15 JDK Installation for Microsoft Windows

This page describes how to install and uninstall JDK 8 for Windows.

The page has these topics:

System Requirements

Installation Instructions Notation

For any text in this document that contains the following notation, you must substitute the appropriate update version number:

version

For example, if you were downloading the JDK installer for 32-bit systems for update 381, the file name: jdk-8version-windows-i586.exe becomes jdk-8u381-windows-i586.exe.

Similarly, if you were downloading the JDK installer for 64-bit systems for update 381, the file name jdk-8version-windows-x64.exe becomes jdk-8u381-windows-x64.exe.

JDK installers now support only one version of any Java feature release. You can't install multiple versions of the same feature release. For example, you can't install JDK 8u381 and JDK 8u371 simultaneously. If you attempt to install JDK 8u381 after JDK 8u371 is installed, the installer uninstalls JDK 8u371 and installs JDK 8u381.

Note: If you install an older version of a JDK when the newer version of the same feature family already exists, an error is displayed, prompting you to uninstall a newer JDK version if an older version has to be installed.

The JDK is installed in C:\Program Files\Java\jdk-1.8 or C:\Program Files (x86)\Java\jdk-1.8 (for 32-bit systems) regardless of the update version. For example, JDK 8u381 is installed in one of these directories, depending on your system's architecture.

Installation Instructions

Downloading the Installer

Running the JDK Installer

You must have administrative permissions in order to install the JDK on Microsoft Windows.

The file jdk-8version-windows-i586.exe is the JDK installer for 32-bit systems. The file jdk-8version-windows-x64.exe is the JDK installer for 64-bit systems. If you downloaded either file instead of running it directly from the web site, double-click the installer's icon. Then, follow the instructions the installer provides. When finished with the installation, you can delete the downloaded file to recover disk space.

Java Start Menu

Starting with JDK 7u40 release, Java menu items are added to the Windows Start Menu to provide easy access to Java resources.

During JDK install, a Java Development Kit folder is created in the Windows Start Menu, which contains Reference Documentation, which opens the Online API documentation web page.

During JDK install and uninstall processes, the appropriate start menu items are updated to be associated with the latest JDK version on the system

Installing the JDK Silently

Instead of double-clicking or opening the installer, you can perform a silent, non-interactive, JDK installation by using the command-line arguments. The following table lists example installation scenarios and the commands required to perform them. The notation jdk stands for the downloaded installer file base name, such as jdk-8u381-windows-x64.

jdk.exe /s

jdk.exe /s ADDLOCAL="ToolsFeature,SourceFeature"

jdk.exe /s ADDLOCAL="ToolsFeature,SourceFeature,PublicjreFeature"

jdk.exe /s /INSTALLDIRPUBJRE=C:\test\

Updating the PATH Environment Variable

If you do not set the PATH variable, you need to specify the full path to the executable file every time you run it, such as:

C:\> "C:\Program Files\Java\jdk-1.8\bin\javac" MyClass.java

It is useful to set the PATH variable permanently so it will persist after rebooting.

To set the PATH variable permanently, add the full path of the jdk-1.8\bin directory to the PATH variable. Typically, this full path looks something like C:\Program Files\Java\jdk-1.8\bin. Set the PATH variable as follows on Microsoft Windows:

1. Click Start, then Control Panel, then System.

2. Click Advanced, then Environment Variables.

3. Add the location of the bin folder of the JDK installation to the PATH variable in System Variables. The following is a typical value for the PATH variable:

   C:\WINDOWS\system32;C:\WINDOWS;C:\Program Files\Java\jdk-1.8\bin
   

Note:

• The PATH environment variable is a series of directories separated by semicolons (;) and is not case-sensitive. Microsoft Windows looks for programs in the PATH directories in order, from left to right.

• You should only have one bin directory for a JDK in the path at a time. Those following the first instance are ignored.

• If you are not sure where to add the JDK path, append it.

• The new path takes effect in each new command window you open after setting the PATH variable.

