Setting Up Your Path In Windows 2000

Note: Although these directions are Windows 2000-specific, you should be able to follow along very closely if you're trying to modify your path in Windows XP.

Before starting, note the path to your bin folder, which should reside in your Java folder. On my system, for example, the path is C:\j2sdk1.4.1\bin.



1. Right-click on your "My Computer" icon.


2. Left-click on "Properties." You're now in "System Properties."


3. In the resulting "System Properties" dialog box, click on the "Advanced" tab then on "Environment Variables...".



4. In the "System variables" section below, you should have two columns titled "Variable" and "Value." A row titled "Path" should appear beneath "Variable." (You might have to scroll down to find it, depending on how many entries your computer has here.) Click it (highlighting its text).


5. Then click the "Edit..." button below it.


6. Next to the "Variable Value" field, you should have a few entries separated by semi-colons. This is the text field you need to edit. Navigate your cursor to the end of this field, add a semi-colon, then enter the path that you wrote down before beginning this tutorial.


7. Now click every "OK" button you see (there should be three). If there is a highlighted "Apply" button, click that before clicking "OK".

8. Log out of your machine, then log back in.

9. Launch a command prompt window (Start | Programs | Accessories | Command Prompt), or simply Windows key + R.

10. Type javac at the prompt. You should get a screen indicating how to use javac. If so, then you've successfully modified your path. You are now able to run javac, java, and appletviewer from the command prompt. If you didn't get the usage screen, try shutting down your machine, then booting up. If this doesn't work, send me e-mail (rvanegas at hunter dot cuny dot edu).