diff --git a/harness/apisupport.harness/release/etc/app.conf b/harness/apisupport.harness/release/etc/app.conf
index dfd92364b7a6..918deb2522b6 100644
--- a/harness/apisupport.harness/release/etc/app.conf
+++ b/harness/apisupport.harness/release/etc/app.conf
@@ -15,18 +15,23 @@
 # specific language governing permissions and limitations
 # under the License.
 
-# ${HOME} will be replaced by user home directory according to platform.
 #
 # Default locations of userdir and cachedir:
 # (http://wiki.netbeans.org/FaqWhatIsUserdir)
 #
+# The following variables can be used for these options:
+# - default_userdir
+# - default_cachedir
+# - default_options
+# - jdkhome
+#
 # On Windows ${DEFAULT_USERDIR_ROOT} will be replaced by the launcher
-# with <AppData>\<AppName>, where <AppData> is the value of 
-# "AppData" key in Windows Registry under
+# with "<AppData>\<AppName>", where <AppData> is users value of "AppData" key
+# in Windows Registry under
 # "HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Shell Folders"
 # and ${DEFAULT_CACHEDIR_ROOT} will be replaced by the launcher
 # with the value of "<LocalAppData>\<AppName>\Cache" where "LocalAppData"
-# is a key in Windows Registry under 
+# is a key in Windows Registry under
 # "HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Shell Folders".
 # <AppName> is the the executable's filename without the extension.
 #
@@ -36,15 +41,12 @@
 # where <AppName> is the launcher script's name.
 #
 # On other systems ${DEFAULT_USERDIR_ROOT} will be replaced by the launcher
-# with "${HOME}/.<AppName>" and ${DEFAULT_CACHEDIR_ROOT} with 
+# with "${HOME}/.<AppName>" and ${DEFAULT_CACHEDIR_ROOT} with
 # "${HOME}/.cache/<AppName>".
 #
 # You can also use ${HOME} variable which will be replaced with
 # user.home JVM system property value. 
 #
-# The above location variables are valid only in the default_userdir and
-# default_cachedir properties.
-#
 # NOTE: If you specify a non-default userdir path on command line
 # (--userdir option) and don't specify a cachedir path (--cachedir option),
 # cachedir will be in "<userdir>/var/cache".
@@ -52,6 +54,8 @@
 # Cachedir must be different from userdir. The same cachedir and userdir
 # would cause problems.
 #
+# ${BASEDIR} is replaced with the base directory of the NetBeans installation
+#
 
 default_userdir="${DEFAULT_USERDIR_ROOT}/dev"
 default_cachedir="${DEFAULT_CACHEDIR_ROOT}/dev"
diff --git a/harness/apisupport.harness/release/launchers/app.sh b/harness/apisupport.harness/release/launchers/app.sh
index e92dc039e9b7..9d6c245b8935 100644
--- a/harness/apisupport.harness/release/launchers/app.sh
+++ b/harness/apisupport.harness/release/launchers/app.sh
@@ -34,6 +34,11 @@ while [ -h "$PRG" ]; do
 done
 
 progdir=`dirname "$PRG"`
+old=`pwd`
+cd "$progdir"/..
+basedir=`pwd`
+cd "$old"
+
 APPNAME=`basename "$PRG"`
 if [ -z "$APP_DOCK_NAME" ] ; then
   APP_DOCK_NAME="$APPNAME"
@@ -52,8 +57,11 @@ case "`uname`" in
         ;;
 esac
 
-if [ -f "$progdir/../etc/$APPNAME".conf ] ; then
-    . "$progdir/../etc/$APPNAME".conf
+# $HOME can be used as it is present on mac OS and linux
+BASEDIR=$basedir
+
+if [ -f "$basedir/etc/$APPNAME".conf ] ; then
+    . "$basedir/etc/$APPNAME".conf
 fi
 
 # XXX does not correctly deal with spaces in non-userdir params
diff --git a/harness/apisupport.harness/windows-launcher-src/app.exe.manifest b/harness/apisupport.harness/windows-launcher-src/app.exe.manifest
index 789c48dce89d..86716c09c84f 100644
--- a/harness/apisupport.harness/windows-launcher-src/app.exe.manifest
+++ b/harness/apisupport.harness/windows-launcher-src/app.exe.manifest
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@
 
