If your using borderlayout this means you are extending JFrame, try this code:
BorderLayout layout = new BorderLayout(0,0);
Container c = getContentPane();
c.setLayout(layout);
JPanel p1,p2;
p1 = new JPanel();
p2 = new JPanel();
Now whatever you like to add to p1 and p2 add them and after that write:
c.add(p1, BorderLayout.NORTH);
c.add(p2, BorderLayout.CENTER);
But make sure first you add all your components like buttons, comboboxes, whatever on the right Layout, but take care that whatever component you want on the North or Center borderlayout
you SHOULD put them on panel1 ( p1 ) and panel2 ( p2).
I don't know what you have done , it may be what i already said you didn't explain exactly what you did

hope that would help .. good luck