FULL PRODUCT VERSION :
java version "1.8.0_152"
Java(TM) SE Runtime Environment (build 1.8.0_152-b16)
Java HotSpot(TM) Client VM (build 25.152-b16, mixed mode)

ADDITIONAL OS VERSION INFORMATION :
Microsoft Windows [Version 6.1.7601]

EXTRA RELEVANT SYSTEM CONFIGURATION :
Hide "My Network Places" from Windows Explorer view

A DESCRIPTION OF THE PROBLEM :
javax.swing.JFileChooser no-arg constructor throws NullPointerException:

STEPS TO FOLLOW TO REPRODUCE THE PROBLEM :
1. Hide "My Network Places" from Windows Explorer view
https://blogs.technet.microsoft.com/csstwplatform/2010/05/05/how-to-hide-my-network-places-from-windows-explorer-view/
2. Execute test case

EXPECTED VERSUS ACTUAL BEHAVIOR :
EXPECTED -
New file chooser is created and the program is successfully terminated
ACTUAL -
The java.lang.NullPointerException is thrown

ERROR MESSAGES/STACK TRACES THAT OCCUR :
Exception in thread "main" java.lang.NullPointerException
        at sun.awt.shell.Win32ShellFolder2.getFileSystemPath(Win32ShellFolder2.java:571)
        at sun.awt.shell.Win32ShellFolder2.access$400(Win32ShellFolder2.java:72)
        at sun.awt.shell.Win32ShellFolder2$10.call(Win32ShellFolder2.java:756)
        at sun.awt.shell.Win32ShellFolder2$10.call(Win32ShellFolder2.java:747)
        at java.util.concurrent.FutureTask.run(FutureTask.java:266)
        at java.util.concurrent.ThreadPoolExecutor.runWorker(ThreadPoolExecutor.java:1149)
        at java.util.concurrent.ThreadPoolExecutor$Worker.run(ThreadPoolExecutor.java:624)
        at sun.awt.shell.Win32ShellFolderManager2$ComInvoker$3.run(Win32ShellFolderManager2.java:547)
        at java.lang.Thread.run(Thread.java:748)

REPRODUCIBILITY :
This bug can be reproduced always.

---------- BEGIN SOURCE ----------
import javax.swing.JFileChooser;

public class Test {
  public static void main(String[] args) {
    new JFileChooser();
  }
}


---------- END SOURCE ----------