Not sure of website links at the moment, but if you're looking to invest in a book, go check out
Cay Horstmann's Core Java: Volume I, Fundamentals.
Its got great material for early Swing, or if you're looking for an all around java textbook which covers tons of stuff,
Cay Horstmann's Big Java is a good book.
If you're looking for a book though, please be sure to check them out on on the net first, before investing in a book which may disappoint you
-About your logging in issue, I get it as well. When you log in, It redirects you to the home page, but doesn't show you as logged in. To get around this, just click on the Java Programming Forums banner @ the top of the page and
it should reload with your name appearing. (If this isn't the issue you had, Apologies; but its what happens to me
)