Skip to main content

You are here: Teaching, Distributed Systems, Set up Java

To install Java on your home PC follow the steps below. If you have any difficulties please feel free to e-mail me.

  1. Download the JDK 6 Update 16 (Not the one with Java EE).
  2. When the installation tool is downloaded, run it selecting every option it presents you with.
  3. When complete Java should be installed at C:\Program Files\Java\jdk1.6.0_16 (or something similar). The java and javac tools will be in C:\Program Files\Java\jdk1.6.0_16\bin (or something similar).
  4. You will need to set the PATH environment variable to point to the bin directory.
    • To do so on Windows 2000, select Start -> Settings -> Control Panel -> System -> Advanced -> Environment Variables.
    • Then under System Variables select Path and append the following to the end of the Variable Value - a semi colon, then C:\Program Files\Java\jdk1.6.0_16\bin.
    • On Windows XP select Start -> Control Panel -> (Switch to Classic View) -> System -> Advanced -> Environment Variables, and set the path as described in the previous point.
    • On Windows 98 you will need to edit the file named c:\autoexec.bat. When you open the file (in notepad or wherever) just append the following line to the end of the file. 
      	set PATH=%PATH%;C:\Program Files\Java\jdk1.6.0_16\bin
  5. You should then reboot your system (if Windows 98), or close all your command prompt windows (Windows 2000, Windows XP).

Return to the internal page navigation links