[java] Running Java gives "Error: could not open `C:\Program Files\Java\jre6\lib\amd64\jvm.cfg'"

After years of working OK, I'm suddenly getting this message when trying to start the JVM:

Error: could not open `C:\Program Files\Java\jre6\lib\amd64\jvm.cfg'

I tried uninstalling, and got a message saying a DLL was missing (unspecified) Tried re-installing, all to no avail.

At the same time, when trying to start Scala I get:

\Java\jdk1.6.0_25\bin\java.exe was unexpected at this time.

Checked %JAVA_HOME% and %path% - both OK

Can anyone help?

Delete the jars under system32 for windows. Delete the jars under C:\Program Files\Common Files\Oracle

Edit the environment variable set JAVA_HOME and SET PATH to bin

I had the same problem in Eclipse and I fixed it by changing the JRE from 64 bit to 32 bit:

Window > Preferences > Java > Installed JREs > Add... > Next > Directory > select "C:\Program Files (x86)\Java\jre1.8.0_65" instead of "C:\Program Files\Java\jre1.8.0_60"

Typically it because of upgrading JRE.

It changes symlinks into C:\ProgramData\Oracle\Java\javapath\

Intall JDK - it will fix this.

I thought I will share how I resolved the same issue "Error Could not open lib\amd64\jvm.cfg". I found the Java run time Jre7 is missing amd64 folder under lib. However, I have 1.7.0_25 JDK which is having jre folder and also having amd64.

I moved the original contents of jre7 folder to a backup file and copied everything from 1.7.0_25\jre.

Now I am not getting this error anymore and able to proceed with scene builder.

Reinstalling java didn't help me. But the trick to put the JAVA_HOME variable at the beginning of the env-vars. The problem occoured after an upgrade from jdk1.7.0_11 to jdk1.7.0_13

I have changed the java installation path from c:\Program Files (x86)\java to another folder like c:\java\jdk1.7 and updated the %Java_HOME% and path values accordingly,it worked.

example

%JAVA_HOME% = C:\java\JDK1.7

path-C:\java\JDK1.7\bin; 

Error: could not open `C:\Program Files\Java\jre6\lib\amd64\jvm.cfg'

Looking @ it the issue of post install script is there and getting propagated since I am using update jdk8 1.8.0_191 since issue occurred with me after installing update of java and which was happened automatically.

Error: could not open `C:\Program Files\Java\jre1.8.0_191\lib\amd64\jvm.cfg'

This will be never ending in this case and need to do workaround like changing path's manually.

Had suddenly the same Problem, from one day to another eclipse said

Failed to load the JNI shared library "C:/JDK/bin/client/jvm.dll"`.

after trying to run java on the console

Error: could not open `C:\WINDOWS\jre\lib\amd64\jvm.cfg' 

now i just deleted the whole directory

C:\WINDOWS\jre

and everything worked again... i don't know there this jre came from, i hope it was not a virus

• I had a similar problem (trying to start a Jenkins slave agent on Windows) on Windows 2008R2, Java 1.7.0_15

• I had two situations that contributed to the problem and that changing both of them fixed it:

  1) Installing Java in a unix-compatible path (changing from c:\Program Files\... to c:\Software\...); I don't think this directly affected the problem described in this thread, but noting the change;

  2) Running Java not through a shortcut. It originally failed with a shortcut, but re-running from the direct executable (C:\Software\Java...\bin\java) worked.

put %JAVA_HOME%\bin at the begin of PATH.

Another workaround is using shortpath in windows:

1. open windows command console using cmd.exe
2. goto c:\
3. type command> dir program* /x
4. it should display as short path like: PROGRA~2
5. so C:\PROGRA~2 is same as C:\Program Files (x86)
6. in your JAVA_HOME replace path to : C:\PROGRA~2\Java\jre7

This should work in windows 64 environment as it worked for me in win7 64bit version.

If this was working before, it means the PATH isn't correct anymore.

That can happen when the PATH becomes too long and gets truncated.
All posts (like this one) suggest updating the PATH, which you can test first in a separate DOS session, by setting a minimal path and see if java works again there.

Finally the OP Highland Mark concludes:

Finally fixed by uninstalling java, removing all references to it from the registry, and then re-installing.

scary ;)

I had this problem after updating your java. The best way to solve this problem is just go to your c:/ProgramFiles/Java folder. There you will find two jre folders one is as jre.your version and other with exactly like jdk folder. Try to remove jre.1.your version folder. There you go your problem is solved. Hope this might help. It's worked for me.

It wasn't in the path. Finally fixed by uninstalling java, removing all references to it from the registry, and then re-installing. None the wiser, but back working again. Thanks all @Highland Mark- Can you tell me the process to removing references from registry. I tried all possible way people mentioned here, nothing worked.

If you have downloaded several Jdks you have to delete all except of the JDK you want to use!

C:\ProgramData\Oracle\Java\javapath

I took a back up of the files in it and removed those files from there. Then I opened a new cmd prompt and it works like a charm.

I had the same problem: I have a 64 bit Windows and when I typed "java -version" in CMD-Console i received the same Error message. Try to start a 64bit-cmd(C:\Windows\SysWOW64\cmd.exe) and you will see, it works there ;)

I checked my environment variables - JAVA_HOME & PATH and they all refer to C:\java. So this was bit frustrating. After sometime I found that the default installation also copied java.exe, javaw.exe and javaws.exe to C:\Windows\System32 (i.e. uninstall of JRE didn't go well). I just removed them and voila, I'm back on track. That annoying error is no longer popping.

This works for me

So, If exists, remove java.exe, javaw.exe and javaws.exe from System32

The Java 7 install on my work PC broke after a patch was forced out to us, giving this error any time you tried to run a Java program. Somehow the entire 'lib' subdirectory of the Java 7 install vanished! Might have been related to having both Java 6 and Java 7 installed -- the 'jre6' directory still had everything there.

In any case, I fixed it by uninstalling both Java 6 and Java 7 and reinstalling just Java 7. But if the file it's complaining about is actually there, then you're likely having a path issue as described in some of the other answers here.

I had a slight different solution to this problem. my PATH and JAVA_HOME were pointing to JDK12 in

C:\Program Files\Java

but execution of the command:

Java -version

gave the error:

Error: could not open `C:\ProgramFiles\Java\jre1.8.0_212\lib\amd64\jvm.cfg'

I had to delete a folder of executables (Java.exe, javaw.exe etc.) in a different directory than System32, as other answers here and blog posts have suggested. Instead I found the problem lied with executables found in:

C:\Program Files\Common Files\Oracle 

as there was nothing Java related in

C:\Windows\System32

If you're having this issue and nothing is in System32, check this "common files" directory mentioned above for an oracle directory and delete it.

After, your PATH references should work fine!