# Java error on startup when I launch Processing

**URL:** <https://discourse.processing.org/t/java-error-on-startup-when-i-launch-processing/14625>\
**Category:** Processing\
**Created:** [October 12, 2019, 4:42am UTC](https://discourse.processing.org/t/java-error-on-startup-when-i-launch-processing/14625 "2019-10-12T04:42:31Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![paul3883](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/bbce88/32.png) [@paul3883](https://discourse.processing.org/u/paul3883)\
**Post date:** [October 12, 2019, 4:42am UTC](https://discourse.processing.org/t/java-error-on-startup-when-i-launch-processing/14625/1 "2019-10-12T04:42:31Z")

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Hi, I’m having a strange error but i can’t seam to fix it. When i launch processing I get this popup and then processing closes. It’s been working without any issues for the past couple months … just sudenly today i’m getting this. I’ve tried replacing the sketchbook, but that didn’t solve anything. I tried redownloading and reinstalling but same …

 ![CaptureError](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex036/uploads/processingfoundation1/original/2X/5/596ec596eb0a0e6a902dd8034f20888ed99d92e6.jpeg)

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**Author:** ![paul3883](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/bbce88/32.png) [@paul3883](https://discourse.processing.org/u/paul3883)\
**Post date:** [October 12, 2019, 11:19am UTC](https://discourse.processing.org/t/java-error-on-startup-when-i-launch-processing/14625/2 "2019-10-12T11:19:07Z")

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☹ anybody?

I’ve managed to install the file on another computer but its not the one I use normally … It’s obviously a conflict somewhere but i’m really not sure how/what to check. I havn’t installed anything in between the time it worked and the time it didnt. Maybe a local update of some sort …

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**Author:** ![kll](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex036/user_avatar/discourse.processing.org/kll/32/964_2.png) [@kll](https://discourse.processing.org/u/kll)\
**Post date:** [October 12, 2019, 12:59pm UTC](https://discourse.processing.org/t/java-error-on-startup-when-i-launch-processing/14625/3 "2019-10-12T12:59:28Z")

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hi there,  
i want to help, but also i have problems to understand your report.

-a- second post first:

> [@paul3883](#):
>
> install the file on another computer

no idea what you talk about

- install ( unzip ) processing
- copy one of your sketch

anyhow miss the info how it play out.

* * *

first post:

> [@paul3883](#):
>
> I’ve tried replacing the sketchbook, but that didn’t solve anything. I tried redownloading and reinstalling but same

ok, with processing we must consider 3 locations on your computer:

- -a- processing ( with java )  
you unzip the downloaded processing like ( for a win 10 )  
[http://download.processing.org/processing-3.5.3-windows64.zip](http://download.processing.org/processing-3.5.3-windows64.zip)  
to any directory like

> C:\Users\ \< USER \> \Documents\processing-3.5.3

when you start we talk about the

> C:\Users\ \< USER \> \Documents\processing-3.5.3\processing.exe

( or any link to it )

- -b- at first start it makes 2 more directories

> C:\Users\ \< USER \> \Documents\Processing\

what is for sketches, libraries and modes  
called sketchbook  
if you deleted that you lost all your projects.

- -c- and a directory i call system directory ( here for windows )

> c:\Users\ \< USER \> \AppData\Roaming\Processing\

where the preference file and old error logs are.

* * *

in case if unzip newest downloaded processing for your system  
and still not start, i recommend to delete that -c- system directory  
possible there is something bad.  
what you can loose max with deleting that is any adjustments made in  
PDE / File / Preferences /  
( like skechbook path and editor look… )

* * *

try to be more precise next time.

- OS name and version
- processing version ( and bit 32/64? )
- downloaded filename
- path information

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**Author:** ![paul3883](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/bbce88/32.png) [@paul3883](https://discourse.processing.org/u/paul3883)\
**Post date:** [October 14, 2019, 2:28am UTC](https://discourse.processing.org/t/java-error-on-startup-when-i-launch-processing/14625/4 "2019-10-14T02:28:33Z")

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Hi Kll … thanks

So …

a: what i mean is i used the processing program install file that i had and tried it out on another computer and it worked without an itch. So I know that the issue is linked to my current computer configuration and not processing. I can use processing program on that computer now, just not on my own computer.

b: Yes … so this is what i mean by forcing it to reconfigure and recreate the sketchbook directory. I removed it (relabeled no worries I kept all my previous projects safe) and it thus said that they were missing so processing would regenerate the directories … which it did.

c: I havn’t checked that directory … I’ll try and remove it and see if by getting processing to regenerat that directory it’ll work. Thanks a lot, I’ll tell you how that went. Hope its the issue

* * *

OS … Microsoft 10  
processing version 64bit processing-3.5.3

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![paul3883](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/bbce88/32.png) [@paul3883](https://discourse.processing.org/u/paul3883)\
**Post date:** [October 14, 2019, 2:33am UTC](https://discourse.processing.org/t/java-error-on-startup-when-i-launch-processing/14625/5 "2019-10-14T02:33:15Z")

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IT WORKED!!! thank you KLL 🙂