Microsoft is quietly pulling back support for Java in its new products, dealing a new blow to a rival technology that played a starring role in the software giant's continuing antitrust battle with the government. Prerelease copies of Microsoft's new Windows XP operating system, drop the software needed to run Java-based programs. Java software is used to create some of the animated and interactive features of Web pages; Web surfers using computers with Windows XP won't see those features without loading additional software. A Microsoft spokesman said Java support was diminished for "business reasons" and noted that it follows last year's legal dispute with Java's creator, Sun Microsystems Inc. Under terms of a settlement with Sun, Microsoft was given the right to continue to use early versions of Sun's Java code in Microsoft products for seven years, but made no commitment to do so.

The spokesman said the Java support in Windows up until now "is a lot of code that many users don't need, and if they do need it there will be a variety of ways for them to obtain it" He also said that customers upgrading from an earlier Windows version will still be able to use the Java software. After Windows XP is launched in October, users will be directed to download a plug-in from Microsoft's Web site (www.microsoft.com) to make Java-based programs work.