then run the file from there.  When complete, verify that the Tax program does not receive the "corrupt or missing" error message. If the issue is resolved, the JreSetup.msi file may be removed.
• If you get this error when using a Windows Terminal Server, please ensure that all users have access to C:\Program Files\Common Files\Lacerte\Shared or C:\Program Files\Common Files\Intuit\Shared.