Getting the JDK started,

Question

I can't get HelloWorld to run. I'm in a Win32 environment. I've adjusted autoexec.bat to the following:
PATH=C:\jdk1.1.8\bin
to get to the executables javac.exe and java.exe. and
SET CLASSPATH=C:\jdk1.1.8\lib\classes.zip
to get to the classes. I know the path is correct because I can type javac and java anywhere on the hard drive and they run. But I still get the error
"Can't find class HelloWorld" when I type
java HelloWorld.
When I type "javac -classpath path HelloWorld.java", I get an error that points to the class HelloWorld like the compiler is looking for that class somewhere else.
Please help! I'm a really experienced programmer just deciding to get into Java. I feel like there's something small I don't know. You can color me an idiot; just help me get pass this problem.
Thanx in advance.

Answer 1

1. Determine if you have a CLASSPATH environment variable defined under the Win98 system. It is not needed but if you do have it defined make sure that the current directory represented by a dot (.) is part of the CLASSPATH. For example:
set CLASSPATH=.;c:\jdk1.2.2\jre\lib\rt.jar;
2. java HelloWorld
DO NOT INCLUDE THE EXTENSION