 -->
 <assembly xmlns="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:asm.v1" manifestVersion="1.0">
-<assemblyIdentity version="101.1.0.0"
+<assemblyIdentity version="101.3.0.0"
    processorArchitecture="x86"
    name="app.exe"
    type="win32"/>
diff --git a/nb/ide.launcher/netbeans.conf b/nb/ide.launcher/netbeans.conf
index c25759510b10..c9c6cb166449 100644
--- a/nb/ide.launcher/netbeans.conf
+++ b/nb/ide.launcher/netbeans.conf
@@ -14,13 +14,20 @@
 # KIND, either express or implied.  See the License for the
 # specific language governing permissions and limitations
 # under the License.
+
 #
 # Default locations of userdir and cachedir:
 # (http://wiki.netbeans.org/FaqWhatIsUserdir)
 #
+# The following variables can be used for these options:
+# - netbeans_default_userdir
+# - netbeans_default_cachedir
+# - netbeans_default_options
+# - netbeans_jdkhome
+#
 # On Windows ${DEFAULT_USERDIR_ROOT} will be replaced by the launcher
-# with "<AppData>\NetBeans" where <AppData> is user's
-# value of "AppData" key in Windows Registry under
+# with "<AppData>\NetBeans", where <AppData> is users value of "AppData" key
+# in Windows Registry under
 # "HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Shell Folders"
 # and ${DEFAULT_CACHEDIR_ROOT} will be replaced by the launcher
 # with "<Local AppData>\NetBeans\Cache" where <Local AppData> is user's
@@ -32,11 +39,11 @@
 # ${DEFAULT_CACHEDIR_ROOT} with "~/Library/Caches/NetBeans"
 #
 # On other systems ${DEFAULT_USERDIR_ROOT} will be replaced by the launcher
-# with "~/.netbeans" and ${DEFAULT_CACHEDIR_ROOT} with "~/.cache/netbeans"
+# with "${HOME}/.netbeans" and ${DEFAULT_CACHEDIR_ROOT} with
+# "${HOME}/.cache/netbeans".
 #
 # You can also use ${HOME} variable which will be replaced with
-# user.home JVM system property value. This variable is valid only in
-# netbeans_default_userdir and netbeans_default_cachedir properties.
+# user.home JVM system property value.
 #
 # NOTE: If you specify a non-default userdir path on command line
 # (--userdir option) and don't specify a cachedir path (--cachedir option),
@@ -45,6 +52,9 @@
 # Cachedir must be different from userdir. The same cachedir and userdir
 # would cause problems.
 #
+# ${BASEDIR} is replaced with the base directory of the NetBeans installation
+#
+
 netbeans_default_userdir="${DEFAULT_USERDIR_ROOT}/@@metabuild.RawVersion@@"
 netbeans_default_cachedir="${DEFAULT_CACHEDIR_ROOT}/@@metabuild.RawVersion@@"
 
diff --git a/nb/ide.launcher/unix/netbeans b/nb/ide.launcher/unix/netbeans
index bf9b842b8a81..d92b25288a66 100644
--- a/nb/ide.launcher/unix/netbeans
+++ b/nb/ide.launcher/unix/netbeans
@@ -51,6 +51,8 @@ case "`uname`" in
         ;;
 esac
 
+# $HOME can be used as it is present on mac OS and
+BASEDIR=$basedir
 
 if [ -f "$basedir"/etc/netbeans.conf ] ; then
     . "$basedir"/etc/netbeans.conf
diff --git a/nb/ide.launcher/windows/nblauncher.cpp b/nb/ide.launcher/windows/nblauncher.cpp
index 743b078507db..653940971a3b 100644
--- a/nb/ide.launcher/windows/nblauncher.cpp
+++ b/nb/ide.launcher/windows/nblauncher.cpp
@@ -43,6 +43,7 @@ const char *NbLauncher::ENV_USER_PROFILE = "USERPROFILE";
 const char *NbLauncher::HOME_TOKEN = "${HOME}";
 const char *NbLauncher::DEFAULT_USERDIR_ROOT_TOKEN = "${DEFAULT_USERDIR_ROOT}";
 const char *NbLauncher::DEFAULT_CACHEDIR_ROOT_TOKEN = "${DEFAULT_CACHEDIR_ROOT}";
+const char *NbLauncher::BASEDIR_TOKEN = "${BASEDIR}";
 const char *NbLauncher::NETBEANS_DIRECTORY = "\\NetBeans\\";
 const char *NbLauncher::NETBEANS_CACHES_DIRECTORY = "\\NetBeans\\Cache\\";
 
