Path issues, java crashes and psychtoolbox woes!

So a few things to consider I know, and I appreciate you even clicking on my thread.

First, I am running R2011a (7.12.0) on windows 7. It is installed on C:\ which I do not have access to change (restricted defence computer). My desired working directory/path is in 'my documents', to which I have full access.

I am having troubles with paths, often when I restart Matlab my paths are gone and I have to add them again. The default goes back to /system32, a dangerous place to be writing/reading from unnecessarily (were that I could even write to the C drive).

I have tried the userPath and file>set path methods, neither seem to be effective. I cannot have a startup file saved into the install directory nor can I specify 'start in' parameters due to restrictions accessing the install directory and program properties respectively.

The pathing issues (I assume) force me to run the psychtoolbox setup every time I restart. Which is a major pain.

The event that triggers the reset on the pathing is usually a java error, I get a recurring set of red lines and have to force close Matlab.

Here is the error:

Exception in thread "AWT-EventQueue-0" java.lang.OutOfMemoryError: Java heap space
  at java.awt.image.DataBufferInt.<init>(Unknown Source)
  at java.awt.image.Raster.createPackedRaster(Unknown Source)
  at java.awt.image.DirectColorModel.createCompatibleWritableRaster(Unknown Source)
  at sun.awt.image.SunVolatileImage.getBackupImage(Unknown Source)
  at sun.awt.image.VolatileSurfaceManager.getBackupSurface(Unknown Source)
  at sun.awt.image.VolatileSurfaceManager.initialize(Unknown Source)
  at sun.awt.image.SunVolatileImage.<init>(Unknown Source)
  at sun.awt.image.SunVolatileImage.<init>(Unknown Source)
  at java.awt.GraphicsConfiguration.createCompatibleVolatileImage(Unknown Source)
  at java.awt.GraphicsConfiguration.createCompatibleVolatileImage(Unknown Source)
  at javax.swing.RepaintManager.getVolatileOffscreenBuffer(Unknown Source)
  at javax.swing.RepaintManager$PaintManager.paint(Unknown Source)
  at javax.swing.RepaintManager.paint(Unknown Source)
  at javax.swing.JComponent.paint(Unknown Source)
  at java.awt.GraphicsCallback$PaintCallback.run(Unknown Source)
  at sun.awt.SunGraphicsCallback.runOneComponent(Unknown Source)
  at sun.awt.SunGraphicsCallback.runComponents(Unknown Source)
  at java.awt.Container.paint(Unknown Source)
  at javax.swing.RepaintManager.paintDirtyRegions(Unknown Source)
  at javax.swing.RepaintManager.paintDirtyRegions(Unknown Source)
  at javax.swing.RepaintManager.seqPaintDirtyRegions(Unknown Source)
  at javax.swing.SystemEventQueueUtilities$ComponentWorkRequest.run(Unknown Source)
  at java.awt.event.InvocationEvent.dispatch(Unknown Source)
  at java.awt.EventQueue.dispatchEvent(Unknown Source)
  at java.awt.EventDispatchThread.pumpOneEventForFilters(Unknown Source)
  at java.awt.EventDispatchThread.pumpEventsForFilter(Unknown Source)
  at java.awt.EventDispatchThread.pumpEventsForHierarchy(Unknown Source)
  at java.awt.EventDispatchThread.pumpEvents(Unknown Source)
  at java.awt.EventDispatchThread.pumpEvents(Unknown Source)
  at java.awt.EventDispatchThread.run(Unknown Source)

I appreciate any advice, and apologise for my lack of clarity if that is the case.

[Walter Roberson]

Get your system administrator to put the appropriate startup file in place. You do not need to do it yourself: you just need it to be done.