Amazon offers an open jdk for Windows (and other OS), but just for Java 8, 11 and 16. You can download it from here: https://aws.amazon.com/es/corretto/
After installing it and running the java -version command, you will see something like this:
>java -version openjdk version "1.8.0_242" OpenJDK Runtime Environment Corretto-8.242.08.1 (build 1.8.0_242-b08) OpenJDK 64-Bit Server VM Corretto-8.242.08.1 (build 25.242-b08, mixed mode)Answer from Manuel Domรญnguez on Stack Overflow
java - How to install openJdk 8 in windows 64 bit os - Stack Overflow
Where can I download Java 8?
Do you think it is right to assume that Java 8 will never go away?
When I go to download Java from Oracle it's Java 8
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Amazon offers an open jdk for Windows (and other OS), but just for Java 8, 11 and 16. You can download it from here: https://aws.amazon.com/es/corretto/
After installing it and running the java -version command, you will see something like this:
>java -version openjdk version "1.8.0_242" OpenJDK Runtime Environment Corretto-8.242.08.1 (build 1.8.0_242-b08) OpenJDK 64-Bit Server VM Corretto-8.242.08.1 (build 25.242-b08, mixed mode)
The best way to do this is to use the builds from adoptopenjdk. They're very high quality and come in multiple variants for Windows ranging from zip files to MSI installers. Dead simple to install JDK 8, 11 or 15.
But, after the installation when I tried checking the version using command java -version it's showing like regular JDK.
This is because JAVA_HOME is pointing to your old JDK. You need to go to Control Panel and change the Environment Variables. Just do a search on Windows 10 for "Environment Variables" to easily find that configuration panel.
I want to use forge for 1.16.5 since the mods I really want are only on that version, and I can just mod in 1.17 stuff. I'm on a new laptop, and it didn't have any Java stuff installed. I installed the latest version of Java fine, but it turns out it was the wrong one for what I needed and only works with Forge 1.17.1 and 1.17.1 JAR files.
I found the link to get the Java SE Development Kit 8 Download, but this time it's asking me to log in to do it. Alright, sure, not that big a deal, I'll make an account.
The problem is, to make an Oracle account I apparently need to give them my work information?! Never mind that I'm a stay-at-home spouse so I couldn't even if I wanted to. I'm certainly not giving them my personal home info. Here's the create an account page so you can see exactly what I mean. It's all required info to create an account.
Is there a way to create an account without all this nonsense? Or possibly somewhere else I can download Java 8?
EDIT: Bonus question--of all the available mods for backporting 1.17 stuff, are there any specific ones y'all would recommend? I've found, like, five.