Why is java -version returning a different version to the one defined in JAVA_HOME?

Run

where java

at your command prompt.

On my system, it printed something quite unexpected:

C:\Users\Mikel>where java
C:\Windows\System32\java.exe

Verifying there really is a Java there:

C:\Users\Mikel>c:\windows\system32\java.exe -version
java version "1.6.0_22"
Java(TM) SE Runtime Environment (build 1.6.0_22-b04)
Java HotSpot(TM) Client VM (build 17.1-b03, mixed mode, sharing)

So one solution is to ensure your preferred Java is in the PATH before C:\Windows\System32.

I also tried looking in the Java control panel to see if it manages the version in C:\Windows\System32, but I could only view the settings, not edit them. Maybe it works for you?

As Mikel has mentioned, In your machine java is taken from C:\Windows\System32\java.exe.

Change the Path in the System Environment variables as mentioned by John T.

And modify it have the C:\bea\jdk150_10\bin before %SystemRoot%\system32 in the path.

Modify the PATH variable, not JAVA_HOME.

See the Java documentation on setting or changing your PATH variable.

1. Start -> Control Panel -> System -> Advanced

2. Click on Environment Variables, under System Variables, find PATH, and click on it.

3. In the Edit windows, modify PATH by adding the location of the class to the value for PATH. If you do not have the item PATH, you may select to add a new variable and add PATH as the name and the location of the class as the value.

4. Close the window.

5. Reopen Command prompt window, and run your Java code.