SoapUI 4.0.0 won't start with Java 1.7.0

64 bit Windows 7, 64 bit SoapUI without Java, local 64 bit JDK version 1.7.0
when JAVA_HOME points to java 1.7.0, soapUI shows the splash screen and then dies. switching back to java 1.6.0_24 fixes the problem.

Output to console when starting from soapui.bat with jdk 1.7 is:

C:\Program Files\eviware\soapUI-4.0.0\bin>set J
JAVA_HOME=C:\Program Files\Java\jdk1.7.0

C:\Program Files\eviware\soapUI-4.0.0\bin>java -version
java version "1.7.0"
Java(TM) SE Runtime Environment (build 1.7.0-b147)
Java HotSpot(TM) 64-Bit Server VM (build 21.0-b17, mixed mode)

C:\Program Files\eviware\soapUI-4.0.0\bin>soapui.bat
Configuring log4j from [C:\Program Files\eviware\soapUI-4.0.0\bin\soapui-log4j.x
ml]
log4j:ERROR setFile(null,true) call failed.
java.io.FileNotFoundException: soapui-errors.log (Access is denied)
at java.io.FileOutputStream.open(Native Method)
at java.io.FileOutputStream.<init>(FileOutputStream.java:212)
at java.io.FileOutputStream.<init>(FileOutputStream.java:136)
at org.apache.log4j.FileAppender.setFile(FileAppender.java:289)
at org.apache.log4j.RollingFileAppender.setFile(RollingFileAppender.java
:167)
at org.apache.log4j.FileAppender.activateOptions(FileAppender.java:163)
at org.apache.log4j.config.PropertySetter.activate(PropertySetter.java:2
56)
at org.apache.log4j.xml.DOMConfigurator.parseAppender(DOMConfigurator.ja
va:220)
at org.apache.log4j.xml.DOMConfigurator.findAppenderByName(DOMConfigurat
or.java:150)
at org.apache.log4j.xml.DOMConfigurator.findAppenderByReference(DOMConfi
gurator.java:163)
at org.apache.log4j.xml.DOMConfigurator.parseChildrenOfLoggerElement(DOM
Configurator.java:425)
at org.apache.log4j.xml.DOMConfigurator.parseCategory(DOMConfigurator.ja
va:345)
at org.apache.log4j.xml.DOMConfigurator.parse(DOMConfigurator.java:827)
at org.apache.log4j.xml.DOMConfigurator.doConfigure(DOMConfigurator.java
:712)
at org.apache.log4j.xml.DOMConfigurator.doConfigure(DOMConfigurator.java
:604)
at org.apache.log4j.xml.XMLWatchdog.doOnChange(DOMConfigurator.java:861)

at org.apache.log4j.helpers.FileWatchdog.checkAndConfigure(FileWatchdog.
java:88)
at org.apache.log4j.helpers.FileWatchdog.<init>(FileWatchdog.java:57)
at org.apache.log4j.xml.XMLWatchdog.<init>(DOMConfigurator.java:853)
at org.apache.log4j.xml.DOMConfigurator.configureAndWatch(DOMConfigurato
r.java:584)
at com.eviware.soapui.DefaultSoapUICore.initLog(DefaultSoapUICore.java:4
92)
at com.eviware.soapui.DefaultSoapUICore.init(DefaultSoapUICore.java:136)

at com.eviware.soapui.StandaloneSoapUICore.<init>(StandaloneSoapUICore.j
ava:37)
at com.eviware.soapui.SoapUI$SoapUIRunner.run(SoapUI.java:627)
at com.eviware.soapui.SoapUI.main(SoapUI.java:723)
log4j:ERROR setFile(null,false) call failed.
java.io.FileNotFoundException: soapui.log (Access is denied)
at java.io.FileOutputStream.open(Native Method)
at java.io.FileOutputStream.<init>(FileOutputStream.java:212)
at java.io.FileOutputStream.<init>(FileOutputStream.java:136)
at org.apache.log4j.FileAppender.setFile(FileAppender.java:289)
at org.apache.log4j.RollingFileAppender.setFile(RollingFileAppender.java
:167)
at org.apache.log4j.FileAppender.activateOptions(FileAppender.java:163)
at org.apache.log4j.config.PropertySetter.activate(PropertySetter.java:2
56)
at org.apache.log4j.xml.DOMConfigurator.parseAppender(DOMConfigurator.ja
va:220)
at org.apache.log4j.xml.DOMConfigurator.findAppenderByName(DOMConfigurat
or.java:150)
at org.apache.log4j.xml.DOMConfigurator.findAppenderByReference(DOMConfi
gurator.java:163)
at org.apache.log4j.xml.DOMConfigurator.parseChildrenOfLoggerElement(DOM
Configurator.java:425)
at org.apache.log4j.xml.DOMConfigurator.parseRoot(DOMConfigurator.java:3
94)
at org.apache.log4j.xml.DOMConfigurator.parse(DOMConfigurator.java:829)
at org.apache.log4j.xml.DOMConfigurator.doConfigure(DOMConfigurator.java
:712)
at org.apache.log4j.xml.DOMConfigurator.doConfigure(DOMConfigurator.java
:604)
at org.apache.log4j.xml.XMLWatchdog.doOnChange(DOMConfigurator.java:861)

