Have you looking into
java.sun.com for setting up your environment before
you download the package? It will describe how to set
up the proper system path for the package very from
each operating system in such a way the computer could
differentiate your works from the system works.

i think you should download
j2re-1_4_1_01-windows-i586 from sun  website
and install it.

Ok, just done that, when i try and compile now i get
"Registry Key 'software\javasoft\java runtime environment\current
version' has value '1.4' but '1.3' is required.
Error: could not find java.dll
Error: could not find java  2 runtime environment."

i cant uderstand this, because java.dll at least was in the folder i
was compiling from....

May I asked what OS you are using???????????????

xp professional.
but most of the people that are using xp of any kind are having
problems so im thinking about putting another os on another HD and
trying that, doubt it will work.............

I think you got trouble with PATH ... may be your java  refering to wrong
pathname..

my recommendation :
use Linux :P
if you want Window$, try Win2000 it's more stable than XP ... (I hate XP)

XP Pro will work  fine, the system path set up similar
to Win 2K. But paid attention to your JSDK version,
XP do not like anything older 1.4.1.xx.

Check your System Path:
1. Click Open Settings/Control Panel/System
2. Select Advanced tab
3. Click Environment Variables/Path
4. Click Edit option

See if you have see something like the following:
*** C:\j2sdk1.4.x.xx\bin\;C:\j2sdk1.4.x.xx\lib\;
If not, please insert them in.

But if you download the JSDK bundle with SunOneStudio,
then you should see something like
C:\sun1studio\j2sdk1.4.x.xx\bin\;C:\sun1studio\j2sdk1.4.x.xx\lib\;C:\<drivername\
javahome>
you create the name

YOu should have java  Web Start on your desktop
environment, else check in the Control Panel for Java
Plugin.

If you prefer different IDE, then have the *** line
in.

If you use Window notepad as your ide, then have the
*** in too.

Oh, have you remember to unzip the src for the
software to work.

If you prefer other OS beside Windows, then feel free
to do so. The more you know, the better as long as
you master them all.

what is the src and where do i unzip it? all i got was an
application that installed  jdk, nothing more.

src.zip is the zipped source code of the jdk. After
installed the jdk, open the jdk through window
explorer, unzip the src right into the application.
In that way the system will see the source codes and
you will have something to work  with.

Remembered you have the problem  with *.dll searching
for something but could not find it and thrown out an
error.

Please check if you have all the following after
unzipped src.zip:
j2sdk1.4.1.xx
bin
+demo
+include
+jre
lib
-src
+com
+java
+javax
launcher
+org
+sunw

Before you attempt to write any code.

i searched my entire HDD and it couldnt find src.zip. im begining
to wonder if its trying to tell me something.

Could you located all the software folders as
described?

No the onlt folders i have are:
j2re1.4.1_02
bin
client
classes
BreezySwing
TerminalIO These are for the course im doing
lib
applet
cmm
ext
fonts
im
images
security
zi

did you download it from java.sun.com or from your teacher ?
I downloaded from sun  & my JDK contain src.zip (it's big enough, +- 10MB)
btw, why you need java  src ?

You only have half of the software. After you
download and installed....

Program Files\j2sdk1.4.1_02 and

Program Files\Java\jre1.4.1_02

Then you install your teacher materials and see what
the situation will look. I hope your teacher provided
you the CD. By any mean, talk to your teacher see if
your teacher have any different other intention.

Yes, i found that out. although i dont know why i was dl it from the
sun website and followed everything that i was told to do, yet still
i managed to stuff it up. I got a copy from a friend, and it has
everything that you have all been talking about, and it worked
perfectly the first time i tried to comple the things that have been
moving around my pc for about a month now.

I would just like to thank everyone for helping me, i truley thought
i was a lost cause.

I forgot one critical point, make sure your XP is not
an upgrade version.

or win98 perhaps .....................

win98 is fine... linux is ok (a little bit slow in Swing App). BTW Adwin, what
goes wrong with XP+JDK?

If your operation system is Windows, you can go to http://textpad.com/ and
download the text editor program  called "TextPad". This program can compile
and run java  as long as you have installed  the JDK. I use it when write and
compile my java.

Alternatively, you can use JCreator (old version of JCreator is free)............

I am not clear with your problem. Can you paste the error message to this
mailing list ? May be we can work  out a solution then.

it comes up and tells me "Error: could not find a JVM."

I would suggest copy your existent applications, then
delete the whole darn java  thing. Log into
http://java.sun.com
select the Tutorial and go from there.