Microsoft VM/Virtual Machine

I've recently bought a laptop running Window XP.
Whenever I try to access a website that contains Java, a
window appears telling me I need to download a java
reader. When I click to download, the progress bar fills
up, and when it reaches the end a message appears saying
I need to downlad Microsoft Virtual Machine. I'm linked
directly to the download/udates website, but can find
nothing on Virtual Machine. Please help - I'm
compeletely untechnical!!!!