eclipse can't find java

Question

I'm having problems getting Eclipse to start... it can't find the Java virtual machine. Based on suggestions online, I've tried adding...

; "C:\Program Files (x86)\Java\jre6\bin"

to my Path variable, and also I've tried adding the following two lines...

-vm
C:/Program Files (x86)/Java/jre6/bin/client/jvm.dll

to my eclipse.ini file. Neither seems to work yet.

The exact error message when I try and open eclipse is...

A Java Runtime Environment (JRE) or Java Development Kit (JDK) must be available in order to run Eclipse. No Java virtual machine was found after searching the following locations: C:\Program Files\Eclipse\eclipse\jre\bin\javaw.exe javaw.exe in your current PATH

I've verified that java works, and that it at the location I was expecting... still no go.

Answer 1

The -vm argument should be your path to java.exe, or actually javaw.exe (javaw.exe doesn't have a DOS prompt hanging around).

-vm  "C:\Program Files (x86)\Java\jre6\bin\javaw.exe"

Make sure the bitsize matches - you need to match the bitsize of your java (32 bit in your example) and Eclipse (needs to be 32 bit, but 64 bit is available).

Answer 2

1. Check if java is set in the system variable, if so then open command prompt and give command as java -help. It should give you java related help.
2. Go to windows -> preferences -> java --> check whether jre is set or selected in installed jres
3. Even try to set java in the build path.
4. Start with the eclipse with clean command.