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I downloaded and installed the NetBeans 3.4 ide but when I initially launched it I got the error "Cannot find java.exe" So I hit <Start><Run> typed "cmd" and pressed enter. Then from the command line I typed "java" and hit enter. Java ran and gave me a screen full of parameter information. So I rechecked my path in "Environment Variables" and satisfied myself that it points to "E:\Program Files\Java\jre1.5.0_02\bin"; (which is where java is installed). Then I rebooted, because it's windows. Then I logged in and double-clicked on the desktop icon and got the same error. Next I tried from the <Start><Programs> menu option and got the same error. I tried to UNINSTALL netbeans from "Add/Remove Programs" by I get the error "A suitable JVM could not be found." So I nearly gave up. Then I remembered that I have LimeWire installed so I clicked on that icon and LimeWire started up. Then I went to http://java.com and I got the message "You've got the latest!" Now I give up. What crazy mechanism does Netbeans 4.0 use to detect the location of java.exe?
Uh ... that's Netbeans 4.0. I must have lost my mind!
First, if you really installed NB 4.0 (and not 3.4) using the installer, open the following file: <nb-install>\etc\netbeans.conf and check the value of the netbeans_jdkhome property in that file. Let us know, what you find there. Secondly, NetBeans needs a full JDK to run, not just JRE. Therefore, it won't run with the JRE located in your E:\Program Files\Java\jre1.5.0_02\bin directory. However, this shouldn't matter, because NB doesn't look for Java in your PATH.
IDE requires JDK so the same does installer. JRE is not enough. (Even if installer can run on JRE.) Unfortunately JVM resolution is performed by Install Shield native launcher - we cannot modify it to provide better error message. I add keyword RELNOTE to emphasize this in Release Notes but I am afraid not many people read it.
Huh, it was my understanding that the user managed to install NetBeans first, but then was unable to launch it. This would mean that the IS was able to find a suitable JVM and something must have gotten broken afterwards. That's why I'm interested in the netbeans_jdkhome property of netbeans.conf.
Yes in this issue: 1.User cannot start IDE. 2.User cannot uninstall IDE. If the same configuration would be kept user also cannot install IDE. But this is more often that user either complains on mailing list or files issue to IZ that he cannot install IDE when he has only JRE installed. You can reassign this issue to launcher if you think error message when IDE is started can be improved.
The contents of {nb-install}\etc\netbeans.conf are: # ${HOME} will be replaced by JVM user.home system property netbeans_default_userdir="${HOME}/.netbeans/4.0" # options used by netbeans launcher by default, can be overridden by explicit # command line switches netbeans_default_options="-J-Xms32m -J-Xmx128m -J-Xverify:none" # default location of J2SE JDK, can be overridden by using --jdkhome <dir> switch netbeans_jdkhome="E:\Program Files\Java\jdk1.5.0_02" # clusters' paths separated by path.separator (semicolon on Windows, colon on Unices) #netbeans_extraclusters="/absolute/path/to/cluster1:/absolute/path/to/cluster2" After my initial failures to install the product, I downloaded and installed the netbeans/jdk bundle, jdk-1_5_0_02-nb-4_0-ml-win.exe, but still get the same error "Cannot find java.exe." It turns out that "E:\Program Files\Java\jdk1.5.0_02" is an empty folder after that was installed. Thanks for your interest
It looks like jdkbundle installer fails to install JDK. Workaround: Try to install JDK using JDK installer jdk-1_5_0_02-windows-i586-p-04_mar_2005.exe. Then install NB 4.0 using NB 4.0 installer.
Or if you keep location for JDK ie. "E:\Program Files\Java\jdk1.5.0_02" you can omitt reinstallation of NB IDE. Or you can manualy edit file netbeans.conf and fix netbeans_jdkhome. You can also use command line parameter --jdk_home <Path to JDK> when you start IDE from command line. (Good if you have more JDK versions installed.)
jdkbundle installer may fail to install JDK due to insufficient free space on system disk. (Even if you install NB/JDK elsewhere there is still free space required on system disk for JDK files and for temporary files during installation. It is roughly 400-500MB on system disk. What is free space on system disk at your machine? Workaround is to install JDK/NB separately. You can also use command line option -is:tempdir <path to existing dir> It will redirect temporary area used by installer to another location.
Closing.