How to run Eclipse with different Java version?

I am using Eclipse for developing BlackBerry Applications. I have JDK/JRE 7 currently on my computer, but that makes the BlackBerry plugins crash. Actually is a known issue and the only thing need to be done is run Eclipse with JDK/JRE 6 instead of 7.

I downloaded and installed version 6. However I am pretty sure Eclipse still uses 7. I had the same problem a year ago and I remembered I had to configure some System Variables and it worked, but I can't really find the solution now.

Any idea on this one? Important! I don't want to compile in version 6, which means I just have to choose the Java version through Eclipse. What I need is Eclipse to start with version 6.

• Open eclipse config file eclipse.ini in your Eclipse folder.

• Add -vm yourPath\Java\jre6\bin\javaw.exe like:

  -startup
  plugins/org.eclipse.equinox.launcher_1.3.0.v20120522-1813.jar
  --launcher.library
  plugins/org.eclipse.equinox.launcher.win32.win32.x86_64_1.1.200.v20120522-1813
  -product
  org.eclipse.epp.package.java.product
  --launcher.defaultAction
  openFile
  --launcher.XXMaxPermSize
  256M
  -vm 
  C:\Java\jre6\bin\javaw.exe
  ...
  

If the path contains spaces there is no need to escape them, see the Eclipse Wiki for more specs. The -vm option and the path must be on separate lines. The -vm option must come before the -vmargs option. On Linux, the path would typically be /bin/java instead of the Windows path shown above. You must use the Java and Eclipse versions must match (i.e. 32-bit Eclipse runs on 32-bit Java and 64-bit Eclipse runs on 64-bit Java).

Note that option -vm C:\Java\jre6\bin\javaw.exe should be right before -vmargs. Otherwise you'll get 'Error: Could not create the Java Virtual Machine. Error: A fatal exception has occurred. Program will exit'

Do this:
1. Go to the folder where eclipse is installed (the one that has the eclipse.exe program in)
2. Open the text file eclipse.ini with notepad or something similar
3. Add the following lines to specify the JVM location using the -vm argument

-vm 
c:/jre/bin/javaw.exe  

Now start eclipse in the usual way.

Make sure to position the -vm argument before -vmargs, since the latter is passed to the VM on startup it will be too late to set the VM after this.

More info is available on the Eclipse wiki

You could also have changed the system path as per one of the other answers but this would change the JVM being used for the whole system. If you use the eclipse.ini settings it allows everything else to use the latest JVM.