Setting up Java on Windows
When you downloaded java (whatever version, say jdk1.4.1),
you put it in some file on your C drive, say jdk1.4.1
Current Windows OSs
Typically you only need to do this for your CLASSPATH - and only if during run time you access more than one directory for your files.
Under normal (basic) uses you should not have to do this at all since java installation will set the PATH and CLASSPATH.
??? Hmmm, it seems that one does have to, once again, set the PATH...things seem to change. Not a bad idea to check it anyway.
On your "My Computer" icon, right click and choose "properties".
Then choose Advanced, then Environment Variables.
You can set the PATH and CLASSPATH from here in the User variables.
The CLASSPATH should automatically get the java/bin classes - do not edit to add it yourself here.
You should only set the CLASSPATH if you want java to know about specific locations for your application classes.
E.G. choose PATH for Variable Name and for Variable Value give it the bin directory of where you put the JDK. I have
C:\Program Files\Java\jdk1.5.0_03\bin;C:\Java\J2EE\AppServer\bin
For both
To run your java stuff locally (from your home machine),
you should get into DOS, and then cd into the proper directory
(the directory where your .java files are). Compile them
with the javac command, and then look at the .html
files with the appletviewer command.
For example, you have a HelloWorld.java file and a HelloWorld.html
Should let you see the applet run.
Older Windows OSs
On your C drive you should have an autoexec.bat file.
Edit this file (right button has an edit option).
In it have the line (depending on where you have the jdk directory)
SET PATH=C:%PATH%;\jdk1.2.1\bin
SET CLASSPATH=C:\jdk1.2.1\lib\classes.zip;.\