[java] Setting the correct PATH for Eclipse

I recently changed my path so I could follow along in the Head First Java book and I had Eclipse before. Now when I try to get onto Eclipse again it won't open because it says it can't find a JRE or JDK to use in my directory. I have moved the JDK file around. I have jdk1.8.0_60 downloaded. So how can I get Eclipse to open again?

I am using Windows 8.1 environment. I had the same problem while running my first java program after installing Eclipse recently. I had installed java on d drive at d:\java. But Eclipse was looking at the default installation c:\programfiles\java. I did the following:

1. Modified my eclipse.ini file and added the following after open:

   -vm
   d:\java\jdk1.8.0_161\bin 
   

2. While creating the java program I have to unselect default build path and then select d:\java.

After this, the program ran well and got the hello world to work.

There are working combinations of OS, JDK and Eclipse bitness. In my case, I was using a 64-bit JDK with a 32-bit Eclipse on a 64-bit OS. After downgrading the JDK to 32-bit, Eclipse started working.

Kindly use one of the following combinations.

32-bit OS, 32-bit JDK, 32-bit Eclipse (32-bit only)

64-bit OS, 32-bit JDK, 32-bit Eclipse

64-bit OS, 64-bit JDK, 64-bit Eclipse (64-bit only)

For me none worked. I compared my existing eclipse.ini with a new one and started removing options and testing if eclipse worked.

The only option that prevented eclipse from starting was -XX:+UseParallelGC, so I removed it and voilá!

Go to System Properties > Advanced > Enviroment Variables and look under System variables

First, create/set your JAVA_HOME variable

Even though Eclipse doesn't consult the JAVA_HOME variable, it's still a good idea to set it. See How do I run Eclipse? for more information.

If you have not created and/or do not see JAVA_HOME under the list of System variables, do the following:

1. Click New... at the very bottom
2. For Variable name, type JAVA_HOME exactly
3. For Variable value, this could be different depending on what bits your computer and java are.
   • If both your computer and java are 64-bit, type C:\Program Files\Java\jdk1.8.0_60
   • If both your computer and java are 32-bit, type C:\Program Files\Java\jdk1.8.0_60
   • If your computer is 64-bit, but your java is 32-bit, type C:\Program Files (x86)\Java\jdk1.8.0_60

If you have created and/or do see JAVA_HOME, do the following:

1. Click on the row under System variables that you see JAVA_HOME in
2. Click Edit... at the very bottom
3. For Variable value, change it to what was stated in #3 above based on java's and your computer's bits. To repeat:
   • If both your computer and java are 64-bit, change it to C:\Program Files\Java\jdk1.8.0_60
   • If both your computer and java are 32-bit, change it to C:\Program Files\Java\jdk1.8.0_60
   • If your computer is 64-bit, but your java is 32-bit, change it to C:\Program Files (x86)\Java\jdk1.8.0_60

Next, add to your PATH variable

1. Click on the row under System variables with PATH in it
2. Click Edit... at the very bottom
3. If you have a newer version of windows:
   • Click New
   • Type in C:\Program Files (x86)\Java\jdk1.8.0_60 OR C:\Program Files\Java\jdk1.8.0_60 depending on the bits of your computer and java (see above ^).
   • Press Enter and Click New again.
   • Type in C:\Program Files (x86)\Java\jdk1.8.0_60\jre OR C:\Program Files\Java\jdk1.8.0_60\jre depending on the bits of your computer and java (see above again ^).
   • Press Enter and press OK on all of the related windows
4. If you have an older version of windows
   • In the Variable value textbox (or something similar) drag the cursor all the way to the very end
   • Add a semicolon (;) if there isn't one already
   • C:\Program Files (x86)\Java\jdk1.8.0_60 OR C:\Program Files\Java\jdk1.8.0_60
   • Add another semicolon (;)
   • C:\Program Files (x86)\Java\jdk1.8.0_60\jre OR C:\Program Files\Java\jdk1.8.0_60\jre

Changing eclipse.ini

1. Find your eclipse.ini file and copy-paste it in the same directory (should be named eclipse(1).ini)
2. Rename eclipse.ini to eclipse.ini.old just in case something goes wrong
3. Rename eclipse(1).ini to eclipse.ini

4. Open your newly-renamed eclipse.ini and replace all of it with this:

   -startup
   plugins/org.eclipse.equinox.launcher_1.2.0.v20110502.jar
   --launcher.library
   plugins/org.eclipse.equinox.launcher.win32.win32.x86_1.1.100.v20110502
   -product
   org.eclipse.epp.package.java.product
   --launcher.defaultAction
   openFile
   --launcher.XXMaxPermSize
   256M
   -showsplash
   org.eclipse.platform
   --launcher.XXMaxPermSize
   256m
   --launcher.defaultAction
   openFile
   -vm
   C:\Program Files\Java\jdk1.8.0_60\bin\javaw.exe
   -vmargs
   -Dosgi.requiredJavaVersion=1.5
   -Xms40m
   -Xmx1024m
   

XXMaxPermSize may be deprecated, so it might not work. If eclipse still does not launch, do the following:

1. Delete the newer eclipse.ini
2. Rename eclipse.ini.old to eclipse.ini
3. Open command prompt
4. type in eclipse -vm C:\Program Files (x86)\Java\jdk1.8.0_60\bin\javaw.exe

If the problem remains

Try updating your eclipse and java to the latest version. 8u60 (1.8.0_60) is not the latest version of java. Sometimes, the latest version of java doesn't work with older versions of eclipse and vice versa. Otherwise, leave a comment if you're still having problems. You could also try a fresh reinstallation of Java.

Eclipse folder has an initialization file which is used by eclipse on launch/Double click it is named as eclipse.ini. Add the following lines in eclipse.ini file. Where the vm defines the path of JVM with which we want eclipse to use.

-vm
C:\Program Files\Java\jdk1.8\bin\javaw.exe

Make sure you have add the above lines separately and above the following line

--launcher.appendVmargs
-vmargs

I have resolved this problem by adding or changing variables in environment variables. Go to Win7 -> My Computer - > Properties - > Advanced system settings -> environment Variables

1. If there is no variable JAVA_HOME, add it with value of variable, with route to folder where your JDK installed, for examle C:\Program Files\Java\jdk-11.0.2
2. If there is no variable PATH or it have another value, change the value of variable to C:\Program Files\Java\jdk-11.0.2\bin or add variable PATH with this value

Good Luck