# Why can't I install ROBOCODE?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-i-install-robocode/560256>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [November 11, 2010, 1:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-i-install-robocode/560256 "2010-11-11T01:04:33Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![blood63](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/97f17d/32.png) [@blood63](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blood63)\
**Post date:** [November 11, 2010, 1:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-i-install-robocode/560256/1 "2010-11-11T01:04:33Z")

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I have downloaded the .jar file from the proper site. It self installed and told me that the installation was complete. It placed a shortcut on my desktop. When I click on it and black box shows up for a split second and then disappears.  
I have tried updating JAVA, and have deleted and downloaded several times. Same result.  
My computer is 6 months old so it can’t be that.

Any suggestions?

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**Author:** ![Palooka](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/palooka/32/2902_2.png) [@Palooka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Palooka)\
**Post date:** [November 11, 2010, 1:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-i-install-robocode/560256/2 "2010-11-11T01:29:00Z")

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Sounds like it’s opening a command window, spitting out an error message, and then closing that windows before you can read it.

Do Start -\> Run -\> Cmd and then execute the program. That’ll let you see the error message and then we can proceed from there.

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**Author:** ![blood63](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/97f17d/32.png) [@blood63](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blood63)\
**Post date:** [November 11, 2010, 11:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-i-install-robocode/560256/3 "2010-11-11T23:38:11Z")

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> [@Palooka](#):
>
> Sounds like it’s opening a command window, spitting out an error message, and then closing that windows before you can read it.
> 
> Do Start -\> Run -\> Cmd and then execute the program. That’ll let you see the error message and then we can proceed from there.

I have windows 7. I don’t have a Run command in the start menu.  
And what do you mean by “execute the program”? Do you mean run it from a C:?  
How do I do that?  
Sorry, but could you dumb it down a bit?

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**Author:** ![Derleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Derleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Derleth)\
**Post date:** [November 12, 2010, 12:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-i-install-robocode/560256/4 "2010-11-12T00:01:51Z")

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> [@blood63](#):
>
> And what do you mean by “execute the program”? Do you mean run it from a C:?

It’s called a command prompt, and yes.

> [@](#):
>
> How do I do that?

[From here](http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/947-command-prompt.html):

> [@](#):
>
> Press and hold Shift, then right click on a folder that you want to open the command prompt at that location for and click on Open Command Prompt Here.

Then use java to run the program, by typing something like this at the command prompt:

```auto

java -jar robocode.jar

```

(Use whatever the .jar file is actually called.)

Tell us what happens after you press ‘Enter’.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![blood63](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/97f17d/32.png) [@blood63](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blood63)\
**Post date:** [November 15, 2010, 3:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-i-install-robocode/560256/5 "2010-11-15T03:03:37Z")

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> [@Derleth](#):
>
> It’s called a command prompt, and yes.  
> [From here](http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/947-command-prompt.html):Then use java to run the program, by typing something like this at the command prompt:
> 
> ```auto
> 
> java -jar robocode.jar
> 
> ```
> 
> (Use whatever the .jar file is actually called.)
> 
> Tell us what happens after you press ‘Enter’.

OK, did the shilft right click thing and got a command prompt. I looked through the directory and got confused.  
Isn’t the .jar file, the installation file?  
Why would I type that in at the command prompt? Robocode did install a directory in my c: drive.

What I see is  
C:\robocode\>  
This is my robocode directory. the only thing I can think is to type robocode after this.  
When I do, it tells me that “java” is not recognized as an internal or external command, operable program or batch file.

Sorry to be such an oaf. Any suggestions?