Java SE 8 Update 171 Uses Different Windows Path (Doc ID 2412304.1)

Last updated on DECEMBER 21, 2022

Applies to:

Symptoms

When installing JRE 8 Update 171 for Windows x64, the Java installer (both .exe and Enterprise Installer) prepends the Windows Path environment variable with the 32-bit path:
C:\Program Files (x86)\Common Files\Oracle\Java\javapath

Previous 64-bit Java 8 releases (8 Update162 and older) prepend the 64-bit path: C:\ProgramData\Oracle\Java\javapath to the Windows Path environment variable.

The issue can be reproduced with the following steps:

1. Remove all Java installations

2. Clean up any lingering register keys with regedit

3. Clean up any lingering file/folder structures

4. Manually remove any javapath from Windows Path variable, if any exists after the uninstallation of Java

         a. Open the System Control Panel

         b. Click Advanced System Settings

         c. Click Environement Variables

         d. Under System Variables, double-click the Path variable

         e. Remove any javapath path if present

5. Restart system

6. Use regedit to verify no Java registry keys or file artifacts remain

7. Verify Windows PATH does not contain any javapath

8. Install JRE 8u162

9. Verify the System  Path variable is now prepended with 64-bit path: C:\ProgramData\Oracle\Java\javapath;

10. Remove JRE 8u162

11. Verify Windows PATH does not contain any javapath

12. Install JRE 8u171

13. Verify the System Path variable is prepended with 32-bit path: C:\Program Files (x86)\Common Files\Oracle\Java\javapath;

Cause

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