Unable to execute JAR files

Question

I am unable to execute jar files and applets. Also, the Java Web Start and the Java Plugin Control Panel will not load. I have unloaded the JRE and installed other versions. To date I have loaded and unloaded the following:
1.4.1
1.4.2_01, _02, _04
1.4.2_04 SDK
But no change in the outcome.
The javaw application starts but does not load the jar file.
The applets and jar files run fine on other computers with any of those JRE/SDK's installed.
Any suggestions would be helpful.

Answer 1

Command line
To create a JAR file >jar cvf filename.jar filename.class(s)
To view the contents of a JAR file >jar tvf filename.jar
To extract the contents of a JAR file >jar xf filename.jar
To extract specific files from a JAR file >jar xf filename.jar archived-file(s)
To run an application packaged as a JAR file
>jar xvf filename.jar META-INF/MANIFEST.MF
The above will place META-INF/MANIFEST.MF file in your working directory. Open this file in text editor. Under Version, type in
Main-Class: filename
example;
Manifest-Version: 1.0
Main-Class: SelectPurchase
Created-By: 1.3.0 (Sun Microsystems Inc.)
save file
update META-INF/MANIFEST.MF file in jar file with;
jar umf META-INF/MANIFEST.MF filename.jarto run jar file from command line;
java -jar filename.jarTo run an application packaged as a JAR file
(version 1.1) jre -cp app.jar MainClass
(version 1.2 -- requires Main-Class
manifest header)
To invoke an applet packaged as a JAR file <applet code=AppletClassName.class
archive="JarFileName.jar"
width=width height=height>
</applet>
Does anyone know how to get the application to run by clicking on a Desktop Icon?