This is so annoying that I gave up on it some time ago. But today I will give it another try by asking you for (simple and understandable!) advice. Here's the scenario.
I start Minecraft launcher and from there Minecraft. It tells me "Java Edition". In the game I hit F3 and it tells me "Java: 1.8.0_25 64bit". Yet, whenever I try to use an interesting add-on (or is it called mod?) like Hwyla, I get a .jar file, which opens like an archive in WinRar. Not because I bound the ending to WinRar, but because there is no Java found. Similar with other tools, for example ATLauncher. I explicitly downloaded the .exe, but after starting it, it tells me "This application needs Java 1.6.0" and then my browser is started and the Java page loaded.
Now, I understand that by installing a system-wide Java, my problems may be gone. But I don't want to have such an install for security reasons. I only need to use Java for Minecraft, and am fine with the local Java that's loaded only when Microsoft starts, and ended, when I leave Minecraft.
I don't understand why those other tools don't just use the same local Java, or why they can't be ordered to use it. Is there really no way for me to use all the extensions to Minecraft just because of this sillyness? At least I could use a RessourcePack (in my case Faithfull 32x), since I just need to place the .zip files in the correct folder.
Please, please, please tell me there is a way without installing a global Java. When the game itself comes packed with a local Java, there must be a way for the addons to do the same, right?
Dude, you've got yourself turned around. You don't need to mess with Java. There are multiple ways to install a mod, but the easiest and most common way is to use the Forge modloader.
Go to https://files.minecraftforge.net/ and pick out the Minecraft version the mod is for. Download it, and make sure that Minecraft is closed out when you run the installer or it won't work.
When it's done, you'll need to find the .minecraft folder. There are a few ways to do this. You can either go to your resource packs menu, click Open Resource Pack Folder, go up one folder layer, and put the mod file (your java file) in the new mods folder that Forge should have created. (Just make sure to exit Minecraft when you're done.) Or if you have a Windows device, you can also press the Windows key and R, then type %appdata% in the box that appears. Find the .minecraft folder, and again, put the mod in the mods folder. (If you have a Mac or Linux, google it. I don't know.)
Open up the Minecraft launcher and select the new Forge profile that's been made.(Click the green arrow to the right of the play button.) Enjoy your mods!
(Rarely you'll come across a mod that's a zip file or something. Works the same way.)
Also, make a new world to play with your mods in. Don't play a modded world in vanilla and vice versa. This can really screw up that world if you're not careful.
I haven't made a mod myself yet, but I think the reason you think you're having problems with is this: Minecraft for the PC does indeed run on Java. This is why the vast majority of mods are in Java. But because they aren't connected to Minecraft at the moment, they have no idea what to do.
Thank you so much for this detailed answer, also I'm sorry for the missing system info. I'm on PC Win 10 64-bit.
I tried to follow your instructions. I downloaded Forge for my version 1.12.2 and explicitly chose "Windows installer". Yet, when running that file (an .exe file), it says "This application needs a Java 1.8.0 installation" "This application needs a Java Runtime Environment 1.8.0" . As reported in my first post, I do have 1.8.0, just not as a global install - it's local to Minecraft, resides in the Minecraft folder. As long as those Windows installers only check for a global Java, I just don't know how to solve this issue.
I followed his instructions about the console commands and it worked. Forge is installed now and I could follow the rest of @paintbrush11's explanations!
I share this for those who also have a local jre and didn't solve the issue yet.
This is so annoying that I gave up on it some time ago. But today I will give it another try by asking you for (simple and understandable!) advice. Here's the scenario.
I start Minecraft launcher and from there Minecraft. It tells me "Java Edition". In the game I hit F3 and it tells me "Java: 1.8.0_25 64bit". Yet, whenever I try to use an interesting add-on (or is it called mod?) like Hwyla, I get a .jar file, which opens like an archive in WinRar. Not because I bound the ending to WinRar, but because there is no Java found. Similar with other tools, for example ATLauncher. I explicitly downloaded the .exe, but after starting it, it tells me "This application needs Java 1.6.0" and then my browser is started and the Java page loaded.
Now, I understand that by installing a system-wide Java, my problems may be gone. But I don't want to have such an install for security reasons. I only need to use Java for Minecraft, and am fine with the local Java that's loaded only when Microsoft starts, and ended, when I leave Minecraft.
I don't understand why those other tools don't just use the same local Java, or why they can't be ordered to use it. Is there really no way for me to use all the extensions to Minecraft just because of this sillyness? At least I could use a RessourcePack (in my case Faithfull 32x), since I just need to place the .zip files in the correct folder.
Please, please, please tell me there is a way without installing a global Java. When the game itself comes packed with a local Java, there must be a way for the addons to do the same, right?
Dude, you've got yourself turned around. You don't need to mess with Java. There are multiple ways to install a mod, but the easiest and most common way is to use the Forge modloader.
Go to https://files.minecraftforge.net/ and pick out the Minecraft version the mod is for. Download it, and make sure that Minecraft is closed out when you run the installer or it won't work.
When it's done, you'll need to find the .minecraft folder. There are a few ways to do this. You can either go to your resource packs menu, click Open Resource Pack Folder, go up one folder layer, and put the mod file (your java file) in the new mods folder that Forge should have created. (Just make sure to exit Minecraft when you're done.) Or if you have a Windows device, you can also press the Windows key and R, then type %appdata% in the box that appears. Find the .minecraft folder, and again, put the mod in the mods folder. (If you have a Mac or Linux, google it. I don't know.)
Open up the Minecraft launcher and select the new Forge profile that's been made.(Click the green arrow to the right of the play button.) Enjoy your mods!
(Rarely you'll come across a mod that's a zip file or something. Works the same way.)
Also, make a new world to play with your mods in. Don't play a modded world in vanilla and vice versa. This can really screw up that world if you're not careful.
I haven't made a mod myself yet, but I think the reason you think you're having problems with is this: Minecraft for the PC does indeed run on Java. This is why the vast majority of mods are in Java. But because they aren't connected to Minecraft at the moment, they have no idea what to do.
Greetings, Earthling!
No.
Thank you so much for this detailed answer, also I'm sorry for the missing system info. I'm on PC Win 10 64-bit.
I tried to follow your instructions. I downloaded Forge for my version 1.12.2 and explicitly chose "Windows installer". Yet, when running that file (an .exe file), it says
"This application needs a Java 1.8.0 installation""This application needs a Java Runtime Environment 1.8.0" . As reported in my first post, I do have 1.8.0, just not as a global install - it's local to Minecraft, resides in the Minecraft folder. As long as those Windows installers only check for a global Java, I just don't know how to solve this issue.I think I solved it!
I found a thread on reddit from 2 years ago: https://www.reddit.com/r/Minecraft/comments/34bxus/installing_forge_with_the_new_local_java_runtime/
I followed his instructions about the console commands and it worked. Forge is installed now and I could follow the rest of @paintbrush11's explanations!
I share this for those who also have a local jre and didn't solve the issue yet.