java -version and javac -version showing different versions

Question

I have java 7 and java 8 both installed on my windows system under C:\\Program Files\\Java

In the environment\'s path I specif

Answer 1

The issue is occuring most probably because you have a JRE in your PATH, before your JDK. This usually happens when we add JDK in the PATH and do not remove previously added JREs. Thus when you do java it points to the JRE and when you do javac it points to the other version/JDK (since the JRE does not have a javac in it)

If you don't have any JREs in your path, then you can copy your %JAVA_HOME% and paste it first in your path variable (make sure its before the system32 path).

A possible reason for why this works is explained in this answer:

JRE also puts a java.exe to c:\Windows\System32, that's how first command is resolved. Second command is resolved by the C:\Program Files\Java\jdk1.7.0_02\bin entry in your PATH variable. If (and when) you are developing from the command prompt, you have to adjust the PATH variable so that C:\Program Files\Java\jdk1.7.0_02\bin is before c:\Windows\System32.