Java, how does the PATH work with 32-bit and 64-bit Java installs?

YorSubs

11/4/23, 5:07 PM

I have installed the Chocolatey Java package choco install jre8 -y which installs both the 32-bit and 64-bit packages.

When I type java.exe on the console, I see that it is the 32-bit version and that it is located at C:\Program Files (x86)\Common Files\Oracle\Java\javapath\java.exe. When I go to that PATH location, it seems to be a soft or hard link, and it contains java.exe, javaw.exe, and javaws.exe.

I find all of this quite confusing. Can someone explain some of these things please?

What is the javapath folder is (well, it's not a folder, looks like a link of some kind, but how and why is it setup this way)?
Why is it defaulting to the 32-bit version of java?
What if I need the 64-bit version of java, do I have to manually type in the path to the 64-bit version of Java or else it will use the 32-bit version? Or does java someone work out if an application prefers 64-bit java and then it automatically uses that runtime? And does the javapath being a non-folder have something to do with this?
There is also a strange folder at C:\Program Files (x86)\Common Files\Oracle\Java\javapath_target_2324328 which also contains the java.exe, javaw.exe, and javaws.exe, so it gets even more confusing, what is that for?

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dave_thompson_085

11/5/23, 1:52 AM

If this were the Oracle installer, or if choco is sufficiently like Oracle, I would refer you to https://stackoverflow.com/questions/74284214/what-is-the-random-number-at-the-end-of-jdk-installation from just two days ago and the link I gave there to https://stackoverflow.com/questions/49540325/ . Java 8 has options `-d32 -d64` which _should_ run the corresponding 32-bit or 64-bit version, but I don't use a standard install and can't verify even for Oracle much less choco. javapath is either a junction or symlink to javapath_target_{uniquenumber}.

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EN: Java, how does the PATH work with 32-bit and 64-bit Java installs?

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