I don't understand since I've used the jre-8u281-windows-x64 and our version of minecraft together several times over and it's worked fine.
I tried java 16 as you have noted but when I initially start the launcher, it says I don't have Java installed. It then opens up my browser asking me to download and install the same jre-8u281 file on the oracle site.
I tried java 17 and it says the same thing.
Sorry I don't have a better understanding, just wanting this to work for my daughter and I don't know why it's so hard when it's worked every other time.
The only different this time is an update for Windows. Don't know why that would cause errors though.