Starting to Use the JDK

Select Java Development Kit in the Windows Start menu to access information related to reference documentation.

Uninstalling the JDK

To uninstall the JDK, use the "Add/Remove Programs" utility in the Microsoft Windows Control Panel.

Uninstalling the JDK in Silent Mode

Use the following command to uninstall the JDK in silent mode:

msiexec.exe/X{UninstallString}

For example, to uninstall Java 8 update 251, run the command:

msiexec.exe/X{26A24AE4-039D-4CA4-87B4-2F64180251F0}

Finding the JDK Registry Key and UninstallString Value

1. Go to Start and type regedit.

2. In the Registry Editor, go to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE/Software/Microsoft/Windows/CurrentVersion/Uninstall.

   Under the Uninstall folder, you will find many registry entries within curly brackets.

3. Click Edit and then Find.

   
   

   Note: Highlight Uninstall folder before performing search for a particular registry.

   
   

4. Enter version string as value to find corresponding registry key. Follow the format 1.8.0.version. For example, for JDK 8u251, enter 1.8.0.251.

   The registry key is highlighted on the right-hand side of the pane and values of various uninstall strings are displayed on the left-hand pane.

5. Note the value of the UninstallString.

Installed Directory Tree

Installation Troubleshooting

Below are some tips for working around problems that are sometimes seen during or following an installation:

Corrupt Cabinet File

If you see the error message "corrupt cabinet file," then the file you have downloaded is corrupted. Check the file size against the expected file size listed in these instructions. If sizes do not match, try downloading the bundle again. (A cabinet file contains compressed application, data, resource, and DLL files.)

System Error During Decompression

If you see the error message "system error during decompression," then you might not have enough space on the disk that contains your TEMP directory.

Program Cannot Be Run in DOS Mode

If you see the error message "This program cannot be run in DOS mode," then do the following:

1. Open the MS-DOS shell or Command Prompt window.

2. Right-click the title bar.

3. Select Properties.

4. Choose the Program tab.

5. Click the Advanced button.

6. Ensure that the item "Prevent MS-DOS-based programs from detecting Windows" is not selected.

7. Select OK.

8. Select OK again.

9. Exit the MS-DOS shell.

10. Restart your computer.

Private Versus Public JRE

Installing the JDK also installs a private JRE and optionally a public copy. The private JRE is required to run the tools included with the JDK. It has no registry settings and is contained entirely in a jre directory (typically at C:\Program Files\jdk-1.8\jre) whose location is known only to the JDK. On the other hand, the public JRE can be used by other Java applications, is contained outside the JDK (typically at C:\Program Files\Java\jre-1.8), is registered with the Windows registry (at HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\JavaSoft), can be removed using Add/Remove Programs, might be registered with browsers, and might have the java.exe file copied to the Windows system directory (which would make it the default system Java platform).

Source Files in Notepad

In Microsoft Windows, when you create a new file in Microsoft Notepad and then save it for the first time, Notepad usually adds the .txt extension to the file name. Therefore, a file you name Test.java is saved as Test.java.txt. It is important to note that you cannot see the .txt extension unless you turn on the viewing of file extensions (in Microsoft Windows Explorer, unselect "Hide file extensions for known file types" under Folder Options). To prevent the .txt extension, enclose the file name in quotation marks, such as "Test.java", when typing it into the Save As dialog box.

On the other hand, Microsoft WordPad does not add the .txt extension if you specify another extension. However, you must save the file as "Text Document".

Characters That Are Not Part of the System Code Page

It is possible to name directories using characters that are not part of the system locale's code page. If such a directory is part of the installation path, then generic error 1722 occurs, and installation is not completed. Error 1722 is a Windows Installer error code. It indicates that the installation process has failed. The exact reason for this error is not known at this time.

To prevent this problem, ensure that the user and system locales are identical, and that the installation path contains only characters that are part of the system locale's code page. User and system locales can be set in the Regional Options or Regional Settings control panel.