Change Java default VM on Windows 7 Suppose we have installed Java 8 but for whatever reason we want to keep with Java 7. 1- Start a cmd as administrator 2- Go to C:\ProgramData\Oracle\Java 3- Rename the current directory javapath to javapath_<version_it_refers_to> . E.g.: rename javapath javapath_1.8 4- Create a javapath_<version_you_want_by_default> directory. E.g.: mkdir javapath_1.7 5- cd into it and create the following links: cd javapath_1 . 7 mklink java . exe "C:\Program Files\Java\jre7\bin\java.exe" mklink javaw . exe "C:\Program Files\Java\jre7\bin\javaw.exe" mklink javaws . exe "C:\Program Files\Java\jre7\bin\javaws.exe" 6- cd out and create a directory link javapath pointing to the desired javapath. E.g.: mklink /D javapath javapath_1.7 7- Open the register and change the key HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\JavaSoft\Java Runtime Environment\CurrentVersion to have the v...