If it's not a Java issue , then it sounds like a severe installation problem. Sometimes U need to delete the entire instalation which windows uninstall dowsn't always do properly.

http://www.gnutellaforums.com/showth...threadid=27108
http://ask-leo.com/archives/000085.html

ie: make sure U delete LW properly if you're having probs with it. Then try re-installing it/previous version if U have 1 backed up.