How come java.exe doesn't need a PATH setting?

[wylbur37]

After installing Sun's J2SE SDK on Windows XP Pro,
I discovered that I could run java.exe (e.g., "java -version")
from *any* subdirectory while in Command Prompt even though
I never modified the PATH string.
When I typed SET (to display all environment settings),
there was no variable shown that included the subdirectory
where java.exe resides.

However, when I tried to run javac.exe, it would only run
if I was either sitting on the subdirectory where it resides
or when I modified the PATH string.

So how come javac.exe requires the usual PATH modification,
but java.exe doesn't?
How did the system know where java.exe was?





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[Ben_]

Have a look at C:\Windows\System32 directory

 

[John McGrath]

How did the system know where java.exe was?

As Ben pointed out, you will find "java.exe" (and several other Java
related executables) in the system32 directory. These locate the Java
installation based on the registry key HKLM\SOFTWARE\JavaSoft.