By default on XP Java installs to Program Files\Java\jre1.5.0_xx (whatever
version you downloaded). If that directory exists, open a command prompt and
navigate to the bin directory under jre1.5.0_xx, and type at the command
prompt "java.exe -version" and hit [Enter]. After a second or two you should
see output similar to this:
C:\Program Files\java\jre1.5.0_06\bin> java.exe -version
java version "1.5.0_06"
Java(TM) 2 Runtime Environment, Standard Edition (build 1.5.0_06-b05)
Java HotSpot(TM) Client VM (build 1.5.0_06-b05, mixed mode)
Are you trying unsuccessfully to run a particular Java program? To verify
installation of the Java browser plugin, you can go to any page that contains
an applet, for example this Asteroid game clone:
http://javaboutique.internet.com/aster/
Does this help at all?
John