"java -version" not working in command prompt

Question

I downloaded this Java JDK and installed it.

But when I go to the command prompt to check the version, it says it's not recognized.

Is anyone else experiencing this issue with the latest Java?

I might not have installed the right version. I need the java that works with grails

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

C:\>java -version
'java' is not recognized as an internal or external command,
operable program or batch file.

C:\>

when i do a search on my computer for java, it does not find anything

Answer 1

Windows 2k8 R2 server- For both java [-option] or %JAVA_HOME% to work in the command line you need the following:

In Control Panel->System and Security->System->Advanced system setting->Advanced->Environment Variables->System Variables

Edit the Path variable and add a ";" after the last value and add the the path to the Java bin directory: e.g.- C:\Progra~2\Java\jre6\bin\

Add the JAVA_HOME Variable with the value set to the path for the java executable: e.g.- C:\Progra~2\Java\jre6\bin\java.exe

Answer 2

Press simultaneously the "windows" and "pause" buttons on your keyboard, this will bring up the System Preferences dialog. In the Advanced tab, find Environment Variables.

Then, in the User (upper) section, create or update the following two variables :

• JAVA_HOME = where you put your JDK, eg. C:/Java/SDK
• PATH = %JAVA_HOME%/bin

Close the dialogs.

Then, in a new command-line console, try "javac -version" and see if it's detected. It's important that you use a new console, because environment variables are read only when the console is launched.