Arena Online Won’t Launch in Windows 7 or Windows 8
First be absolutely certain that you have Java installed on your machine. In most instances the problem is caused by Java not being installed. You can install java from http://java.com.
If you’re certain you have Java installed then the problem is most likely the file association. Online Arena uses Java Web Start to launch from links on the Premium Chess websites or from the desktop shortcut, using a “.jnlp” file.
Some Windows 7 or Windows 8 systems have the file association for .jnlp wrong, specifying that Windows should use Internet Explorer or another program when opening .jnlp files.
To correct this:
Windows 7 and Vista:
- Click on Start and select Control Panel.
- In the top right corner of the Control Panel, select Category from the view by: pull down menu.
- Click the Programs link.
- Under Default Programs, click the Make a file type always open in a specific program link.
- Under the Name column, locate and select JNLP from the list of Extensions.
- Click the Change program button.
- From the Open With window, click the Browse... button..
- From the Open With... dialogue window, (This will typically open in the c:\Program Files directory)
- Within the Program Files folder, double click the Java folder
- Double click the latest jre folder (example: jre7)
- Double click the bin folder
- Double click the javaws application
- Click the OK button.
- Click the Close button.
JNLP files will now open, by default, with Java Web Start.
Windows 8 or Windows 10:
- Open Default Programs by swiping in from the right edge of the screen, tapping Search (or if you're using a mouse, pointing to the upper-right corner of the screen, moving the mouse pointer down, and then clicking Search), entering Default programs in the search box, tapping or clicking Apps, and then tapping or clicking Default Programs.
- Click Associate a file type or protocol with a program.
- Locate .JNLP under the list of registered file types. Highlight the JNLP file by tapping or clicking .JNLP under the Extensions column, then tap or click on Change Program.
- Tap or Click Java™ Web Start Launcher from the list of programs.
- If you do not see Java Web Start Launcher listed, tap or click More options then Look for another app on this PC.
- Tap or double-click on Local Disk (C:) in the left column (located under “Computer”).
- Tap or double-click Program Files (x86). If you do not see this, select Program Files instead.
- Locate and select the Java folder.
- Select the latest JRE folder
- Select bin.
- Select javaws.exe and press Open.
JNLP files will now open, by default, with Java Web Start.
You can now retry to download and install the Online Arena application from this page: