Java path to Program Files folder in windows 64bit

Question

i`m trying to get the default Program Files folder on java. When I use:

 System.getenv("ProgramFiles")

It returns "C:\Program Files" instead of "C:\Program Files (x86)"

I can add manually +(x86) but if the user will use 32bit system it will be the wrong folder.

Create a IF/ELSE to check if 64 bits exist first if not use x86 ;) — David Bélanger, Aug 21 '12 at 15:03

score 9 · Accepted Answer · answered Aug 21 '12 at 14:51

9

You should be using

System.getenv("ProgramFiles(X86)")

You can find the full reference on Wikipedia.

answered Aug 21 '12 at 14:51

adarshr

61,315
23
138
167

score 2 · Answer 2 · answered Mar 17 '15 at 04:27

This is the correct answer for 32-bit Program Files directory

System.getenv("ProgramFiles(X86)")

However if a programmer is looking for the 64-bit Program Files folder but running a 32-bit JVM, System.getenv("ProgramFiles") will return "\Program Files (x86)\" as a side effect of 32-bit compatibility. In some cases, a programmer will still want the 64-bit ProgramFiles directory. This solution has its flaws, but will usually work...

System.getenv("ProgramFiles").replace(" (x86)", "")

Which is only marginally better then

System.getenv("SystemDrive") + "\Program Files"

-Tres

score -2 · Answer 3 · answered Aug 21 '12 at 15:01

-2

Possibly a try and catch.

try {
  System.getenv("ProgramFiles(X86)");
}
catch (Exception e) {
  System.getenv("ProgramFiles");
}

Maybe the Exception could be more specific but that general idea.

answered Aug 21 '12 at 15:01

Nicholas

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1

4

`System.getenv` wouldn't throw an exception if the input variable is not defined. – adarshr Aug 21 '12 at 15:32

Java path to Program Files folder in windows 64bit

3 Answers3