title: Why won't SQL Developer accept a JDK?
body: <p>I downloaded Oracle 11g r2 and am trying to launch SQL Developer for the first time.  However, it is asking for a JDK path.  When I first tried a <code>java.exe</code> that I already had installed on my PC, SQL Developer said that it was not a JDK, so I tried the following steps, which have not yet resolved the problem.</p>
  
  <p>1.) I went to <a href="http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/java/javase/downloads/jdk8-downloads-2133151.html" rel="nofollow">the oracle jdk download page</a> and explicitly downloaded <code>jdk-8u-74-windows-x64,exe</code> shown below  </p>
  
  <p>2.) I then let the installer install the program to <code>C:\ProgramFiles\Java\jdk1.8_74\</code>  </p>
  
  <p>3.) I next pointed the Oracle SQL Developer dialog box to the path of the <code>java.exe</code> in this new directory.  </p>
  
  <p>But Oracle SQL Developer just replaces the dialog box with a new empty dialog box.  This repeats every time that I try.  </p>
  
  <p><strong>Why can't Oracle SQL Developer accept this JDK?  What specific steps need to be taken to get Oracle SQL Developer to the point where it understands that it has a JDK and thus moves further into the launch process?</strong></p>
  
  <p>A screen shot is at the following link:  </p>
  
  <p><a href="http://s13.postimg.org/ilsqjdj1z/sql_developer_jdk.jpg" rel="nofollow">http://s13.postimg.org/ilsqjdj1z/sql_developer_jdk.jpg</a></p>
  
  <p>I would embed the url of the image into this view, but I need at least 10 reputation points to do that.  So please click the link to view the screen shot.  </p>
  
  <hr>
  
  <p><strong>Continuing Research:</strong>  </p>
  
  <hr>
  
  <p>I repeated the steps above with JDK 6, Build 45, but am getting the same failed results.  </p>
  
  <p>I would ask this in chat, but I need at least 20 reputation points to talk in a chat room.</p>