Using Java Virtual Machine

[Mel Hernandez]

Hello,
I'm new to the boards......Howdy y'all! I'm not sure if this is the right board to post my question to, but here goes:
I have a freeware program (no support) that says it needs java Virtual Machine to run. I have Java 2.4.1 installed on my Dell 8200. I'm running Windows XP Home as my OS. This is in the instructions for the program:
Ensure that you have SUN's JAVA virtual machine is in your PATH
I'm not totally computer illiterate, but I'm not skilled in Java in any fashion. Any tips or info would be appreciated.
TIA,

[Cindy Glass]

Welcome to JavaRanch "Mel",
We don't have a lot of rules around here. In fact the one big rule is "Be nice." But there's another one that requires you to use a display name that is either your real name or looks like a real name. Remember the JavaRanch naming policy that you read when registering?
Please take a minute to change your display name to show two names, preferably real names. It's all about maintaining our professional image - don't let's the one-eyed moose fool you!
This is a good place to ask your question.
AS a rule when you download a version of java and double click it to install it, the program self installs, which includes updating the windows registry and updating the path and classpath for your computer. Of course there IS no 2.4.1 version of Java (they are at 1.4.2), so I am not sure what you are looking at to determine that. (typo?)
If you are not comfortable with computers, I really don't want to talk you through checking your windows registry. If you can open a DOS window (usually say "command prompt" or something like that) when the black box opens, type the word "path" and hit enter. Look to see if it has jdk1.4.2/bin (or whatever numbers) in the list of stuff separated by semi-colons. It might have "c :p rogram Files/JavaSoft/JRE/1.4/bin" instead, which is fine. If not you will need to download a copy of Java.
You can download Java here. Just click the Windows option. Make sure you put it somewhere that you can FIND it using My Computer - like in the C: drive but not in any subdirectory. When the download is done, just double click the file and it should self install.
If there IS a listing for the JRE or jdk in your path, then show us your path contents and we will talk some more.
Hope you'll be visiting the ranch often,
Cindy
[ August 19, 2003: Message edited by: Cindy Glass ]

[Mel Hernandez]

Hi Cindy,
Dang, in the doghouse already! LOL! Ok, I fixed my name. Mel is short for Melissa, which is my "real" name.
Ok, I looked in the path under DOS prompt as you suggested. None of the listings you mentioned showed up, so I've re-downloaded Java. Incidently, it was 1.4.2, typo, as you guessed. I was practicing the "one-eyed moose stare" when I was typing....got a little mixed up.
Now I've installed Java 1.4.2 and I ran the Path command at the PROMPT and Java still does not show up. This is what it says:
C:\Documents and Settings\Melissa>path
PATH=C:\WINDOWS\system32;C:\WINDOWS;C:\WINDOWS\System32\Wbem;C:\PROGRA~1\COMMON~1\MGISHA~1\Video;C:\Program Files\Sonic\MyDVD;;C:\Program Files\Sonic\MyDVD;C:\Program Files\Common Files\Roxio Shared\DLLShared
Not sure how to proceed from here. Appreciate your help.
thanks,
[ August 19, 2003: Message edited by: Mel Hernandez ]

[Dirk Schreckmann]

I'd suggest adding Sun's java.exe and javac.exe locations to the beginning of your current PATH environment variable setting.
With Windows XP, the PATH value can be specified through the System Control Panel (right click on My Computer and select Properties). On the Advanced tab of the System Properties window, click the Environment Variables button. Under User variables or preferably System variables, locate the PATH variable, select it by clicking on it, and then click the Edit button.
On my system, I've installed the Java 2 SDK 1.4.2 in the K:\java\j2sdk1.4.2 directory. So, my PATH setting begins with K:\java\j2sdk1.4.2\bin. After specifying your preferred value, click the OK a few times until all the windows have closed. That should do it.
Now, open a new command prompt window and check out your new PATH setting. (Make sure it's a new command prompt window. Any command prompt window opened previous to the environment variable change will not make use of the new value.)
You can check to see which version of Java is used when executing java.exe by executing java -version.
Note that some apps might require that the JAVA_HOME environment variable be properly specified. This can be done from the same window where the PATH value was specified. This time, try to locate the JAVA_HOME variable. It likely doesn't exist, so click the New button to create it. The variable name should be JAVA_HOME and the value, in my case, is K:\java\j2sdk1.4.2
Any luck?