Compiling message "cannot read" (new to java)

Question

Sorry about yet another question on compiling. I'm new to java. I've read alot of the threads on this, but my HelloJava.java won't compile.
I'm working on w2k. I've set my path to
%SystemRoot%\system32;%SystemRoot%;%SystemRoot%\System32\Wbem;c:\j2sdk1.4.0\bin
using the environment variables in the system properties box.
This seems to work fine.
but I keep getting the "cannot read" when compiling.
I've created a classpath variable in the environment variables
CLASSPATH = .;C:\src
and my java file is definately .java not .java.txt and it's in the src folder on my c drive.
Do I need to set classpath? Also I've put my HelloJava.java file in the same folder as my javac and it still won't compile. What am I doing wrong?
By the way, the HelloJava file came from the book "Learning Java".
thanks in advance.

Answer 1

OK -
If you place your .java files in C:\src, to compile you must either
1. Go to (change the current directory to, using cd command) c:\src and then enter "javac ...."
or
2 From any directory enter "javac C:\src\...."
Classpath is used by javac and java, but not in this way.
Read here for the full story:
The Path is a set of pointers that Windows uses to locate programs that you execute, like javac.exe and java.exe. This setting is explained here:
http://java.sun.com/j2se/1.4/install-windows.html
Scroll down to: 5. Update the PATH variable
The CLASSPATH is another set of pointers that is used by Java to find the files that you create and want compiled and/or run. This setting is explained here:
Setting the Classpath:
http://java.sun.com/j2se/1.4/docs/tooldocs/windows/classpath.html
[NOTE: always start your classpath with ".;" which means the current directory. See my classpath, below]
How Classes are Found:
http://java.sun.com/j2se/1.4/docs/tooldocs/findingclasses.html