javac not found Windows 7 solved

This took me the past four hours to figure out.
java -version worked like a charm every time it was ran.
javac did not work after setting PATH and CLASSPATH
I followed googled/youtoubed? instructions to no avail!

The books and google and you tube instruction overlooked one thing for Windows 7.

You must reboot the computer after setting the Systems Environment for PATH and CLASSPATH.

I did not get why a couple of people requested that you type the PATH command at the prompt. After I unistalled an older jdk and installed a newer one I noticed PATH was not updating.

I referenced Windows 7 Inside Out Microsoft Press and confirmed that you have to reboot for the systems environment variables to take affect. My programs are compiling with joyful errors now.

Welcome to the Ranch

That is useful information, which I didn't know. Maybe I ought to add that to our FAQ.

I earlier wrote: . . . Maybe I ought to add that to our FAQ].

Done. Thank you for the information.

I'm not sure that it's necessary to completely reboot the computer after adding or changing a system environment variable.

You do have to close and re-open the command prompt window though (not only on Windows 7, but also on Vista and XP), because the command prompt only reads the variables at the moment you open it - it will not pick up changes while it's open.