Eclipse can't find the Java Virtual Machine

I'm having problems getting Eclipse to start... It can't find the Java virtual machine. Based on suggestions online, I've tried adding...

; "C:\Program Files (x86)\Java\jre6\bin"

to my Path variable, and also I've tried adding the following two lines...

-vm
C:/Program Files (x86)/Java/jre6/bin/client/jvm.dll

to my eclipse.ini file. Neither seems to work yet.

The exact error message when I try and open eclipse is...

A Java Runtime Environment (JRE) or Java Development Kit (JDK) must be available
in order to run Eclipse.
No Java virtual machine was found after searching the following locations:
C:\Program Files\Eclipse\eclipse\jre\bin\javaw.exe javaw.exe in your current PATH

I've verified that Java works, and that it's at the location I was expecting... Still no go.

3 Answers

The -vm argument should be your path to java.exe, or actually javaw.exe (javaw.exe doesn't have a DOS prompt hanging around).

-vm "C:\Program Files (x86)\Java\jre6\bin\javaw.exe"

Make sure the bitsize matches - you need to match the bitsize of your java (32 bit in your example) and Eclipse (needs to be 32 bit, but 64 bit is available).

1. Check if java is set in the system variable, if so then open command prompt and give command as java -help. It should give you java related help.
2. Go to windows -> preferences -> java --> check whether jre is set or selected in installed jres
3. Even try to set java in the build path.
4. Start with the eclipse with clean command.

I had the same problem and realized, after little over an hour, that I had a 32bit Java installed and had downloaded a 64bit version of Eclipse. Downloading a 32bit Eclipse fixed the problem.