java installer does not set the path variable

[zb cong]

Hello,
i installed jdk7, after installation, i can invoke java command from command line, but when i check the path env variable, i could not fine the java path is added there by java installer, i wonder why i can invoke java command without specify the full path?


Thanks.

[Stuart A. Burkett]

What operating system are you using ?

[Jesper de Jong]

The Java installer does not set the PATH. If you want that, you have to do it yourself, as explained in the JDK installation instructions.

However, when you install a public JRE, then Java installs a java.exe file in your Windows system directory (normally, C:\Windows\System32). That directory is in your PATH by default, so the java.exe will be picked up from there.

You still need to set the PATH to include the bin directory of your JDK, otherwise other tools (the Java compiler, javac, for example) will not work from the command line.

[zb cong]

Thanks, got it, the installer put a copy of java.exe in the system32 dir, I remove it and set path variable to switch to other version, it works.