I have installed Java runtime environment: java version "1.6.0_17" Java(TM) SE Runtime Environment (build 1.6.0_17-b04) Java HotSpot(TM) Client VM (build 14.3-b01, mixed mode, sharing) The file java.exe (and a few other associated files) are located in \Windows\System32. But the only way I can see these files is by using an alternate command processor TakeCommand (formerly 4NT) from JP Software. The files do not appear in Windows Explorer or in the Windows command prompt. If I attempt to execute "java" from the Windows command prompt, I get an unknown command error. I have my view options set to show hidden and system files. Also if I look at the file attributes with TakeCommand I get: 145,184 ___A_________ java.exe (no hidden attribute set). Java appears to behave correctly when invoked from the Take Command prompt. If I go to the Java web pages and test that Java is functioning correctly, the test passes. I was concerned that this might be due to a virus. I have McAfee Security Center installed, complete with firewall. Since this problem occurred I have done a complete system virus scan. I also downloaded SuperAntiSpyware (Free edition) and had it scan my system. No viruses found. I uninstalled and reinstalled Java, with no effect on this issue. Anyone know what is happening here?

Forgot to mention: I am running Windows 7 Professional 64-bit (retail package, not the RC).

I see them fine in Windows Explorer: They have a N attribute. See here I believe you need to show System files in Folder Options / View to see them: Rich

Thanks for the quick reply, but: I had already set the file Viewing options as you described and just double-checked to make sure they were unchanged. I am curious about the "N" attribute that you mentioned. The body of the posting that you referenced does not describe it (it talks about file indexing causing files to be locked - I tried to view these files several times and doubt that they were always being indexed). I tried to Google for information about the "N" attribute, but without success. Michael

Michael, the attribute for disabling indexing on a file or folder is I.That is, "attrib +I filename.ext" should disable indexing on filename.ext.I know nothing about an N attribute.Brian

This post is 1 year old. Did someone figure out why the file was hidden in such a way that changing Folder Options did not help? I saw a similar problem on a Windows Server 2003 x64 machine: C:\WINDOWS\system32\java.exe, C:\WINDOWS\system32\javaw.exe, and C:\WINDOWS\system32\javaws.exe are all invisible in windows explorer. They don't show up in CMD. It is impossible to open them with any native windows application (i.e.: notepad or CACLS). However, using a different shell like cygwin, I can see the files. They can be executed just fine. And all cygwin programs such as md5sum or getfacl work as well. I can even copy the files with cp to another location where they are easily visible using normal windows programs. These copies show that all the executables have a valid digital signature from sun. Especially odd is that native windows applications (i.e.: notepad and CACLS) can also read the file from their system32 location when they are executed through the cygwin shell but not when they are executed through the windows CMD shell. Here is a CMD shell command that failed: C:\>CACLS C:\WINDOWS\system32\java.exe The system cannot find the file specified. Here are some cygwin commands that succeeded: $ CACLS 'C:\WINDOWS\system32\java.exe' C:\WINDOWS\system32\java.exe BMMWIN03\Administrator:(special access:) STANDARD_RIGHTS_ALL DELETE READ_CONTROL WRITE_DAC WRITE_OWNER SYNCHRONIZE STANDARD_RIGHTS_REQUIRED FILE_GENERIC_READ FILE_GENERIC_WRITE FILE_GENERIC_EXECUTE FILE_READ_DATA FILE_WRITE_DATA FILE_APPEND_DATA FILE_READ_EA FILE_WRITE_EA FILE_EXECUTE FILE_READ_ATTRIBUTES FILE_WRITE_ATTRIBUTES NT AUTHORITY\SYSTEM:(special access:) READ_CONTROL SYNCHRONIZE FILE_GENERIC_READ FILE_GENERIC_WRITE FILE_GENERIC_EXECUTE FILE_READ_DATA FILE_WRITE_DATA FILE_APPEND_DATA FILE_READ_EA FILE_WRITE_EA FILE_EXECUTE FILE_READ_ATTRIBUTES FILE_WRITE_ATTRIBUTES Everyone:(special access:) READ_CONTROL FILE_READ_EA FILE_READ_ATTRIBUTES BUILTIN\Users:R BUILTIN\Power Users:C $ getfacl /cygdrive/c/WINDOWS/system32/java.exe # file: /cygdrive/c/WINDOWS/system32/java.exe # owner: Administrator # group: SYSTEM user::rwx group::rwx group:Users:r-x group:Power Users:rwx mask:rwx other:--- $ md5sum 'C:\WINDOWS\system32\java.exe' \d600a0d8faca5158ca8b221006997808 */cygdrive/c/WINDOWS/system32/java.exe $ hexdump -C /cygdrive/c/WINDOWS/system32/java.exe | head -n5 00000000 4d 5a 90 00 03 00 00 00 04 00 00 00 ff ff 00 00 |MZ..............| 00000010 b8 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 40 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 |........@.......| 00000020 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 |................| 00000030 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 e0 00 00 00 |................| 00000040 0e 1f ba 0e 00 b4 09 cd 21 b8 01 4c cd 21 54 68 |........!..L.!Th| Thank you in advance for any useful hints.

