Wrong java -version being reported

Question

I am running Windows 7 Professional x64 and have the following Java versions installed:

x64

C:\Program Files\Java
- jdk1.6.0_24
- jdk1.7.0_04
- jdk1.7.0_07
- jre6
- jre7

x86

C:\Program Files (x86)\Java
- jre1.6.0_07
- jre6
- jre7

in my environment variables I have my PATH containing C:\Program Files\Java\jdk1.6.0_24\bin and JAVA_HOME set to C:\Program Files\Java\jdk1.6.0_24\bin

However running java -version reports

java version "1.7.0_07"
Java(TM) SE Runtime Environment (build 1.7.0_07-b10)
Java HotSpot(TM) 64-Bit Server VM (build 23.3-b01, mixed mode)

How is this the case when there is no reference to this version of Java in my Environment variables.

Any help on this issue would be great as I am trying to run Apache ANT using Java 1.6.

score 36 · Accepted Answer · answered Sep 26 '12 at 16:22

36

You're probably have java.exe copied over to one of system paths (AFAIK that's Java installer default behavior). To check what actually executes when you run 'java -version' run from command line:
for %I in (java.exe) do @echo %~$PATH:I and it will tell you where it is.

answered Sep 26 '12 at 16:22

wmz

7,102
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2

Wow - that's so helpful! For some reason `java.exe` is in system32. I will move it it up the path like mentioned. – Malachi Sep 26 '12 at 16:33
1

Same problem here, `java.exe` was into `system32` AND `ProgramData\Oracle\javapath` – Kevin Labécot Oct 08 '14 at 13:55
If you're wondering what to do next, you can rename the `exe`s. I renamed `java.exe`, `javaw.exe` and `javaws.exe` to `java-foobar.exe`, `javaw-foobar.exe` and `javaws-foobar.exe` respectively. – javatarz Dec 09 '14 at 09:22
1

That increases number of places I need to check to 4: PATH, JAVA_HOME, Control Panels and now also System32... Just wow. One day the registry will become 5th. And to you I thank sir. – Jaroslav Záruba May 07 '17 at 11:29

score 3 · Answer 2 · answered Mar 10 '16 at 10:24

When installing a public JRE (used by the Java plugin), a java.exe file is also created in C:\WINNT\system32 (IIRC). It's probably this java command that is executed, since C:\WINNT\system32 comes before the JDK/bin directory in your PATH.

Put the JDK/bin directory at the beginning of the PATH

score 2 · Answer 3 · answered Sep 26 '12 at 16:01

2

The PATH folders are checked in the order they appear. Try moving the java path to the front. If that fixes the issue then you have another version somewhere on your path.

answered Sep 26 '12 at 16:01

Chris Nava

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score 1 · Answer 4 · answered Jan 16 '13 at 19:58

1

This will report the correct java version and it will also clue you in to what the problem is:

@ECHO off
ECHO ---------------
SET "JAVA_HOME=C:\Path to wherever\JDKwhatever"
SET "PATH=%JAVA_HOME%\bin;%PATH%"
java -version
ECHO ---------------
pause

answered Jan 16 '13 at 19:58

djangofan

2,851
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score 0 · Answer 5 · answered Sep 07 '16 at 18:42

0

I suggest that you uninstall all the JDKs and JREs. Then, you install the latest JDK and you update your classpath, JAVA_HOME and path. This worked for me.

answered Sep 07 '16 at 18:42

Abderrahmen

101

score 0 · Answer 6 · edited Oct 02 '15 at 15:07

0

As I recently found out, make sure that you're defining JAVA_HOME in the "System variables" section and not the "User variables" section.

I had %JAVA_HOME%\bin at the start of PATH but it wasn't working - adding JAVA_HOME to the system corrected the issue.

edited Oct 02 '15 at 15:07

Josh

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answered Oct 01 '15 at 20:06

Paul

11

Not sure why people downvoted this, this is also a correct answer, by default you would have `C:\Program Files\Common Files\Oracle\Java\javapath` in the PATH variable of "System Variables", make sure that you are adding `C:\Program Files\Java\jdk-11.0.14\bin` path (change the path as per your installation) to the top of the PATH variable and it will fix the issue – Dharam Mar 08 '22 at 17:09

Wrong java -version being reported

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