Impossible to find or load main class

[Emma Vande-Wouwer]

Hello,

I've written the very first program every beginner do : HelloWorld

Here it is :
" public class HelloWorld
{
public static void main(String[] args)
{
System.out.println( "Hello World!" );
}
} "

I've then compiled it in the command with : javac HelloWorld.java
it worked but then when I try to run it with : java HelloWorld or java HelloWorld.class or java "c:\users\emmav\documents\csi\helloworld.class"
I get the error : impossible to find or load the main class

If anyone can hint me where I did wrong I'd be very thankful !

[Norm Radder]

when I try to run it with : java HelloWorld

That should work if the HelloWorld.class file is in the current directory.

Please run the command and copy the contents of the command prompt window:
Click on Icon in upper left corner
Select Edit
Select 'Select All' - The selection will show
Click in upper left again
Select Edit and click 'Copy'

Paste here so we can see exactly what was entered and the exact error message.

Also use the dir command to show what was in the current directory.

[Emma Vande-Wouwer]

Thank you for your reply, here is my command copy pasted :

"Microsoft Windows [Version 10.0.17134.228]
(c) 2018 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.

C:\Users\emmav>dir "c:\users\emmav\documents\csi\"
Volume in drive C is OS
Volume Serial Number is 7E29-1FBC

Directory of c:\users\emmav\documents\csi

02/09/2018  13:38    <DIR>          .
02/09/2018  13:38    <DIR>          ..
02/09/2018  13:38               426 HelloWorld.class
02/09/2018  13:33               117 HelloWorld.java
              2 File(s)            543 bytes
              2 Dir(s)  57.900.068.864 bytes free

C:\Users\emmav>java HelloWorld
Error: Could not find or load main class HelloWorld

C:\Users\emmav> "

[Norm Radder]

It looks like you are not executing the java command in the directory holding the class file:

Directory of c:\users\emmav\documents\csi      <<<<<<<<< The directory with the class file

02/09/2018  13:38    <DIR>          .
02/09/2018  13:38    <DIR>          ..
02/09/2018  13:38               426 HelloWorld.class

The java command is issued in another directory:

C:\Users\emmav>java HelloWorld       <<<<<< Wrong directory.  The class file is in csi folder.

Try using the java command in the csi folder where the class file is located:

C:\users\emmav\documents\csi>java HelloWorld  

[Emma Vande-Wouwer]

awesome thank you !

[Randy Tong]

Hi Emma,

When you post code, please use code tags.

[Manish Pamnani]

Emma Vande-Wouwer wrote:Thank you for your reply, here is my command copy pasted :

"Microsoft Windows [Version 10.0.17134.228]
(c) 2018 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.

C:\Users\emmav>dir "c:\users\emmav\documents\csi\"
Volume in drive C is OS
Volume Serial Number is 7E29-1FBC

Directory of c:\users\emmav\documents\csi

02/09/2018  13:38    <DIR>          .
02/09/2018  13:38    <DIR>          ..
02/09/2018  13:38               426 HelloWorld.class
02/09/2018  13:33               117 HelloWorld.java
              2 File(s)            543 bytes
              2 Dir(s)  57.900.068.864 bytes free

C:\Users\emmav>java HelloWorld
Error: Could not find or load main class HelloWorld

C:\Users\emmav> "

Seems like your current directory is "C:\Users\emmav" and you are trying to execute in the directory "c:\users\emmav\documents\csi"  .
Please make sure to navigate to the proper path where your file exists and then execute the file.

and

java HelloWorld.class is a wrong way of executing a java file

instead you should use:
java HelloWorld