This post is 1 year old. Did someone figure out why the file was hidden in such a way that changing Folder Options did not help? I saw a similar problem on a Windows Server 2003 x64 machine: C:\WINDOWS\system32\java.exe, C:\WINDOWS\system32\javaw.exe, and C:\WINDOWS\system32\javaws.exe are all invisible in windows explorer. They don't show up in CMD. It is impossible to open them with any native windows application (i.e.: notepad or CACLS). However, using a different shell like cygwin, I can see the files. They can be executed just fine. And all cygwin programs such as md5sum or getfacl work as well. I can even copy the files with cp to another location where they are easily visible using normal windows programs. What is especially odd is that native windows applications (i.e.: notepad and CACLS) can also read the file when they are executed through the cygwin shell but not when they are executed through the windows CMD shell. Here a CMD shell command that failed: C:\>CACLS C:\WINDOWS\system32\java.exe The system cannot find the file specified. Here are some cygwin commands that succeeded: $ CACLS 'C:\WINDOWS\system32\java.exe' C:\WINDOWS\system32\java.exe BMMWIN03\Administrator:(special access:) STANDARD_RIGHTS_ALL DELETE READ_CONTROL WRITE_DAC WRITE_OWNER SYNCHRONIZE STANDARD_RIGHTS_REQUIRED FILE_GENERIC_READ FILE_GENERIC_WRITE FILE_GENERIC_EXECUTE FILE_READ_DATA FILE_WRITE_DATA FILE_APPEND_DATA FILE_READ_EA FILE_WRITE_EA FILE_EXECUTE FILE_READ_ATTRIBUTES FILE_WRITE_ATTRIBUTES NT AUTHORITY\SYSTEM:(special access:) READ_CONTROL SYNCHRONIZE FILE_GENERIC_READ FILE_GENERIC_WRITE FILE_GENERIC_EXECUTE FILE_READ_DATA FILE_WRITE_DATA FILE_APPEND_DATA FILE_READ_EA FILE_WRITE_EA FILE_EXECUTE FILE_READ_ATTRIBUTES FILE_WRITE_ATTRIBUTES Everyone:(special access:) READ_CONTROL FILE_READ_EA FILE_READ_ATTRIBUTES BUILTIN\Users:R BUILTIN\Power Users:C $ getfacl /cygdrive/c/WINDOWS/system32/java.exe # file: /cygdrive/c/WINDOWS/system32/java.exe # owner: Administrator # group: SYSTEM user::rwx group::rwx group:Users:r-x group:Power Users:rwx mask:rwx other:--- $ md5sum 'C:\WINDOWS\system32\java.exe' \d600a0d8faca5158ca8b221006997808 */cygdrive/c/WINDOWS/system32/java.exe $ hexdump -C /cygdrive/c/WINDOWS/system32/java.exe | head -n5 00000000 4d 5a 90 00 03 00 00 00 04 00 00 00 ff ff 00 00 |MZ..............| 00000010 b8 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 40 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 |........@.......| 00000020 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 |................| 00000030 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 e0 00 00 00 |................| 00000040 0e 1f ba 0e 00 b4 09 cd 21 b8 01 4c cd 21 54 68 |........!..L.!Th| Thank you in advance for any useful hints.