error when trying to execute exe from Runtime object in java

Question

I am running windows 7 and have an exe file I am trying to run using the following command in Java:

File dir = new File("C:\\PATH\\TO\\DIR");
String[] cmdArray = {"file.exe"};

if(dir.exists()){
    for(String s : dir.list()){
        if(s.equals(cmdArray[0]))
            System.out.println("File exists!");
    }
}

Runtime.getRuntime().exec(cmdArray,null,dir);

The exec(...) command, however, gives me this error:

Cannot run program "file.exe" (in directory "C:\PATH\TO\DIR"): CreateProcess error=2, The system cannot find the file specified

The above code does print out "File Exists!" so the file is there and Java knows it is there. I dont know how this is possible.

Also, I need to use Runtime.getRuntime().exex(...). This call is actually inside another method that I am not suppose to change so alternative solutions will not work for me. Thanks in advance!

EDIT: I ran the file in a cmd window without admin privileges and got the following message:

Error in Opening Configuration File in Read Mode

So I assume I have permission issues. How would I change the permissions in order for me to be able to run it?

EDIT2:

I tried changing cmdArray to this:

String[] cmdArray = {"C:\\PATH\\TO\\DIR\\file.exe"};

and it worked like a charm. One question though. Why did this work but not the other way? I assumed that Runtime.exec() ran at a high level like so in a cmd wibndow:

pushd dir
cmdArray[0] cmdArray[1] cmdArray[2] ... cmdArray[length - 1]
popd dir

Is this the wrong assumption?

FYI ! Runtime.getRuntime().exec(**cmdarray**,null,dir); is not same as **cmdArray** defined in the beginning. — AllTooSir, May 01 '13 at 16:08
@NoobUnChained oh woops! that was a typo. Was correct in my code. — user972276, May 01 '13 at 16:36

score 0 · Answer 1 · edited May 01 '13 at 16:07

0

You are having the permission issue in the C drive.Check by executing "file.exe" manually in the C drive.Better solution will be to keep "file.exe" in some location other than C drive and execute from there.

edited May 01 '13 at 16:07

AllTooSir

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answered May 01 '13 at 16:02

Hussain Akhtar Wahid 'Ghouri'

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I can execute the file through a cmd prompt with no permission issues – user972276 May 01 '13 at 16:29
Right now the file is in the C drive and I have hard coded the path for test purposes. The file should reside anywhere the user has it installed so I need it to work on the C drive if that is really the case. – user972276 May 01 '13 at 16:33
But it won't work, if the user has permission issues with that drive! – AllTooSir May 01 '13 at 16:38
@NoobUnChained ok, I think the cmd window I was using had admin rights. I opened up a brand new cmd window and ran the command and got this: "Error in Opening Configuration File in Read Mode". So I assume it is a permission issue. How would I fix a permission issue then? – user972276 May 01 '13 at 16:44
System administrator should give permission to that particular user account for that file. – AllTooSir May 01 '13 at 16:51
@NoobUnChained So, is it not a permission issue? I guess I am a little confused. If it was a permission issue, shouldnt java tell me it is one instead of saying it cant find the file? – user972276 May 01 '13 at 16:53
@NoobUnChained so, this is not a permission issue but for some reason, Java cannot actually find the file. I do not know why but if I give the absolute path of the executable as my cmdArray, it works. I dont know why this is. – user972276 May 01 '13 at 17:21
@user972276 : just keep the file in other drive , try to execute , and see what happens , mean while , in your c drive , go to the file.exe , open its property , remove read only option and execute again – Hussain Akhtar Wahid 'Ghouri' May 01 '13 at 19:26

score 0 · Accepted Answer · edited May 23 '17 at 11:49

0

Perhaps, You will need to include your directory to your path. You may take a look at this question and this tutorial

edited May 23 '17 at 11:49

Community

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answered May 01 '13 at 17:36

lifus

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error when trying to execute exe from Runtime object in java

2 Answers2