I down loaded the Java file to my home folder followed the instructions for install and at the first step it goes bad anybody tell what I am doing wrong??? I pasted my terminal steps below was I supposed to download to the Java folder? I cant seam to figure out how to move the file there even when i log in as root.

[jim@dhcppc3 ~]$ su
Password:
[root@dhcppc3 jim]# cd /usr/java
[root@dhcppc3 java]# chmod a+x jre-1_5_0_04-linux-i586.bin
chmod: cannot access `jre-1_5_0_04-linux-i586.bin': No such file or directory
[root@dhcppc3 java]#

so the file is in your home directory, not /usr/java? Use the following command to move the bin file to /usr/java as root:

mv /home/jim/jre-1_5_0_04-linux-i586.bin /usr/java/

assuming thats where the jre file is initially.

then run the chmod command and then try running it.

OK moved it to /usr/java than ran it worked fine than followed what i was supposed to do next for setup and everything but it still don't work only now i have the file installed just not working in firefox. I just don't have enough hair left to keep pulling it out. starting to remember when I only have used linux off and on with it being more off. they really need to come up with an easer way of getting things running.

Do not panic! linux is difficult at first, but you'll grow to love it!

When I installed java, I had to make a link to it in the firefox plugins directory.

Do this as root:

cd /usr/lib/mozilla-firefox-1.0.2/plugins/
ln -s /usr/java/j2re1.4.2_08/plugin/i386/ns610-gcc32/libjavaplugin_oji.so

Obviously, if your mozilla-firefox is a different version, customise the above to suit your install.
Same goes for where you have put your (version of) java.

then restart firefox, and check by putting about:plugins in the address bar.
Hope this helps.

ok did that acualy forgot to change the version first so had to do it twice this is what I got:
[jim@dhcppc3 ~]$ su
Password:
[root@dhcppc3 jim]# cd /usr/lib/firefox-1.0.6/plugins
[root@dhcppc3 plugins]# ln -s /usr/java/j2re1.4.2_08/plugin/i386/ns610-gcc32/libjavaplugin_oji.so
[root@dhcppc3 plugins]# ln -s /usr/java/j2re1.5.0_04/plugin/i386/ns610-gcc32/libjavaplugin_oji.so
ln: `./libjavaplugin_oji.so': File exists
[root@dhcppc3 plugins]#

When I type about lugins I get The URL in not valid and cannot be loaded

As you can see above I did a copy and paist on what you put and forgot to change the version but redid that just cant get it working.

do the same thing, except copy the plugin to /home/jim/.mozilla/plugins ( your home directory )

cd /home/jim/.mozilla/plugins
ln -s /usr/java/j2re1.5.0_04/plugin/i386/ns610-gcc32/libjavaplugin_oji.so

and restart firefox

If you look above, you'll see it is telling you what is wrong: "ln: `./libjavaplugin_oji.so': File exists".
ln cannot make the link because it already exists (and is pointing to the wrong place!).
So remove the first link you made, and then make it properly, like this, all as root:

cd /usr/lib/firefox-1.0.6/plugins
rm libjavaplugin_oji.so
ln -s /usr/java/j2re1.5.0_04/plugin/i386/ns610-gcc32/libjavaplugin_oji.so
exit

This time it should not complain, and the link to java should work.

ok did as tredegar said all went good it asked if I wanted to remove the libjavaplugin told it yes than put in ln -s /usr/java/j2re1.5.0_04/plugin/i386/ns610-gcc32/libjavaplugin_oji.so no problem went in without complaning lest thought it did still get The URL in not valid and cannot be loaded when i put about :plugins in. still no java. so tried cd /home/jim/.mozilla/plugins like Kiss said well thats not happening since there is no mozilla folder there fact the only folders there are Desktop XP and Pictures. The Pictures folder I put in for the pic that I need to get off the windows system the XP folder is for other files I need off that system and the desktop one doesnt show anything in it. Though i'm starting to think im doing something wrong when i try to change directerys since unless I put the full path in instead of going one foler at a time I get a No such file or directory but if I go straight there than it works.

No, it's not "about: plugins" (notice the space)
It is "about:plugins" (notice NO SPACES, although something is wrong with this board's rendering - I have disabled "smileys", but it is adding a space before the colon - so do not copy & paste, type it with no spaces!). Try putting that into the firefox address field.

