The *Java Platform, Standard Edition Deployment Guide,* [section 21](http://docs.oracle.com/javase/8/docs/technotes/guides/deploy/properties.html#CHDDDEHJ) has an issue in the following text from paragraph 21.1.2:

"The deployment.system.config property is the URL to the system (enterprise-wide) deployment.properties file. This property can be used by system administrators to centrally administer or "lock-down" user-specific configuration settings. For local files, use the file protocol in the URL, for example, `file:///C:/Windows/Sun/Java/Deployment/deployment.properties.`"

Specifically, the issue is with the "example" ext. The following notation does not work:

  'deployment.system.config=file:///C:/Windows/Sun/Java/Deployment/deployment.properties'

Instead of the notation in the example, the following syntax must be used, or else the contents of the deployment.config and consequently, the `deployment.properties` file are essentially ignored (the `.config` and `.properties` files may as well not exist): 

  'deployment.system.config=file\:\\C\:\\Windows\\Sun\\Java\\Deployment\\deployment.properties'

Note the change from forward slashes to backslashes, as well as the required "escaping" done by the double-backslash.