For those interested, if you run into this issue, you can download/install the JVM from Sun, then successfully un the VS 6.0 installation.

I figure the issue was due to the version of IE in the OS ghost from which the machine was created. Since MS stopped supporting the JVM, there was probably no JVM on the machine at all so the Setup had nothing to "update" and got confused and wrung its hands in despair. Supplying it a JVM to "update" gave it a warm and fuzzy so it could do what it does.

>I have received a new machine (Win2k Pro) and am trying to install VS 6.0. The install trie to install the MS JVM then reboots the system. Problem is it never gets past this step. On reoot it just displays the same form saying it needs to install the JVM.
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>What is the cause and cure for this?
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>Thanks,
>Bill