FYI: It's not necessary to uninstall the 64bit version; as long as the 32bit version is installed last (after the 64bit version), everything seems to go back to normal.

Also, this solved another minor but nagging problem I've been having for months - I use OpenOffice, and since the last time I updated that, I was unable to use the search function in OOo's help system. I don't remember if I also updated Java at the same time (let alone which order I installed the Javas the last time I updated them), but reinstalling 32bit 7u9 fixed OOo, too.

Thanks a lot, LotR.

P.S.: I've also adopted a policy of disallowing automatic updates of anything for my friends' computers (I'm something of the neighborhood geek-in-residence), but I didn't find any info about new or additional compatibility problems with this latest Java update. OTOH, I've pretty much banned Google Chrome on the PCs of anyone I do maintenance for, because of the difficulty of disabling automatic updates for it.