@@ -214,6 +215,11 @@ bool NbLauncher::initBaseNames() {
     baseDir = path;
 
     logMsg("Base dir: %s", baseDir.c_str());
+
+    getDefaultUserDirRoot();
+    getDefaultCacheDirRoot();
+    getUserHome();
+
     return true;
 }
 
@@ -365,83 +371,77 @@ bool NbLauncher::parseArgs(int argc, char *argv[]) {
 }
 
 bool NbLauncher::findUserDir(const char *str) {
-    logMsg("NbLauncher::findUserDir()");    
-    if (strncmp(str, HOME_TOKEN, strlen(HOME_TOKEN)) == 0) {
-        if (userHome.empty()) {
-            char *userProfile = getenv(ENV_USER_PROFILE);
-            if (userProfile) {
-                userHome = userProfile;
-            } else {
-                TCHAR userHomeChar[MAX_PATH]; 
-                if (FAILED(SHGetFolderPath(NULL, CSIDL_DESKTOP, NULL, 0, userHomeChar))) {    
-                    return false;
-                }
-                userHome = userHomeChar;
-                userHome.erase(userHome.rfind('\\'));
-            }
-            logMsg("User home: %s", userHome.c_str());
-        }
-        userDir = userHome + (str + strlen(HOME_TOKEN));
-    } else if (strncmp(str, DEFAULT_USERDIR_ROOT_TOKEN, strlen(DEFAULT_USERDIR_ROOT_TOKEN)) == 0) {       
-        std::string s = std::string("Replacing ") + DEFAULT_USERDIR_ROOT_TOKEN;
-        logMsg(s.c_str());
-        userDir = getDefaultUserDirRoot() + (str + strlen(DEFAULT_USERDIR_ROOT_TOKEN));
-    } else {
-        getDefaultUserDirRoot();
-        userDir = str;
-    }
+    logMsg("NbLauncher::findUserDir(%s)", str);
+    userDir = str;
+    replaceToken(userDir);
+    logMsg("NbLauncher::findUserDir: %s", userDir.c_str());
     return true;
 }
 
 bool NbLauncher::findCacheDir(const char *str) {
-    logMsg("NbLauncher::findCacheDir()");
-    if (strncmp(str, HOME_TOKEN, strlen(HOME_TOKEN)) == 0) {
-        if (userHome.empty()) {
-            char *userProfile = getenv(ENV_USER_PROFILE);
-            if (userProfile) {
-                userHome = userProfile;
-            } else {
-                TCHAR userHomeChar[MAX_PATH]; 
-                if (FAILED(SHGetFolderPath(NULL, CSIDL_DESKTOP, NULL, 0, userHomeChar))) {    
-                    return false;
-                }
-                userHome = userHomeChar;
-                userHome.erase(userHome.rfind('\\'));
-            }
-            logMsg("User home: %s", userHome.c_str());
-        }
-        cacheDir = userHome + (str + strlen(HOME_TOKEN));
-    } else if (strncmp(str, DEFAULT_CACHEDIR_ROOT_TOKEN, strlen(DEFAULT_CACHEDIR_ROOT_TOKEN)) == 0) {   
-        std::string s = std::string("Replacing ") + DEFAULT_CACHEDIR_ROOT_TOKEN;
-        logMsg(s.c_str());
-        cacheDir = getDefaultCacheDirRoot() + (str + strlen(DEFAULT_CACHEDIR_ROOT_TOKEN));
-    } else {
-        getDefaultCacheDirRoot();
-        cacheDir = str;
-    }
+    logMsg("NbLauncher::findCacheDir(%s)", str);
+    cacheDir = str;
+    replaceToken(cacheDir);
+    logMsg("NbLauncher::findCacheDir: %s", cacheDir.c_str());
     return true;
 }
 