Kiss might have confulsed you a little. Kiss has installed mozilla in his home directory (nothing wrong with that), but you have installed firefox (& probably mozilla) in /usr/lib/somewhere so it will be available for all users, so the directory paths he refers to are different from the ones you are using.

If you want to find out where your mozilla is:

As root, update your locate database:
su -
locate -u
exit

Then, as a regular user:
locate mozilla | grep bin

Also, there are many more files & directories in your home folder than you are aware of, but they are "hidden" as their names start with a "dot" eg .kde To see these files in konqueror, you need to make sure View....Show Hidden files is checked. To see them from the terminal, do not use ls , use ls -a (= list all files).

HTH

Ok did the about:plugins again this time with no space does not show java in there so I still have something wrong. kinda bites not having anyone close that know Linux that can come over and look at the system and say oh heres your problem.

Well, the solution is often to be methodical..... and patient.
Caffeine & nicotine also help, but nicotine is a bit of a no-no nowadays, so forget I mentioned that.

Let's start at the beginning:

1] Where is your java ?
Mine seems to be in /usr/java/jre1.3.1_07/bin/java
I know that that is the java executable because when I do ls -l /usr/java/j2re1.3.1_07/bin/java it shows me:

-rwxr-xr-x 1 root bin 24596 Feb 24 2004 /usr/java/j2re1.3.1_07/bin/java*

This tells me that the file java is owned by root, but executable by anyone. This is just what we want.

2] Where is your firefox ?
I am using mozilla, but the general idea is the same:
My mozilla is in /usr/lib/mozilla-1.3/mozilla-bin
Where is my mozilla plugins directory?
It is in /usr/lib/mozilla-1.3/plugins/
What is in the plugins directory:
ls -l /usr/lib/mozilla-1.3/plugins/ returns the following:


This tells me that there are six plugins in my mozilla plugins directory.
They seem to be plugins for flashplayer , java (which you'll notice is a link), and two for realplayer (which also happen to be links). So I would expect to have java, flash, and realplayer all working, which they are.

So now you need to do the same, but for your firefox installation: Make sure java has really installed, and make a link from the firefox plugins directory to the /usr/java/j2re1.5.0_04/plugin/i386/ns610-gcc32/libjavaplugin_oji.so file. List the link to make sure it really exists, and that you really created it, and that it is pointing to where it should.

Then, when you restart firefox, if java is installed, and you have made the link, it'll work.

[jim@dhcppc3 ~]$ ls -l /usr/java/jre1.5.0_04/bin/java
-rwxr-xr-x 1 root root 64492 Jun 3 05:55 /usr/java/jre1.5.0_04/bin/java
[jim@dhcppc3 ~]$ ls -l /usr/lib/firefox-1.0.6/plugins
total 20
lrwxrwxrwx 1 root root 67 Jul 26 18:18 libjavaplugin_oji.so -> /usr/java/j2re1.5.0_04/plugin/i386/ns610-gcc32/libjavaplugin_oji.so
lrwxrwxrwx 1 root root 59 Jul 26 07:09 libjavaplugin_oji.so. -> /usr/java/jre1.5.0_04/plugin/i386/ns7/libjavaplugin_oji.so.
-rwxr-xr-x 1 root root 16304 Jul 20 11:54 libnullplugin.so
lrwxrwxrwx 1 root root 34 Jul 26 07:05 ns7 -> /usr/java/jre1.5.0/plugin/i386/ns7
[jim@dhcppc3 ~]$

ok this is what I am coming up with if I'm reading this right there are three entries for java and it looks to me like my java is in the same place as yours but is mine only usable by root?? I will test this out by logging out of user and log in as root and try firefox.

right I was wrong java does not work in root either. So now I'm real lost now whos got the nicotine and coffeeee?

Slow, but steady progress....

You have some stuff in your plugins directory that should not be there:
Make sure firefox is not running:
ps -A | grep firefox
Nothing should happen: You should not see firefox listed.

Now remove those files that are unneeded or should not be there:
su -
cd /usr/lib/firefox-1.0.6/plugins
rm ns7
rm libjavaplugin_oji.so.
exit

Now start firefox (from the terminal, to make sure it really is is firefox):

mozilla-firefox

Wait for the firefox window to open...

In firefox, go to Edit->Preferences->Web Features. Make sure Java is enabled.

Any better?

still nothing go to javas website and right away it tells me im missing plugins