This is my own 'hacked' version of the FreeMind launcher. If the environment variable FreeMindJavaExe is set, that value is used as full path (path + filename) of the javaw executable, otherwise the launcher simples calls 'javaw.exe' without path and relies on it being in the system path.

I have experienced PCs without a proper version (ie. at least 1.4) of javaw.exe in the Windows system32 dir (c:\windows\system32). Unless a proper version of javaw.exe can be found somewhere in the system PATH environment variable, FreeMind will not be able to start.

If you do have Java 1.4 or 1.5 runtimes somewhere on your PC, just not in your PATH, the 'hacked' FreeMind launcher can be of great help

Downloads

• Compiled executable: FreeMind.exe
• C source file: Freemind.c.txt (use with patch package at http://sourceforge.net/tracker/index.php?func=detail&aid=1361629&group_id=7118&atid=307118 or source from the FreeMind source tree)

How to install

Task 1: Locate javaw.exe

1. Using windows explorer, browse to c:\program files\java
2. If you have java runtime 1.5 installed, you will see a folder called 'jre1.5.0'.
   In this case, the javaw.exe to be used by FreeMind should be 'c:\program files\Java\jre1.5.0\bin\javaw.exe'
3. If you do not have java 1.5 installed, but do have java 1.4, you will see a folder called something like 'j2re1.4.x_xx' (x_xx will be some version number, e.g. 2_21).
   In this case, the javaw.exe to be used by FreeMind should be 'c:\program files\Java\j2re1.4.x_xx\bin\javaw.exe' (substitute x_xx appropriately)

Task 2: Set environment variable

1. Right-click 'My Computer' and select 'Properties'
2. In the tab 'Advanced' press the button 'Environment Variables'
3. In the new 'Environment Variables' window, press the top most 'New' button.
4. As variable name, enter 'FreeMindJavaExe' (without quotation marks), and as variable value, enter 'c:\program files\Java\jre1.5.0\bin\javaw.exe' (without quotation marks) or the other path to javaw.exe found earlier
5. Press OK three times

Task 3: Replace freemind.exe

1. Using windows explorer, browse to c:\program files\freemind
2. Rename the existing freemind.exe, e.g. to freemind.exe.original
3. Copy the 'hacked' freemind.exe to the folder
4. Save a copy of the 'hacked' freemind.exe in case a later update / reinstallation of FreeMind should overwrite the 'hacked' executable with the official.

Task 4: Go

1. Run the 'hacked' freemind.exe - this should launch FreeMind