-string NbLauncher::getDefaultUserDirRoot() {
+void NbLauncher::replaceToken(std::string& str) {
+    // Replace the allowed tokens in configuration options
+    replaceString(str, HOME_TOKEN, userHome);
+    replaceString(str, DEFAULT_CACHEDIR_ROOT_TOKEN, defCacheDirRoot);
+    replaceString(str, DEFAULT_USERDIR_ROOT_TOKEN, defUserDirRoot);
+    replaceString(str, BASEDIR_TOKEN, baseDir);
+}
+
+void NbLauncher::replaceString(std::string& str, const std::string& from, const std::string& to) {
+    if(from.empty()) {
+        return;
+    }
+    // Loop over all occurrences of the search string in the input string and
+    // replace them all
+    size_t start_pos = 0;
+    while((start_pos = str.find(from, start_pos)) != std::string::npos) {
+        str.replace(start_pos, from.length(), to);
+        // Skip over the replacement
+        start_pos += to.length();
+    }
+}
+
+void NbLauncher::getDefaultUserDirRoot() {
     TCHAR defUserDirRootChar[MAX_PATH];
     if (FAILED(SHGetFolderPath(NULL, CSIDL_APPDATA, NULL, 0, defUserDirRootChar))) {
-        return std::string();
+        defUserDirRoot = std::string();
     }
     defUserDirRoot = constructApplicationDir((string) defUserDirRootChar, false);
     defUserDirRoot.erase(defUserDirRoot.rfind('\\'));
     logMsg("Default Userdir Root: %s", defUserDirRoot.c_str());
-    return defUserDirRoot;
 }
 
-string NbLauncher::getDefaultCacheDirRoot() {
+void NbLauncher::getDefaultCacheDirRoot() {
     TCHAR defCacheDirRootChar[MAX_PATH];
     if (FAILED(SHGetFolderPath(NULL, CSIDL_LOCAL_APPDATA, NULL, 0, defCacheDirRootChar))) {
-        return std::string();
+        defCacheDirRoot = std::string();
     }
     defCacheDirRoot = constructApplicationDir((string) defCacheDirRootChar, true);
     defCacheDirRoot.erase(defCacheDirRoot.rfind('\\'));
     logMsg("Default Cachedir Root: %s", defCacheDirRoot.c_str());
-    return defCacheDirRoot;
+}
+
+void NbLauncher::getUserHome() {
+    char *userProfile = getenv(ENV_USER_PROFILE);
+    if (userProfile) {
+        userHome = userProfile;
+    } else {
+        TCHAR userHomeChar[MAX_PATH];
+        if (FAILED(SHGetFolderPath(NULL, CSIDL_DESKTOP, NULL, 0, userHomeChar))) {
+            defCacheDirRoot = std::string();
+            userHome = std::string();
+        }
+        userHome = userHomeChar;
+        userHome.erase(userHome.rfind('\\'));
+    }
+    logMsg("User home: %s", userHome.c_str());
 }
 
 bool NbLauncher::getOption(char *&str, const char *opt) {
@@ -492,12 +492,15 @@ bool NbLauncher::parseConfigFile(const char* path) {
             }
             str[k] = '\0';
             nbOptions = str;
+            replaceToken(nbOptions);
             logMsg("After replacement: %s", nbOptions.c_str());
 
         } else if (getOption(str, getExtraClustersOptName())) {
             extraClusters = str;
         } else if (getOption(str, getJdkHomeOptName())) {
             jdkHome = str;
+            replaceToken(jdkHome);
+            logMsg("jdkHome: %s", jdkHome.c_str());
         }
     }
     bool ok = ferror(file) == 0;
diff --git a/nb/ide.launcher/windows/nblauncher.h b/nb/ide.launcher/windows/nblauncher.h
index 469a21f4fa89..f2934ea0394e 100644
--- a/nb/ide.launcher/windows/nblauncher.h
+++ b/nb/ide.launcher/windows/nblauncher.h
@@ -50,6 +50,8 @@ class NbLauncher {
     static const char *REG_DEFAULT_USERDIR_ROOT;
     static const char *REG_DEFAULT_CACHEDIR_ROOT;
     static const char* staticOptions[];
+    static const char *BASEDIR_TOKEN;
+    static const char *USERDIR_TOKEN;
 
     typedef int (*StartPlatform)(int argc, char *argv[]);
 
@@ -82,8 +84,11 @@ class NbLauncher {
     bool getOption(char *&str, const char *opt);
     void addCluster(const char *cl);
     void addExtraClusters();
-    std::string getDefaultUserDirRoot();
-    std::string getDefaultCacheDirRoot();
+    void getDefaultUserDirRoot();
+    void getDefaultCacheDirRoot();
+    void getUserHome();
+    void replaceToken(std::string& str);
+    void replaceString(std::string& str, const std::string& from, const std::string& to);
 
 protected:
     std::string baseDir;
diff --git a/nb/ide.launcher/windows/netbeans.exe.manifest b/nb/ide.launcher/windows/netbeans.exe.manifest
index 67ef02109c6c..554f74f3e958 100644
--- a/nb/ide.launcher/windows/netbeans.exe.manifest
+++ b/nb/ide.launcher/windows/netbeans.exe.manifest
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@
 
