Java EE (Java Enterprise Edition) General Discussion

Hi everyone!
I'm really desperate: my application works fine but not in Tomcat 6.0.
I have to use a setup.properties file and Tomcat doesn't find it even if I call it with a complete path (that is from the root):
Properties prop = new Properties();
prop.load(this.getClass().getClassLoader().getSystemResourceAsStream("C:/Documents and Settings/myr/workspace/suggestivetags/src/conf/setup.properties"));

so I get a nullpointerexception while trying to run the instruction 'prop.load' (I'm sure that the cause is that tomcat doesn't find the file, because I tried to insert a wrong path and I get the same error, then...).
I run my application in Tomcat after exporting it from Eclipse in a .war file...so Is there any angel to suggest me something? or maybe is there anyone suggesting how to run my application in tomcat without exporting it in a war file?(maybe the 'war' file is the problem...).

Help me, please......thanks in advance every reader for everything