when I go to launch Processing I am getting a Launch4j window that says "An
error occurred while starting the application." and an OK button. After
hitting OK the program does not launch.

I am on a Windows XP SP3, Centrino Duo, 2gig RAM.

have you tried 1.0.3?

I just did. tried running from a folder nested inside my previous
installation and I got some messgae about the default folder location not
existing...I wasn't sure what to do. I then basically copied the contents
of the 1.03 folder and pasted them overtop the previous version(1.01). I am
getting the same error message I was before in the Launch4j window. I feel
like maybe I should start from scratch, but I presume that's what I was
doing when I was running 1.03 from its own folder....

don't do all that folder copying. just put 1.0.3. in its own folder (not
embedded in another) and work from there. it's not worth
debugging/attempting to work with 1.0.1.

1. reboot your machine.

2. delete the processing preferences.txt file (buried in your documents and
settings folder)

3. unzip a fresh install of the version of 1.0.3 that includes java

4. try running again, and see what happens

yeah, that worked. thanks for the help!