 -->
 <assembly xmlns="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:asm.v1" manifestVersion="1.0">
-<assemblyIdentity version="101.2.0.0"
+<assemblyIdentity version="101.3.0.0"
    processorArchitecture="x86"
    name="netbeans.exe"
    type="win32"/>
diff --git a/nb/ide.launcher/windows/netbeans64.exe.manifest b/nb/ide.launcher/windows/netbeans64.exe.manifest
index 486d4df14f31..e06169128842 100644
--- a/nb/ide.launcher/windows/netbeans64.exe.manifest
+++ b/nb/ide.launcher/windows/netbeans64.exe.manifest
@@ -22,7 +22,7 @@
 <assembly xmlns="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:asm.v1" manifestVersion="1.0">
 <!-- Use processorArchitecture="x86", which is the value used by the 64-bit
      javaw.exe on Java 10.0.2 and Java 11ea. -->
-<assemblyIdentity version="101.2.0.0"
+<assemblyIdentity version="101.3.0.0"
    processorArchitecture="x86"
    name="netbeans64.exe"
    type="win32"/>
diff --git a/nb/ide.launcher/windows/version.h b/nb/ide.launcher/windows/version.h
index a8ebf296903a..6394da52b453 100644
--- a/nb/ide.launcher/windows/version.h
+++ b/nb/ide.launcher/windows/version.h
@@ -19,9 +19,9 @@
 
 #define COMPANY ""
 #define COMPONENT "Apache NetBeans IDE Launcher"
-#define VER "101.2.0.0"
-#define FVER 101,2,0,0
-#define BUILD_ID "101200"
+#define VER "101.3.0.0"
+#define FVER 101,3,0,0
+#define BUILD_ID "101300"
 #define INTERNAL_NAME "netbeans"
 #define COPYRIGHT "Based on Apache NetBeans from the Apache Software Foundation and is licensed under Apache License Version 2.0"
 #define NAME "Apache NetBeans IDE Launcher"
diff --git a/platform/o.n.bootstrap/launcher/windows/Makefile.mingw b/platform/o.n.bootstrap/launcher/windows/Makefile.mingw
index feaaec349ac1..0553c21dfdc0 100644
--- a/platform/o.n.bootstrap/launcher/windows/Makefile.mingw
+++ b/platform/o.n.bootstrap/launcher/windows/Makefile.mingw
@@ -31,22 +31,22 @@ nbexec64.res: nbexec.rc
 	x86_64-w64-mingw32-windres -o$(TMPFLD)nbexec64.res -Ocoff nbexec.rc
 
 nbexec64.dll: include/jni.h include/jni_types.h jvmlauncher.cpp nbexec.cpp platformlauncher.cpp utilsfuncs.cpp nbexec64.res
-	x86_64-w64-mingw32-gcc -s -shared -m64 -o $(OFLD)nbexec64.dll -I include jvmlauncher.cpp nbexec.cpp platformlauncher.cpp utilsfuncs.cpp $(TMPFLD)nbexec64.res -Wl,--no-insert-timestamp -static -lstdc++ -static-libstdc++ -static-libgcc
+	x86_64-w64-mingw32-gcc -s -shared -m64 -o $(OFLD)nbexec64.dll -I include jvmlauncher.cpp nbexec.cpp platformlauncher.cpp utilsfuncs.cpp $(TMPFLD)nbexec64.res -Wl,--no-insert-timestamp -static -lstdc++ -lshlwapi -static-libstdc++ -static-libgcc
 
 nbexec_exe64.res: nbexec_exe.rc nbexec.exe.manifest
 	x86_64-w64-mingw32-windres -o$(TMPFLD)nbexec_exe64.res -Ocoff -DMANIFEST_FILE=nbexec.exe.manifest nbexec_exe.rc
 
