When does JVM Start and Stop

In Windows XP when does the JVM start (JRE version 1.4 and higher)?
And when does it halt?
Does the JVM start when we launch a java application (or by executing on the command prompt - java classfile)?
And does the JVM halt when the all the java applications on the system end?

According to the documentation, the JVM halts in two situations: 1. when you terminate the java application by Ctrl+C and 2. when the 'exit' method of the System class is called. But one of my friends is arguing that the JVM starts when the system is booted and doesn't halt till the system is shut down.

What happens to the GC when the JVM halts? Does it continue to run on the low priority thread, going about its good work of recycling garbage? Or does the JVM shutdown the GC too along with itself when it halts?

Does the JVM return back all the memory it had borrowed from the OS when it comes to a halt?

Is there a good source (book or website) of answers for all these questions - that would explain all the fundamentals of the interplay of a java application, the JVM, the GC, the OS, etc. ?

re: When does JVM Start and Stop

Duplicate post: http://www.thescripts.com/forum/thread753032.html

re: When does JVM Start and Stop

Not duplicate but similar.

ghd, please search the forums before posting your question. Chances are good that you question has been asked at least a dozen times before.

re: When does JVM Start and Stop

I'm sorry but that thread, I didn't want to post but due to some Internet connectivity problem, I couldn't acess it and it got posted without my knowledge. I will take care of that in future.