DNS/DHCP Console Load Failure: Error: opening registry key 'Software\JavaSoft\Java Runtime Environment'

Despite uninstalling all older versions of Java, a remnant of the old install still exists.  The offending file is javaw.exe, but there may also be a java.exe in the same location.

 

In the C:\Windows\SysWOW64 directory there may be a javaw.exe and java.exe from a previous installation.  Check the properties > details tab of the file to confirm the version.  If this javaw.exe is found first then Windows is directed to look in the wrong location in the registry for the Java Runtime Environment key.  Once removed the javaw.exe from C:\Program Files\Java\JRE1.8.0_25\bin directory is found, which sends Windows down the correct path to find the necessary key in the registry.

 

Once the older version of javaw.exe is removed, the JMC should load.

 

The SysWOW64 directory is for 64-bit machines.  If this error is being encountered on a 32 bit machine, then the superfluous javaw.exe must be found and removed.  Process Monitor for Windows can be downloaded and utilized to track down the superfluous javaw.exe.  As the java.exe is also superfluous, we recommend removing it to (or copy it out to a backup directory until testing is complete).