Java update on Windows deletes REW preferences

[John Mulcahy]

As noted by a couple of users already, a recent Java update (8u371) deletes the entire JavaSoft registry key, which removes the saved preferences for any Java application using the Java Preferences framework, including REW. There are a couple of mitigations:

• If you only have Java installed to run REW it is not necessary, REW has its own Java runtime which is updated to the latest available release whenever a new REW version is produced. You could uninstall Java, then run the REW installer to ensure REW is installed with its own runtime.
• The latest V5.20.14 early access builds have a file-based preferences option which is not affected by the Java update. With 5.20.14 installed switching to file-based preferences can be done quickly by using the option in the Preferences menu to save preferences to file. Name the file rewprefs.txt in the log files folder, the save dialog defaults to the log files folder. Restart REW.