In the Windows version of the Java Runtime Environment, the jre.exe executable in the windows directory (C:\winnot or C:\windows) does not work properly. Invoking it from the DOS prompt with the 'jre' command may result only in a message saying "Could not locate Java runtime."
To workaround this problem, remove the jre.exe executable from the
windows directory. Then, add <jre-home>\bin to your search PATH so you
can use the alternate jre.exe executable in that directory. You can modify
the PATH from the DOS prompt. For example:
C:\> set PATH=C:\"Program Files"\JavaSoft\JRE\1.1\bin;%path%To automatically have the path modified appropriately on subsequent startups of your system, you can do the following. On Windows 95, Windows 98, or Windows NT, add the directory to your search path by modifying your AUTOEXEC.BAT file. Run the command
syseditto access and edit the AUTOEXEC.BAT file. On Windows NT, you can also modify your PATH by using the system control panel.