Java Virtual Machine Launcher Error
As a Java developer, you might have run into a Java virtual machine launcher error that would stop the JVM program from being able to efficiently launch. In this post, we look into the issue of the Java Virtual Machine (JVM) launcher error that causes issues with the proper running of the virtual machine and how to fix the problems.
A powerful programming language such as Java is more than just a way to write computer programs as its utilities extend to game and app developers’ sides too. However, like any other virtual machine brouhaha, it is not uncommon to experience Java crashes. So if you are having a hard time trying to launch an application that is built around Java, then this guide is made to help you fix the problem.
And what exactly is Java?
Java is one of the most popular programming languages out there, that can run on a variety of different operating systems and devices. Its Utility in deploying application programs sparks through a variety of development fields, including desktop applications, mobile applications, client-side web applications, and server-side applications programming. Java generates a virtual machine also known as JVM that executes the code written in Java. The problem is a Java virtual machine launcher error can occur when something goes wrong with the data or code that is being processed by the machine.
In a world where developers are becoming crazier with JavaScript libraries and frameworks, and a multipurpose language known as Python, Java is still one of the most widely used object-oriented programming languages. In order to execute any Java-based application, you need a Java virtual machine (JVM). JVM plays a vital role as it provides the runtime environment for the source code execution.
JVM is used not only during the development works, but beyond that, it is also responsible for running Java code on any device or operating system. JVM handles and optimizes the program memory. Now to the problem at hand. As a Java developer or just an average computer user, you would sometimes face an unfortunate JVM launcher error. You might already be aware of how gut-wrenching it is to read bump onto the message; “Could not create the Java Virtual Machine”. That can be a very scary thing to meet. However, even if you have no idea what this error is, do not worry. You will learn about this error and its effect on programs associated with it.
What is a Java Virtual Machine launcher error?
As hinted earlier, JVM launcher errors usually occur when you are trying to launch an application built on or around the Java programming language. It may also occur even when the application is developed with another language entirely but that has a dependency on any Java library or package. What you need to be aware of is that many factors can cause different JVM errors. Nonetheless, the launcher error; “Could not create the Java Virtual Machine” happens to be the most common among them all. So we will learn how to solve this problem right in this post.
When the JVM launcher error occurs, it ideally means that your computer cannot read or understand the source code you are trying to execute. Hence, this error will prevent you from opening your Java-based software.
A JVM error can occur when you least want a distraction but it is definitely not nasty in itself. It is just quite inconvenient. Hence, it is why it is important to understand why it happens, and how to fix it so you can know what to do when you suddenly run into it. Without further ado, we go ahead and learn how to fix the Java Virtual Machine launcher error.
How to Fix the JVM Launcher Error: “Could Not Create Java Virtual Machine”
Before going ahead on the general causes and fixes of this error, we will start with the first things you should check when attempting to fix this error.
1. Ensure That Java has correctly installed
Before you waste the time you do not have on some fixes, you should be aware that a faulty Java installation can be the culprit. Hence, your troubleshooting process should start by ensuring that this is not the cause. To ensure that you have installed Java correctly, follow these quick steps:
- Launch the command prompt by typing cmd in the Windows start menu and selecting command Prompt application from the search results.
- As the command prompt window appears, type Java-version, and press Enter.
The above command should bring information about the Java virtual machine installed on the computer. Look for the version of Java, the SE runtime environment, and the client VM Build version. If you cannot find these details, it means Java was not properly installed on your system. You are hence, required to have a clean installation of it. The best way to ensure a clean installation is to follow the steps on the official Java website.
Now, if even after running a clean installation, the error still persists, you should see if Java has the proper permissions on your machine.
2. Run the Program as an Administrator
When the JVM program does not have the proper permissions granted on the system, you are likely to run into the launcher error. In fact, this specific JVM launcher error mostly happens due to a lack of proper permissions. There is no way the JVM can launch properly if you have not enabled Java to access admin privileges or to run as an administrator. These permission-related errors can also happen on other programs on personal computers and enterprise systems. Fortunately, you can still run Java as an administrator by simply following these steps:
- Access the Windows search utility on your machine by pressing the Windows key + Q shortcut.
- Type Java into the search box.
- Right-click on the program from the search results to open its file location
- Locate the Java Executable file in the folder
- Then right-click it to select Properties
- Now switch to the compatibility tab, and enable the Run the Program as an Administrator option under the Settings section.
- Then complete the process by clicking Apply button to save the settings
With the above process done, Java should now have all the permissions it needs to run your application. You can as well try to restart the system and reload the application to see if the issue has been fixed. If the issue still persists, chances are your Java also needs more memory allocation. We will go ahead and show you how to add more memory locations to Java Virtual Machine to remedy this issue.
3. Add a New Java System Variable
In the event that none of the solutions mentioned above worked for you, do not be swayed away. You may likely just need to add a new Java system variable. You can also try to expand the available system (RAM) memory allocation for Java. The steps involved in doing this are given below.
- Go to the Windows start menu.
- Type environment and choose the top one among the search results.
- Now select the Edit the System Environment Variables option within the control panel.
- Then select Environment Variables in the System Property window that appears.
- Now under System Variables, select New.
- Then set the Variable name as _JAVA_OPTIONS
- Finally, set the Variable value as -Xmx512M
And now you have successfully set the allowable system memory for Java to 512 MB. This should hopefully fix the issue.
Departing Thoughts
As mentioned before, JVM launcher errors are very common in several systems executing Java applications. However, such error that usually brings a message “Could not create the Java Virtual Machine” is not the hardest one to fix on computer systems. You could have seen that what a Java Virtual Machine is has been explained in detail. The three working solutions to fix the error in question, such as clean installing Java, running it with administrator privilege, and allocating more memory space for Java have been well explained.
So you should be able to overcome the JVM launcher error, which then means you should be able to write, execute, or load any Java applications on your computer system. Let us know what your experience is after following the solutions provided in this post throughout the comments section below. Also, if you have more questions about Java Virtual Machine errors, leave them in the comment section. Do check our other posts and let us know what you think of them.