at org.apache.log4j.helpers.FileWatchdog.checkAndConfigure(FileWatchdog.
java:88)
at org.apache.log4j.helpers.FileWatchdog.<init>(FileWatchdog.java:57)
at org.apache.log4j.xml.XMLWatchdog.<init>(DOMConfigurator.java:853)
at org.apache.log4j.xml.DOMConfigurator.configureAndWatch(DOMConfigurato
r.java:584)
at com.eviware.soapui.DefaultSoapUICore.initLog(DefaultSoapUICore.java:4
92)
at com.eviware.soapui.DefaultSoapUICore.init(DefaultSoapUICore.java:136)

at com.eviware.soapui.StandaloneSoapUICore.<init>(StandaloneSoapUICore.j
ava:37)
at com.eviware.soapui.SoapUI$SoapUIRunner.run(SoapUI.java:627)
at com.eviware.soapui.SoapUI.main(SoapUI.java:723)
10:01:07,907 INFO [DefaultSoapUICore] initialized soapui-settings from [C:\User
s\pjl.VADOM\soapui-settings.xml]
10:01:09,934 INFO [WorkspaceImpl] Loading workspace from [C:\Users\pjl.VADOM\de
fault-soapui-workspace.xml]
10:01:09,990 INFO [WsdlProject] Loaded project from [file:/C:/Users/pjl.VADOM/D
ocuments/SoapUITestCases/jx-web-services-rest-soapui-project.xml]
10:01:10,918 INFO [SoapUI] Used java version: 1.7.0
java.lang.NullPointerException
at com.eviware.soapui.support.components.JPropertiesTable.<init>(JProper
tiesTable.java:90)
at com.eviware.soapui.impl.EmptyPanelBuilder.buildDefaultProperties(Empt
yPanelBuilder.java:56)
at com.eviware.soapui.impl.WorkspaceImplPanelBuilder.buildOverviewPanel(
WorkspaceImplPanelBuilder.java:36)
at com.eviware.soapui.impl.WorkspaceImplPanelBuilder.buildOverviewPanel(
WorkspaceImplPanelBuilder.java:26)
at com.eviware.soapui.SoapUI$InternalNavigatorListener.nodeSelected(Soap
UI.java:1131)
at com.eviware.soapui.ui.Navigator$InternalTreeSelectionListener.valueCh
anged(Navigator.java:302)
at javax.swing.JTree.fireValueChanged(JTree.java:2917)
at javax.swing.JTree$TreeSelectionRedirector.valueChanged(JTree.java:337
6)
at javax.swing.tree.DefaultTreeSelectionModel.fireValueChanged(DefaultTr
eeSelectionModel.java:634)
at javax.swing.tree.DefaultTreeSelectionModel.notifyPathChange(DefaultTr
eeSelectionModel.java:1092)
at javax.swing.tree.DefaultTreeSelectionModel.setSelectionPaths(DefaultT
reeSelectionModel.java:293)
at javax.swing.tree.DefaultTreeSelectionModel.setSelectionPath(DefaultTr
eeSelectionModel.java:187)
at javax.swing.JTree.setSelectionPath(JTree.java:1631)
at com.eviware.soapui.ui.Navigator.selectModelItem(Navigator.java:198)
at com.eviware.soapui.SoapUI.buildUI(SoapUI.java:267)
at com.eviware.soapui.SoapUI.show(SoapUI.java:929)
at com.eviware.soapui.SoapUI.startSoapUI(SoapUI.java:792)
at com.eviware.soapui.SoapUI$SoapUIRunner.run(SoapUI.java:627)
at com.eviware.soapui.SoapUI.main(SoapUI.java:723)
C:\Program Files\eviware\soapUI-4.0.0\bin>

at which point the splash screen has disappeared and soapUI has failed to launch.

BUT with jdk 1.6.0_24 we get:

C:\Program Files\eviware\soapUI-4.0.0\bin>set J
JAVA_HOME=C:\Program Files\Java\jdk1.6.0_24

