As I said in above edited post (after ETA, you need to cd to the run folder before running the command. I thought it was quite clear.

Sorry was just me being dumb

Ok I've followed the video I found and done everything its said AND cd to run folder SEE BELOW

C:\Users\Ben>cd C:\Users\Ben\Desktop\john171w\john1701\run

I've then entered the command
C:\Users\Ben\Desktop\john171w\john1701\run>john-386.exe -i:digits n900pass.txt
But then get this!
'john-386.exe' is not recognized as an internal or external command,
operable program or batch file.

I dont understand what the john-386.exe is. Maybe I need to change this to suit my own PC/file location or something....

try this:

C:\Users\Ben\Desktop\john171w\john1701\run>dir *.exe

what does that say?
I don't get it, there is an exe in there.

If this doesn't work, I'll build you a package.

Wow I really apreciate the time you're taking to help me Thanks.
I'm downloading john again, and saving it to my desktop.
Do I then extract the files into another new folder on the desktop?
When I CD in CMD am i looking for the original folder that I downloaded or the extract one?
Because the extracted one doesnt contain the .exe file.

So type
C:\Users\Ben\Desktop\john171w\john1701\run>john-386.exe

Error comes up saying
C:\Users\Ben\Desktop\john171w\john1701\run>john-386.exe
is not a valid Win32 application :\

Or if i actually type
C:\Users\Ben\Desktop\john171w\john1701\run>dir *.exe
I get this...
Directory of c:\Users\Ben\Desktop\john171w\john1701

03/02/2011 17:29 0 john-386.exe
1 File(s) 0 bytes
0 Dir(s) 164,612,628,480 bytes free

Your zip file is corrupted or you unpacked it wrong, the exe file should not be zero.

If you never got an error unpacking, it's likely the file was bad to begin with. Got to the original site and re-download. Make sure you delete the old zip file and the unpacked versions before. IE resumes file is file exists. Also, it could be cached.

Clean up cache, delete the zip and the extracted version and try again. the \run\>john-386.exe command should have worked if the exe was there.

Oh, and, watch for antivirus. John is a cracker so the AV could kill it, thus resulting in a zero file.

Ok, I'll delete all the files and try and run disk clean up etc.
There wasnt an error when unpacking so I'll now re download and save onto desktop and try everything again

Fingers crossed haha.
Thanks

Grrr same problem!
Just checking...
I download the compressed file to my desktop.
Open it and click Extract all files.
It asks where to save, I choose Desktop.
When I change directories, I should be searching for the extracted/uncompressed/unzipped folder\files yes?

This is so annoying!

Don't spose it's possible for someone to crack the encrypted code I have?

EDIT:
When I extract all files and choose where to save the NEW folder john-386.exe is not in the folder.

But it IS in the compressed folder.
I dragged the john-386.exe app into the NEW uncompressed folder and run the CMD.
I then get this error
'This application has failed to start because cygwin.dll was not found. Re-installing the application may fix this problem'

:\

here, this helped me out when i had exactly same problem. follow the isntruction CAREFULLY and be sure you do not mix symbols (like pipe symbol with lowercase L). http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BMJyUJsKkUU

FINNALY!
Managed to find the john.exe
Ran the cmd and atlast I'm on the LAST step.
BUT another problem! haha
I run the cmd and it comes up with...
Loaded 1 password hash <traditional DES [24/32 4KJ>
I press enter and it comes up with
guesses: 0 time: 0:00:01:00 c/s: 216382 trying: 39273040 - 39294531