"type javac on the command line from any directory of your machine."
it doesn't mean to type it from start->run, da command line means that u gotta write javac followed by .java extension file in the command prompt (cmd.exe in windows)
U could find the command prompt from
Start->All Programs->Acessories->Comand Prompt
or u can just type cmd in the Start->run
bout setting the environment variables, besides of what vata2999 just said, u can also do it from da command prompt
just type SET PATH=%PATH%;<da path for ur jre or jdk bin folder right here>
example : SET PATH=%PATH%;C:\Program Files\Java\jdk1.6.0\bin
Initially if u dun change the location when u install java, thats the default location of ur java tools
U can also set da classpath in da same way so that u can put all the source code (.java) u created in a specific folder and then just compile it using javac without having to write ur source code full address all da time
hope this helps silvia