 nbexec64.exe: nbexecexe.cpp utilsfuncs.cpp nbexec_exe64.res
-	x86_64-w64-mingw32-gcc -s -DNBEXEC_DLL='"nbexec64.dll"' -DARCHITECTURE=64 -Wl,--nxcompat -Wl,--dynamicbase -Wl,--no-seh -Wl,--no-insert-timestamp -mwindows nbexecexe.cpp utilsfuncs.cpp $(TMPFLD)nbexec_exe64.res -o$(OFLD)nbexec64.exe -static -lstdc++ -static-libstdc++ -static-libgcc
+	x86_64-w64-mingw32-gcc -s -DNBEXEC_DLL='"nbexec64.dll"' -DARCHITECTURE=64 -Wl,--nxcompat -Wl,--dynamicbase -Wl,--no-seh -Wl,--no-insert-timestamp -mwindows nbexecexe.cpp utilsfuncs.cpp $(TMPFLD)nbexec_exe64.res -o$(OFLD)nbexec64.exe -static -lstdc++ -lshlwapi -static-libstdc++ -static-libgcc
 
 nbexec.res: nbexec.rc
 	i686-w64-mingw32-windres -o$(TMPFLD)nbexec.res -Ocoff nbexec.rc
 
 nbexec.dll: include/jni.h include/jni_types.h jvmlauncher.cpp nbexec.cpp platformlauncher.cpp utilsfuncs.cpp nbexec.res
-	i686-w64-mingw32-gcc -s -shared -o $(OFLD)nbexec.dll -I include jvmlauncher.cpp nbexec.cpp platformlauncher.cpp utilsfuncs.cpp $(TMPFLD)nbexec.res -static -Wl,--no-insert-timestamp -lstdc++ -static-libstdc++ -static-libgcc
+	i686-w64-mingw32-gcc -s -shared -o $(OFLD)nbexec.dll -I include jvmlauncher.cpp nbexec.cpp platformlauncher.cpp utilsfuncs.cpp $(TMPFLD)nbexec.res -static -Wl,--no-insert-timestamp -lstdc++ -lshlwapi -static-libstdc++ -static-libgcc
 
 nbexec_exe.res: nbexec_exe.rc nbexec.exe.manifest
 	i686-w64-mingw32-windres -o$(TMPFLD)nbexec_exe.res -Ocoff -DMANIFEST_FILE=nbexec.exe.manifest nbexec_exe.rc
 
 nbexec.exe: nbexecexe.cpp utilsfuncs.cpp nbexec_exe.res
-	i686-w64-mingw32-gcc -s -DNBEXEC_DLL='"nbexec.dll"' -DARCHITECTURE=32 -Wl,--nxcompat -Wl,--dynamicbase -Wl,--no-seh -Wl,--no-insert-timestamp -mwindows nbexecexe.cpp utilsfuncs.cpp $(TMPFLD)nbexec_exe.res -o$(OFLD)nbexec.exe -static -lstdc++ -static-libstdc++ -static-libgcc
+	i686-w64-mingw32-gcc -s -DNBEXEC_DLL='"nbexec.dll"' -DARCHITECTURE=32 -Wl,--nxcompat -Wl,--dynamicbase -Wl,--no-seh -Wl,--no-insert-timestamp -mwindows nbexecexe.cpp utilsfuncs.cpp $(TMPFLD)nbexec_exe.res -o$(OFLD)nbexec.exe -static -lstdc++ -lshlwapi -static-libstdc++ -static-libgcc
diff --git a/platform/o.n.bootstrap/launcher/windows/jvmlauncher.cpp b/platform/o.n.bootstrap/launcher/windows/jvmlauncher.cpp
index 325eb5db4219..978aaeb2562d 100644
--- a/platform/o.n.bootstrap/launcher/windows/jvmlauncher.cpp
+++ b/platform/o.n.bootstrap/launcher/windows/jvmlauncher.cpp
@@ -413,6 +413,12 @@ bool JvmLauncher::findJava(const char *minJavaVersion) {
     if (findJava(JRE_KEY, "", minJavaVersion)) {
         return true;
     }
+    if (findJavaByJavaHome()) {
+        return true;
+    }
+    if (findJavaByPath()) {
+        return true;
+    }
     javaPath = "";
     javaExePath = "";
     javaClientDllPath = "";
@@ -452,3 +458,38 @@ bool JvmLauncher::findJava(const char *javaKey, const char *prefix, const char *
     // probably also need to check 32bit registry when launcher becomes 64-bit but is not the case now.   
     return result;    
 }
+
+bool JvmLauncher::findJavaByPath() {
+    logMsg("JvmLauncher::findJavaByPath()");
+    bool result = false;
+    char path[MAX_PATH] = {0};
+    DWORD searchResult = SearchPath(NULL, "javac.exe", NULL, MAX_PATH, (LPSTR)path, NULL);
+    if (searchResult == 0) {
+        logErr(true, false, "JvmLauncher::findJavaByPath(): Failed to find javac.exe on path");
+    } else if ( searchResult > MAX_PATH ) {
+        logErr(true, false, "JvmLauncher::findJavaByPath(): Path exceeds buffer: %d", result);
+    } else {
+        logMsg("JvmLauncher::findJavaByPath(): Path search resulted in %s", path);
+        // Remove filename
+        PathRemoveFileSpec(path);
+        logMsg("JvmLauncher::findJavaByPath(): javac.exe stripped %s", path);
+        // Remove the bin directory
+        PathRemoveFileSpec(path);
+        logMsg("JvmLauncher::findJavaByPath(): bin stripped %s", path);
+        result = checkJava(path, "");
+    }
+    return result;
+}
+
+bool JvmLauncher::findJavaByJavaHome() {
+    logMsg("JvmLauncher::findJavaByJavaHome()");
+    bool result = false;
+    const char* javaHomeValue = getenv("JAVA_HOME");
+    if (javaHomeValue != NULL) {
+        logMsg("JvmLauncher::findJavaByJavaHome(): JAVA_HOME set to %s", javaHomeValue);
+        result = checkJava(javaHomeValue, "");
+    } else {
+        logErr(false, false, "JvmLauncher::findJavaByJavaHome(): Environment variable JAVA_HOME not set");
+    }
+    return result;
+}
diff --git a/platform/o.n.bootstrap/launcher/windows/jvmlauncher.h b/platform/o.n.bootstrap/launcher/windows/jvmlauncher.h
index 01f4e3448c97..f4a61e8f2578 100644
--- a/platform/o.n.bootstrap/launcher/windows/jvmlauncher.h
+++ b/platform/o.n.bootstrap/launcher/windows/jvmlauncher.h
@@ -24,6 +24,8 @@
 #define	_JVMLAUNCHER_H
 
