JRE 1.7 - java version - returns: java/lang/NoClas

Question

When running any java application, or just 'java', the jvm fails:

Error occurred during initialization of VM
java/lang/NoClassDefFoundError: java/lang/Object

Here is a list of wrong answers:

1. The correct Java home directory, including the /bin directory, is on the global PATH

2. JAVA_HOME is set correctly

3. Executing the command java -fullversion works

   $ java -fullversion
   
   ./java full version "1.7.0_05-b05"
   

4. The symbolic links in /usr/java all point to the correct java installation

5. I did not install any 'default' java when I created the system

6. java -version fails...same error as above

7. Issuing the commands from under the directory structure of the java installation does not work either

8. This is 64-bit java for a 64-bit

Any ideas?

Answer 1

This problem happens when you install the JDK by _uncompressing_ it instead of _executing_ it.

By example:

unzip jdk-6u45-linux-x64.bin  (wrong)

sh ./jdk-6u45-linux-x64.bin   (right)

In the first scenario, the runtime libraries, as rt.jar, don't get automatically uncompresessed (thus, you can find the rt.pack files, etc. instead of the .jar ones).

Answer 2

So, I went on trying everything and at last it seems that reinstalling java after uninstalling it fixed my problem.

Answer 3

I was facing same issue: Error occurred during initialization of VM java/lang/NoClassDefFoundError: java/lang/Object

Follow below steps to resolve issue :

Step 1. Goto C:\Program Files\ and search for Java folder.

Step 2. Delete C:\Program Files\Java folder.

Step 3. Download new Jdk for your version 32 bit/64 bit from http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/java/javase/downloads/index.html

Step 4. Install JDK

Step 5: Now Set JAVA_HOME to "C:\Program Files\Java\jdk1.8.0_91"

Step 6: Open command prompt and enter java -version.

It works.

Answer 4

You are most probably missing a file called rt.jar in your installation which has the class file for java.lang.Object. Check your install files etc.

In particular, note that a 64-bit intsaller overlays (or installs "next to") an existing 32-bit installation. In other words, to get a fully working 64-bit installation, you must first run the 32-bit installation, and follow that up with a 64-bit installation if you have a 64bit capable machine...

If instead you do just a 64-bit installation you will be missing certain files in the installation and will get errors such as the one above.

Answer 5

This fixed the problem I had on CentOS

sudo yum install java-1.8.0-openjdk-devel

also see setting JAVA_HOME & CLASSPATH in CentOS 6

Answer 6

On windows this works for me

C:\jdk-8u162-windows-x64\jre\lib>..\..\bin\unpack200 -r -v rt.pack rt.jar