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I'm trying to determine the location of an executable (java.exe) on Windows. I know it must exist somewhere in the PATH since I can run it, but I don't know the exact directory that it is being run from. On a UNIX system I could use the whence command to obtain this information. Is there an equivalent command for Windows systems?

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6 Answers

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On my Vista laptop if I type "where java.exe" from the command prompt it gives me the location of java.exe.

Hope this helps.

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"where" works on Windows 2003 and Win 7 too. Does not appear to be part of XP though. – Chris_K Aug 25 '09 at 15:24
Perfect! Thanks. – Andrew Aug 25 '09 at 15:39
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where.exe can be copied directly from a 2003 box to an XP box and will work fine there. just do "where where.exe" to locate it! – mh01 Aug 25 '09 at 15:40
@mh It's in C:\Windows\System32 on my machine. Running "where where" (no extension is needed) finds it. – Andrew Aug 25 '09 at 15:49
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Not exactly. You have a few choices:

  • At a command prompt from the root of C: run: Dir /s java.exe
  • install the win32 port of which.exe (there may be a whence.exe port too)
  • use the search functionality in windows explorer
  • get one of several third party windows file indexing and searching utilities
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The dir /s is a good option; the output can then be cross-referenced with the PATH contents. – Andrew Aug 25 '09 at 15:43
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Install this: http://gnuwin32.sourceforge.net/packages/which.htm Then open a command prompt and type: which java

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You may need to add the directory where you installed which to your PATH. – Sean Staats Aug 25 '09 at 15:10
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In a command prompt type "path".... that will give you your path you can also use the "find" command.

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Check out the first Google hit for "equivalent whence windows". You'll have to write a small utility to do it.

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Here's a "whereis" script from Raymond Chen's blog:

http://blogs.msdn.com/oldnewthing/archive/2005/01/20/357225.aspx

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