C:\Program Files\eviware\soapUI-4.0.0\bin>soapui.bat
Configuring log4j from [C:\Program Files\eviware\soapUI-4.0.0\bin\soapui-log4j.x
ml]
log4j:ERROR setFile(null,true) call failed.
java.io.FileNotFoundException: soapui-errors.log (Access is denied)
at java.io.FileOutputStream.openAppend(Native Method)
at java.io.FileOutputStream.<init>(FileOutputStream.java:177)
at java.io.FileOutputStream.<init>(FileOutputStream.java:102)
at org.apache.log4j.FileAppender.setFile(FileAppender.java:289)
at org.apache.log4j.RollingFileAppender.setFile(RollingFileAppender.java
:167)
at org.apache.log4j.FileAppender.activateOptions(FileAppender.java:163)
at org.apache.log4j.config.PropertySetter.activate(PropertySetter.java:2
56)
at org.apache.log4j.xml.DOMConfigurator.parseAppender(DOMConfigurator.ja
va:220)
at org.apache.log4j.xml.DOMConfigurator.findAppenderByName(DOMConfigurat
or.java:150)
at org.apache.log4j.xml.DOMConfigurator.findAppenderByReference(DOMConfi
gurator.java:163)
at org.apache.log4j.xml.DOMConfigurator.parseChildrenOfLoggerElement(DOM
Configurator.java:425)
at org.apache.log4j.xml.DOMConfigurator.parseCategory(DOMConfigurator.ja
va:345)
at org.apache.log4j.xml.DOMConfigurator.parse(DOMConfigurator.java:827)
at org.apache.log4j.xml.DOMConfigurator.doConfigure(DOMConfigurator.java
:712)
at org.apache.log4j.xml.DOMConfigurator.doConfigure(DOMConfigurator.java
:604)
at org.apache.log4j.xml.XMLWatchdog.doOnChange(DOMConfigurator.java:861)

at org.apache.log4j.helpers.FileWatchdog.checkAndConfigure(FileWatchdog.
java:88)
at org.apache.log4j.helpers.FileWatchdog.<init>(FileWatchdog.java:57)
at org.apache.log4j.xml.XMLWatchdog.<init>(DOMConfigurator.java:853)
at org.apache.log4j.xml.DOMConfigurator.configureAndWatch(DOMConfigurato
r.java:584)
at com.eviware.soapui.DefaultSoapUICore.initLog(DefaultSoapUICore.java:4
92)
at com.eviware.soapui.DefaultSoapUICore.init(DefaultSoapUICore.java:136)

at com.eviware.soapui.StandaloneSoapUICore.<init>(StandaloneSoapUICore.j
ava:37)
at com.eviware.soapui.SoapUI$SoapUIRunner.run(SoapUI.java:627)
at com.eviware.soapui.SoapUI.main(SoapUI.java:723)
log4j:ERROR setFile(null,false) call failed.
java.io.FileNotFoundException: soapui.log (Access is denied)
at java.io.FileOutputStream.open(Native Method)
at java.io.FileOutputStream.<init>(FileOutputStream.java:179)
at java.io.FileOutputStream.<init>(FileOutputStream.java:102)
at org.apache.log4j.FileAppender.setFile(FileAppender.java:289)
at org.apache.log4j.RollingFileAppender.setFile(RollingFileAppender.java
:167)
at org.apache.log4j.FileAppender.activateOptions(FileAppender.java:163)
at org.apache.log4j.config.PropertySetter.activate(PropertySetter.java:2
56)
at org.apache.log4j.xml.DOMConfigurator.parseAppender(DOMConfigurator.ja
va:220)
at org.apache.log4j.xml.DOMConfigurator.findAppenderByName(DOMConfigurat
or.java:150)
at org.apache.log4j.xml.DOMConfigurator.findAppenderByReference(DOMConfi
gurator.java:163)
at org.apache.log4j.xml.DOMConfigurator.parseChildrenOfLoggerElement(DOM
Configurator.java:425)
at org.apache.log4j.xml.DOMConfigurator.parseRoot(DOMConfigurator.java:3
94)
at org.apache.log4j.xml.DOMConfigurator.parse(DOMConfigurator.java:829)
at org.apache.log4j.xml.DOMConfigurator.doConfigure(DOMConfigurator.java
:712)
at org.apache.log4j.xml.DOMConfigurator.doConfigure(DOMConfigurator.java
:604)
at org.apache.log4j.xml.XMLWatchdog.doOnChange(DOMConfigurator.java:861)

at org.apache.log4j.helpers.FileWatchdog.checkAndConfigure(FileWatchdog.
java:88)
at org.apache.log4j.helpers.FileWatchdog.<init>(FileWatchdog.java:57)
at org.apache.log4j.xml.XMLWatchdog.<init>(DOMConfigurator.java:853)
at org.apache.log4j.xml.DOMConfigurator.configureAndWatch(DOMConfigurato
r.java:584)
at com.eviware.soapui.DefaultSoapUICore.initLog(DefaultSoapUICore.java:4
92)
at com.eviware.soapui.DefaultSoapUICore.init(DefaultSoapUICore.java:136)

at com.eviware.soapui.StandaloneSoapUICore.<init>(StandaloneSoapUICore.j
ava:37)
at com.eviware.soapui.SoapUI$SoapUIRunner.run(SoapUI.java:627)
at com.eviware.soapui.SoapUI.main(SoapUI.java:723)
10:29:15,114 INFO [DefaultSoapUICore] initialized soapui-settings from [C:\User
s\pjl.VADOM\soapui-settings.xml]
10:29:16,261 INFO [WorkspaceImpl] Loading workspace from [C:\Users\pjl.VADOM\de
fault-soapui-workspace.xml]
10:29:16,339 INFO [WsdlProject] Loaded project from [file:/C:/Users/pjl.VADOM/D
ocuments/SoapUITestCases/jx-web-services-rest-soapui-project.xml]
10:29:17,109 INFO [SoapUI] Used java version: 1.6.0_24

and soapUI starts properly.