Images are not comming out when application is running through jar file.

Question

I have written an application program using j2sdk1.4.1 that needs your help.
My application folder's contents.....................................................................................
     C:\Examination\Examination.class <-----This is the main class and application's entry point.
     C:\Examination\ExamBox.class
     C:\Examination\PaperSetterBox.class
     C:\Examination\pspBox.class
     C:\Examination\epBox.class
     C:\Examination\TimerBox.class
     C:\Examination\ReportCardBox.class
     C:\Examination\HelpBox.class
     C:\Examination\AboutBox.class
     C:\Examination\Images\(some jpg & gif files)
     C:\Examination\Sounds\(some au files)
Compilation Report:     There was no error.
Execution Report :     Was working properly using the command:- java Examination
Now, I created a jar file for my application in the following steps.................................
          STEP-1:          Firstly, I created a text file(mainclassInfo.txt) that contains
          the line:--     Main-Class: Examination
          This line would be automatically added to the default manifest file when I would include the                name of that text file with the command to create the jar file.
          Location of the text file I created:     C:\mainClassInfo.txt
          STEP-2:          Then I went to C:\Examination and executed the following command(by using                'Command prompt'):--------------------------------------------------------------------
jar cmf C:\mainClassInfo.txt Examination.jar Examination.class ExamBox.class PaperSetterBox.class pspBox.class epBox.class TimerBox.class ReportCardBox.class HelpBox.class AboutBox.class Images Sounds
Finally, I got the jar file:-     Examination.jar
Double clicking on it application ran as it was expected.
Then, I thought, that as all the files & folders the application needed to run properly were packaged in the jar file; I should delete all the contents of the folder 'Examination', so that no one could see or use anything of the resources easily. I did that.
So, then it became only:-- C:\Examination\Examination.jar
Thereafter, I tried to run the application again and there a problem occurred! The application was running, but the images, those were to be used and shown by the application were missing somehow!!
Moreover, when I kept a copy of those 2 folders('Images' and 'Sounds') into the C:\Examination and ran the application again all the images came out normally!
I just can't understand why it's happening so mysterious?
I don't want to leave anything of the resources in an open place; I mean, outside of the jar file. The images should be used and shown by the application.
Help me please!

Answer 1

The Image class itself does not have any methods for loading images from files so you must be using something more. Most methods for loading images from files have an overload that lets you use a URL, so you just need to use that method with a call to getResource like in the other thread. If you can't think of anything else, you can use ImageIcon to load an Image (the Image is returned by a call to ImageIcon.getImage). See also "how to use icons" from the swing tutorial:
http://java.sun.com/docs/books/tutorial/uiswing/misc/icon.html