Jvm error -6 while starting Intellij-IDEA in 64 bit

Question

I have a problem starting Intellij IDEA (15.0.3) in 64 bit mode. When clicking on the idea6.exe I get this error (Failed to create a JVM error code -6):

This is my configuration:

• System:

    Windows 7 - 64 bit - 16GB RAM
  

• System Variables:

    IDEA_JDK_64: C:\Program Files\Java\jdk1.8.0_74
    JVM_HOME: C:\Program Files\Java\jdk1.7.0_79 
    (1.7 version is needed for my dev activity)
  

• vm options: idea64.exe.vmoptions left as default

As a trial: I've tried various combinations like system variables pointing to the same JDK path or also to increase -Xmx value in idea64.exe.vmoptions, but the error is still there.

What can the root cause be?

Thank you very much.

Answer 1

I solved problem in my case by deleting file C:\Users\username\.IdeaIC2016.2\idea.exe.vmoptions, because I created it before to customize VM options. File can have name idea64.exe.vmoptions if you overrode options under 64-bit version of Intellij IDEA.

Answer 2

Tracked it down to a mis-typed VM option in the end.

Somehow one of the lines in my idea64.exe.vmoptions file has been mis-typed. Instead of -XX:UseParNewGC I had -XX:USeParNewGC (note the unwanted extra capital letter).

Correcting that fixed the problem - so check your .vmoptions file for typos if you get the -6 error on startup.

And note that there may be several copies of this file. The default is in the installation folder (eg "Program Files (x86)\Jetbrains\Intellij 2016.1\bin\idea64exe.vmoptions"), but if you select "Help...Edit Custom VM Options" in the IDE it will create an override file in \Users\.IntellijIdea2016.1\idea64exe.vmoptions

Answer 3

I experienced the same issue with IntelliJ IDEA 2016.1.3 on 64bit Windows 7 with JDK1.8.0_92.

Executing idea.bat instead of idea.exe worked for me.

Answer 4

I think issue caused because you are using 32 bit launcher, and it has limitation as 4G for RAM.

So, if you will change value "-Xmx" to 2048 in c:\users\XXXXXX.WebStorm2016.3\webstorm.exe file -> this should help. Otherwise -> delete this file and wait when WebSrotm propose you to change it from IDE

Note: there are also webstorm.exe and webstorm64.exe files in your c:\Program Files