Problem Configuring the JDK (slightly confused)

Hello there.

I'm lumzi and I am still a bit new to this whole java thing.

I am having problems with regards to configuring the JDK. I'll list them(For you info, I am using Windows 7):

1. I know you are supposed to go environment variables and from there you are supposed to create a new user variable called with the 'Variable name' called 'Path' and paste something like 'C:\Program Files\Java\jdk1.6.0_23\bin' as the 'variable value'. I also know that if a user variable called path already exists you merely add the directory (the one I posted above) to the end of the variable value (at least I think that is what you should do. But what if you have 'Path' already located in 'System Variables'. What do I do then? Do I still create a new User variable called 'Path'?

2. Also, when I was taught we were supposed to do something with or create something called 'classpath' (i think) but in most the resources I have checked online 'classpath' is never mentioned and in the one case that it is mentioned it did not make much sense to me.

Any assistance regarding this matter will be greatly appreciated.

Edit: Someone actually explained that I should just ignore the 'system variable' and 'classpath' stuff (which I did) and just do the user variable stuff i.e calling the Variable name 'path' and pasting in the directory (C:\Program Files\Java\jdk1.6.0_23\bin). Even with that, if anyone could still shed light on the other stuff, it would be a great help.

What happened when you set the User PATH variable?
Did java work on the command line then?

Also, you don't need to set the classpath. That's a common error. The classpath should be part of your project, not system.

It worked. I haven't yet compiled or run any programs but when I typed 'javac' it showed the correct stuff.