Installation Problem - Java SDK 1.4.1

Question

I have a problem with installing Java on my machine at home that you may be able to help me with.
Here are the Details: 1) I installed the most recent java SDK on my machine. 2) I set the Autoexec file with the correct PATH statement. 3) Set the correct CLASSPATH statement 4) The "Java -Version" statement gives the correct reply that it is version 1.4.
Below is my AutoExec.bat file
SET windir=C:\WINDOWS
SET winbootdir=C:\WINDOWS
SET COMSPEC=C:\WINDOWS\COMMAND.COM
SET PATH=C:\PROGRA~1\MICROS~3\OFFICE;C:\WINDOWS;C:\WINDOWS\COMMAND;C:\ATF
SET CLASSPATH=C:\J2SDK1_4\LIB\TOOLS.JAR;.;
SET PROMPT=$p$g
SET TEMP=C:\WINDOWS\TEMP
SET TMP=C:\WINDOWS\TEMP
Problem: Trying to compile a simple "HelloWorld" Program with "javac Helloworld.java" produces the error "Bad Command or File name".
Issues: Command Line in Windows ME requires 8.3 format. Inserts tilde "~" and a number into the names of the files. even using a short name such as "HelWrld.java" inserts a tilde because of the "java" extension. Have tried using a "jav" extension but that does not work as the error is the same.
Question: How can I get rid of the "Bad Command or File Name"?

Answer 1

My First Java Progam (for Windows with Java 2 SDK v1.4.1)
Follow these instructions EXACTLY.
1. Download and install the Java 2 SDK, Standard Edition. You can find it here:
http://java.sun.com/j2se/downloads.html
Select the download for your operating system and be sure to download the SDK (rightmost column) and not the JRE. (The JRE is only the Java Runtime Environment, which does not include the Java compiler and other tools needed for software development).
2. Read the README and installation instructions! Read these instead of asking questions about installation etc. in the Java forums.
README for Java 2 SDK v1.4.1: http://java.sun.com/j2se/1.4.1/README.html
Java 2 SDK v1.4.1 for Windows installation: http://java.sun.com/j2se/1.4.1/install-windows.html
Things to note:
- After installing, add the bin directory of the SDK to your PATH environment variable. For example, if you installed the SDK in C:\j2sdk1.4.1_01, add the directory C:\j2sdk1.4.1_01\bin to your PATH. (If you don't know what an environment variable is and how to set it, read the documentation of Windows; if you're using Windows XP, this might be useful: http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=KB;EN-US;q310519& ).
3. Open Notepad and type in your first program:
public class HelloWorld {
public static void main(String[] args) {
System.out.println("Hello World!");
Save this program somewhere with the filename "HelloWorld.java".
Things to note:
- The case of text is important. Don't type "Helloworld", "helloworld" or anything else. Also the case of the filename is important (even though Windows has case-insensive filenames!).
- Watch out that Notepad doesn't append ".txt" to the filename. The file should be named "HelloWorld.java", not "HelloWorld.java.txt".
4. Open a command prompt and go to the directory that contains the file "HelloWorld.java" (with the CD command).
5. Compile the progam with the following command:
javac HelloWorld.java
Things to note:
- If you get something like "Unknown command: javac" or "Bad command or filename", you did not (correctly) add the bin directory of the SDK to the PATH (see step 2).
6. Run the program. If you didn't get any compile errors, you now have a new file "HelloWorld.class" in the same directory. Run the program with the following command:
java HelloWorld
Things to note:
- If you get: "Exception in thread "main" java.lang.NoClassDefFoundError: HelloWorld/class", you have typed "java HelloWorld.class". Leave off the ".class" at the end. You are typing a class name here, not a filename.
- If you get something like: "Exception in thread "main" java.lang.NoClassDefFoundError: helloworld (wrong name: HelloWorld)", you have typed the class name wrong. Note that the case is important (i.e., don't type "helloworld" but "HelloWorld")!
- You don't need to set any classpath here. In Java 1.4, the current directory is included in the classpath automatically. For older versions of Java, you may need to add the current directory (".") to the classpath, like this:
java -classpath . HelloWorld
7. Congratulations with your first working Java program. Now follow these links:
Java Tutorial
http://java.sun.com/docs/books/tutorial/
New to Java Programming Center
http://developer.java.sun.com/developer/onlineTraining/new2java/
FAQ
http://java.sun.com/products/jdk/faq.html
How Classes are Found
http://java.sun.com/j2se/1.4/docs/tooldocs/findingclasses.html
Setting the class path
http://java.sun.com/j2se/1.4/docs/tooldocs/win32/classpath.html
JavaTM 2 SDK Tools and Utilities
http://java.sun.com/j2se/1.4/docs/tooldocs/tools.html
Jesper