Guide for deploying Java 1.7_x on a network via Group Policies
Prepare Java 7 Files
Download jre-7u17-windows-i586.exe from http://www.java.com/en/download/manual.jsp (choose the offline installer - the 7u17 version is about 30 MB)
Run jre-7u17-windows-i586.exe. When the installer stops at the first prompt, open the folder C:\Documents and Settings\<username>\Application Data\Sun\Java\jre1.7.0_17
Note: If you are working on a Windows Vista or Windows 7 machine, the path will be a bit different: C:\Users\<username>\AppData\LocalLow\Sun\Java\jre1.7.0_17
Copy the files in this folder to a new folder.
Customise Java 7 installation
Open the msi copied in the step above with Orca:
Create a new transform and make the following changes to the property table:
Change IEXPLORER to 1 - enables the java plugin for Internet Explorer
Change MOZILLA to 1 - enables the java plugin for Firefox
Change JAVAUPDATE to 0 - stops users being prompted to update Java
Save the transform in the folder with the MSI and CAB files, and close Orca.
Deploy Java 7 using Group Policies
Copy the .msi, .cab and .mst to your remote install share
Deploy via Group policies as normal.
Note: You can test deployment of Java by opening your browser and going to http://www.java.com/en/download/installed.jsp?detect=jre&try=1