OMNeT++ v4.1, v4.1 rc2, v4.2.2, v4.3 or v4.3.1, how to install and run

Download and install Java from http://www.java.com or http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/java/javase/downloads/index.html. Use Java SE 6, Java SE 7 or later.

Download OMNeT++ source code (omnetpp-4.1-src-windows.zip) from http://omnetpp.org.
no: OMNeT++ 4.1 (source + IDE, tgz).
yes: OMNeT++ 4.1 win32 (source + IDE + MINGW, zip). Download this one. Do not use OMNeT++ v4.2.1 or later. You can not build inetmanet-20101013-src in OMNeT v4.2.1.

Extract the zip file to C drive. Rename the resulting directory to
omnetpp-4.1-rc2-src-windows.
Make sure your directory does not contain any space. For example, do not put OMNeT++ under Program Files.

Execute mingwenv.cmd in the omnetpp-4.1-rc2-src-windows directory by double-clicking it in Windows Explorer. It will bring up a console with the MSYS bash shell, where the path is already set to include the
omnetpp-4.1-rc2-src-windows\bin directory.

On the MSYS bash shell, enter the following commands:
$ ./configure
$ make
The build process with "make" will create both debug and release binaries.

On the MSYS bash shell, test all samples and check they run correctly. As an example, the dyna example is started by entering the following commands:
$ cd samples/dyna
$ ./dyna

If you get the error message, "Failed to create Java Virtual Machine." by double-clicking omnetpp.exe at C:\omnetpp-4.3\ide\omnetpp.exe with OMNeT++ v4.3, type the "$ omnetpp" in the mingwenv.cmd terminal to open OMNeT++ IDE. A better solution is by restart your PC before double-clicking the omnetpp.exe executable file.

OMNeT++ comes with an Eclipse-based Simulation IDE. You should be able to start the OMNeT++ IDE by double-clicking C:\omnetpp-4.1-rc2-src-windows\ide\omnetpp.exe.

It is recommended that you create a shortcut on the desktop for starting the OMNeT++ IDE by right-click omnetpp.exe program in the omnetpp-4.1/ide directory and choose Send To > Desktop (create shortcut) from the menu. On Windows 7, you can right-click the taskbar icon while the IDE is running, and select Pin this program to taskbar from the context menu.

Set OMNeT++ Workspace: C:\omnetpp-4.1-rc2-src-windows\samples.
Many projects for you to test from the samples folder.
[Ticked] Use this as the default and do not ask again.

Click "Workbench" icon from the Welcome page.

Open any project from the IDE Project Explorer window, right-click omnetpp.ini file and select Run As OMNeT++ simulation.

Notes
RC = release candidate.
OMNeT++ = Objective Modular Network Testbed in C++.
OMNeST = Objective Modular Network and Sensor Testbed in C++ (not sure).
opp = OMNeT++.
NeD = Network Description.

NeD Abbreviations and its Full Form
annotation / metadata annotation / NeD property / property
PER = packet error rate
BER = bit error rate
eed = end-to-end delay
ls = line style and color
t = text
tt = tooltip
m = connection routing orientation, positioning
b = object border, shape, colo
i = icon
is = icon size