Installing HP SmartStream for InDesign 2025 looking for Java Zulu 8

[kjjgrant1]

When trying to install the HP SmartStream plugin for InDesign 2025, the application is looking for Java Zulu 8 in a specific directory (C:\Program Files\Zulu\Java-8).. It's there and installed, but for whatever reason, it's not seeing it.  Any thoughts?  Thank you!

[Samrit26]

Hello,

Got it — this is a known installer-detection problem with HP SmartStream Designer (InDesign 2025) on Windows 11, and it’s not that Java isn’t installed. It’s that the SmartStream installer is hard-coded to look for Java in a very specific way, and Zulu 8 doesn’t always register itself the way HP expects.

I’ll explain why it fails, then give you reliable fixes, starting with the least invasive.

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Why SmartStream “can’t see” Zulu Java 8

The SmartStream installer does not simply check:

C:\Program Files\Zulu\Java-8

It checks one or more of the following:

1. Windows registry keys

2. JAVA_HOME environment variable

3. Exact subfolder structure (including bin\javaw.exe)

4. 32-bit vs 64-bit Java mismatch

If any one of those is missing or different, the installer assumes Java is not installed.

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Step 1 – Verify you installed the correct Java (critical)

SmartStream requires:

• ✅ Java 8

• ✅ 64-bit

• ❌ Not Java 11 / 17 / newer

• ❌ Not 32-bit

Check:

C:\Program Files\Zulu\Java-8\bin\java.exe C:\Program Files\Zulu\Java-8\bin\javaw.exe

If javaw.exe is missing → installer will fail.

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Step 2 – Set JAVA_HOME manually (most common fix)

Even if Java is installed, SmartStream will not find it unless JAVA_HOME is defined.

Do this:

1. Open System Properties

   • Win + R → sysdm.cpl

2. Advanced tab → Environment Variables

3. Under System variables → New

   • Variable name: JAVA_HOME

   • Variable value:

     C:\Program Files\Zulu\Java-8

4. Edit Path (System variables)

   • Add:

     %JAVA_HOME%\bin

5. Click OK → reboot

⚠️ Reboot is required.

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Step 3 – Registry check (this is what HP installer really uses)

SmartStream often checks Oracle-style registry keys even when using Zulu.

Check this key:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE \SOFTWARE \JavaSoft \Java Runtime Environment

You should see:

• CurrentVersion = 1.8

• A subkey 1.8

  • JavaHome =

    C:\Program Files\Zulu\Java-8

If it does NOT exist

Zulu does not always create this. You can safely add it manually.

This does NOT break Java or Windows.

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Step 4 – Install Zulu 8 using the MSI, not ZIP

If you used a ZIP or custom installer, detection often fails.

Best practice:

• Uninstall Zulu 8

• Reinstall using Zulu 8 MSI installer

• Accept default paths

• Reboot

• Re-run SmartStream installer

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Step 5 – Run installer elevated

Right-click the SmartStream installer → Run as Administrator

Without elevation, registry reads can silently fail.

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Step 6 – Known SmartStream + InDesign 2025 caveat

HP SmartStream Designer was originally validated for:

• InDesign 2023 / 2024

• Windows 10

On InDesign 2025 + Windows 11:

• Java detection is fragile

• HP has not fully modernized the installer

This is an HP installer limitation, not your system.