javaw.exe isn't running as an executable

Question

I am using Windows 7 Ultimate x64, SP1 and latest updates are installed. Any time I attempt to open a Java application, I receive a dialog asking what program I want to open javaw.exe with. This problem first appeared while I was using version 8 update 31. Updating to update 45 did not fix the problem. Is there a method to fix this?

Solution

I had the same issue on my machine. Check your Windows Path variable. My path linked Java via C:\ProgramData\Oracle\Java\javapath and that folder contained symlinks to the actual executables located under C:\Program Files\Java\jre1.8.0_45\bin. I deleted the the C:\ProgramData\Oracle\Java\javapath entry and replaced it with C:\Program Files\Java\jre1.8.0_45\bin then everything started working.

Notice however, that the 'correct' directory has a version number, so anytime Java is updated, you'll have to change the Path again. I suspect this was the reason for the other directory.

EDIT: Instead of deleting the path entry, you can 'fix" the symlinks in the javapath directory with this command (it makes them hard links):

mklink /H C:\ProgramData\Oracle\Java\javapath\java.exe C:\Program Files\Java\jre1.8.0_45\bin\java.exe 

Use that command to fix all three links:

• java.exe
• javaw.exe
• javaws.exe

This has also worked for me

Comments

[Karan]

"Any time I attempt to open a Java application" - Do you mean any time you double-click a JAR file?

[Drew Stewart]

That isn't directly the issue, although any .jar files don't appear when opened, if they're opening. Applications that use Java (my example is Yawcam, a webcam photography program) don't open and instead show the "Choose application..." dialog.

[Karan]

Try JavaRa to completely uninstall all JRE versions, reboot and install the latest one. See if that helps.