std::system() not working correctly

Question

If I execute the command "C:\Windows\system32\java.exe" on the commandline I get information about how to use java as it should be. However, when i write a simple c++ program to do the same

#include <iostream>

int main()
{
    std::system("C:\\Windows\\system32\\java.exe");
    return 0;
}

I get the following console output:

'C:\Windows\system32\java.exe' is not recognized as an internal or external command,
operable program or batch file.

I am using the mingw-w64 compiler on windows 10.

this might sound strange, but have you double checked there's a java.exe in that folder? — Marcus Müller, Feb 09 '16 at 14:42
Try the command `where java.exe` in your command interpreter, to verify. — Cheers and hth. - Alf, Feb 09 '16 at 14:46
The result of "C:\>where java.exe" is "C:\Windows\System32\java.exe". — oel_runs_the_world, Feb 09 '16 at 14:49
try to begin debug std::system("ls") std::system("dir") std::system("dir /c") std::system("dir c:") etc ... — oklas, Feb 09 '16 at 14:50
try to recognize internal paths using std library routines like this http://stackoverflow.com/questions/612097 — oklas, Feb 09 '16 at 14:53
All these commands work the same way as if I would have entered then directly at the cmd. — oel_runs_the_world, Feb 09 '16 at 14:54
try getcwd from possible it is not exists on windows http://www.man7.org/linux/man-pages/man2/getcwd.2.html but possible, it is possible framework dependent — oklas, Feb 09 '16 at 15:02
Are You use #include at code it is not exists? my system it is not compiled with iostream, instead cstdlib — oklas, Feb 09 '16 at 15:02
Do you run your program with administrative permissions? By default nothing can get access to Windows directory. — Revolver_Ocelot, Feb 09 '16 at 15:05
Seems odd that you'd have java.exe in system32...mine is in C:\ProgramData\Oracle\Java\javapath\java.exe — Zan Lynx, Feb 09 '16 at 15:08
I have l launched the cmd the following way: "Run as administrator". It compiles without . — oel_runs_the_world, Feb 09 '16 at 15:09
I have tried getcwd which works and the path it returns is the location of the .exe I am running. — oel_runs_the_world, Feb 09 '16 at 15:12
Write please for all, is the answer with "SysWOW64" or any other was helpfull. — oklas, Feb 09 '16 at 15:31

score 5 · Accepted Answer · answered Feb 09 '16 at 15:24

5

This is compatibility redirection by Windows on x64 systems:

In most cases, whenever a 32-bit application attempts to access %windir%\System32, the access is redirected to %windir%\SysWOW64.

If your console is 64 bit and application built as 32 bit (or vice versa) they'll show content of different system32 directories under same name.

answered Feb 09 '16 at 15:24

dewaffled

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I have just reinstalled mingw-w64 with the x86_64 architecture instead of the i686 one. Everything works now. Thank you all for your help. – oel_runs_the_world Feb 09 '16 at 15:48

std::system() not working correctly

1 Answers1