 #include <windows.h>
+#include <processenv.h>
+#include <shlwapi.h>
 #include <string>
 #include <list>
 #include "jni.h"
@@ -65,6 +67,8 @@ class JvmLauncher {
     bool checkJava(const char *javaPath, const char *prefix);
     bool findJava(const char *minJavaVersion);
     bool findJava(const char *javaKey, const char *prefix, const char *minJavaVersion);
+    bool findJavaByPath();
+    bool findJavaByJavaHome();
     bool startOutProcJvm(const char *mainClassName, const std::list<std::string> &args, const std::list<std::string> &options, DWORD *retCode);
     bool startInProcJvm(const char *mainClassName, const std::list<std::string> &args, const std::list<std::string> &options);
     bool isVersionString(const char *str);
diff --git a/platform/o.n.bootstrap/launcher/windows/nbexec.exe.manifest b/platform/o.n.bootstrap/launcher/windows/nbexec.exe.manifest
index 946684f593f1..d1699b65b6f2 100644
--- a/platform/o.n.bootstrap/launcher/windows/nbexec.exe.manifest
+++ b/platform/o.n.bootstrap/launcher/windows/nbexec.exe.manifest
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@
 
 -->
 <assembly xmlns="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:asm.v1" manifestVersion="1.0">
-<assemblyIdentity version="101.2.0.0"
+<assemblyIdentity version="101.3.0.0"
    processorArchitecture="X86"
    name="nbexec.exe"
    type="win32"/>
diff --git a/platform/o.n.bootstrap/launcher/windows/version.h b/platform/o.n.bootstrap/launcher/windows/version.h
index 5345b55c3729..7751b33d1599 100644
--- a/platform/o.n.bootstrap/launcher/windows/version.h
+++ b/platform/o.n.bootstrap/launcher/windows/version.h
@@ -19,9 +19,9 @@
 
 #define COMPANY ""
 #define COMPONENT "Apache NetBeans Platform Launcher"
-#define VER "101.2.0.0"
-#define FVER 101,2,0,0
-#define BUILD_ID "101200"
+#define VER "101.3.0.0"
+#define FVER 101,3,0,0
+#define BUILD_ID "101300"
 #define INTERNAL_NAME "nbexec"
 #define COPYRIGHT "Based on Apache NetBeans from the Apache Software Foundation and is licensed under Apache License Version 2.0"
 #define NAME "Apache NetBeans Platform Launcher"