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?
6 Answers
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_KAug 25, 2009 at 15:24
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1where.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! Aug 25, 2009 at 15:40
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@mh It's in C:\Windows\System32 on my machine. Running "where where" (no extension is needed) finds it. Aug 25, 2009 at 15:49
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. Aug 25, 2009 at 15:43
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. Aug 25, 2009 at 15:10
In a command prompt type "path".... that will give you your path you can also use the "find" command.
Check out the first Google hit for "equivalent whence windows". You'll have to write a small utility to do it.
Here's a "whereis" script from Raymond Chen's blog:
http://blogs.msdn.com/oldnewthing/archive/2005/01/20/357225.aspx