Now that was strange.....

usually if I compile with something like

$ /cygdrive/c/j2sdk1.4.0/bin/javac -classpath /javapgms
Application.java

I should be able to run  it with

$ /cygdrive/c/j2sdk1.4.0/bin/java -classpath /javapgms Application

but that didn't work.....

But when I tried you idea of using the "this" '.' as a classpath it
works.... I must be having a strange week....this makes no sense since
. and /javapgms would be the same directory???