Don't really have time to help but heres my version i made my 1st year with java.
Code:
/**
 * ConnectFour [Version 1.50]
 * @author Brian SonniE
 * @Source: FluidCoding.com
 * @version 1.50 2009/9/12
 */

import javax.swing.*;
import java.awt.*;
import java.io.*;
import javax.imageio.*;
import java.awt.event.*;
import java.net.*;
import java.awt.image.*;
import javax.swing.ImageIcon;

public class ConnectFour extends JFrame{
    private JPanel mainPane;
    private JButton[] slots;
    private JButton[] selector;
    // Set Images
    ImageIcon emptySpace = new ImageIcon(ConnectFour.class.getResource("images/whitecon.png"));
  	ImageIcon blackSpace = new ImageIcon(ConnectFour.class.getResource("images/blackcon.png"));
  	ImageIcon redSpace = new ImageIcon(ConnectFour.class.getResource("images/redcon.png"));
  	ImageIcon selectIcon = new ImageIcon(ConnectFour.class.getResource("images/selectcon.png"));
    int[] board;
    int turn = 1;	
    int tieCounter = 0;
	boolean gameRunning = true;

    /**
     *Constructor
     */
    public ConnectFour()
    {
    	setTitle("SonniE's ConnectFour");
    	setVisible(true);
    	setSize(600,550);
    	setDefaultCloseOperation(JFrame.EXIT_ON_CLOSE);
    	buildMainPane();
    }
    /**
     *	Setup Gui
     */
    public void buildMainPane()
    {
    	mainPane = new JPanel(new GridLayout(7,6));
    	mainPane.setBackground(Color.black);
    
    	board = new int[42];
    	slots = new JButton[42];
    	selector = new JButton[7];
    	
    	// Init Buttons/Board
    	for(int ct=0; ct< 7; ct++)
    	{
    		selector[ct] = new JButton(selectIcon);
    		selector[ct].addActionListener(new SelectListener());
    		mainPane.add(selector[ct]);
    	}
    	for(int ct=0; ct<42; ct++)
    	{
    		board[ct] = 0; 
    		slots[ct] = new JButton(emptySpace);
    		mainPane.add(slots[ct]);
    	}
    	
    	add(mainPane);
    }
    
    private class SelectListener implements ActionListener
    {
    	public void actionPerformed(ActionEvent e)
    	{
    		boolean validMove = true;
    		int activeColumn = 0;
    		int activePiece = 0;
    		ImageIcon activeIcon = redSpace;
    		if(turn == 1)
    		{
    			activeIcon = blackSpace;
    		}
    		Object obj = e.getSource();
    		// Get Column
			for(int i=0; i<7; i++)
			{
				if(obj == selector[i])
					activeColumn = i;
			}
			// Get Row
			activePiece = 5*7+activeColumn;
			for(int i = 0; i<6; i++)
			{
				if(board[activePiece] == 0)
				{
					board[activePiece] = turn;
					break;
				}
				else 
				{
					activePiece-=7;
				}
			}
			// Check if Valid
			if(activePiece<0)
				validMove=false;
			else{
			
			slots[activePiece].setIcon(activeIcon);
			
    		// Check 4 Win
    		
    		// Check Horizontal Win
    		for(int ct=0; ct<39; ct++)
    		{
    			if(ct%7<5)
    			{
    				if(board[ct] != 0 && board[ct] == board[ct+1] && board[ct] == board[ct+2] && board[ct] == board[ct+3])
    				{
    					gameRunning = false;
    				}
    			}
    		}
    		
    		// Check Vertical Win
    		
    		for(int ct=0; ct<22; ct++)
    		{
    			if(board[ct] != 0 && board[ct] == board[ct+7] && board[ct] == board[ct+14] && board[ct] == board[ct+21])
    			{
    				gameRunning = false;
    			}
    		}
    		
    		// Check Diagnol Win
    		// L to R
    		for (int ct = 0; ct < 18; ct++)
            {
            	if (ct % 7 < 4)
                {
                	if(board[ct] != 0 && board[ct] == board[ct+8] && board[ct] == board[ct+16] && board[ct] == board[ct+24])
                	{
                		gameRunning = false;
                	}
                }
            }
            
            for(int ct=0; ct<24; ct++)
            {
            	if(ct % 7 > 2)
            	{
            		if(board[ct] != 0 && board[ct] == board[ct+6] && board[ct] == board[ct+12] && board[ct] == board[ct+18])
            		{
            			gameRunning = false;
    				
            		}
            	}
            }
    		
    	
    		// Display Winner Message
    		if(!gameRunning)
    		{
    			if(turn==1)
    				JOptionPane.showMessageDialog(null, "Player 1 Wins!!!");
    			else
    				JOptionPane.showMessageDialog(null, "Player 2 Wins!!!");
    				
    			for(int i = 0; i<7; i++)
	    			selector[i].setEnabled(false);
    		}		
    		
    		tieCounter++;
    		if(tieCounter==42)
    		{
    			JOptionPane.showMessageDialog(null, "Tie You Both Lose!!!");
    			gameRunning = false;
    			for(int i = 0; i<7; i++)
	    			selector[i].setEnabled(false);
    		}
    		// Update Player Turn
    			if(turn==1)
    				turn = 2;
    			else
    				turn = 1;
    		if(!gameRunning)
    		{
    			int n = JOptionPane.showConfirmDialog(null,
			    "Would You Like a Rematch",
    			"New Game?",
    			JOptionPane.YES_NO_OPTION);
    			
    			if(n == 0)
    				restartGame();
    			
    			else
    				System.exit(0);
    		}
    		}
    	}
    }  
    public void restartGame()
    {
    	for(int i = 0; i<42; i++)
    	{
    		slots[i].setIcon(emptySpace);
    		board[i] = 0;
    		turn = 1;
    		tieCounter = 0;
    		gameRunning = true;
    	}
    	for(int i =0; i<7; i++)
    		selector[i].setEnabled(true);
    }
    
    public static void main(String[] args) {
    	ConnectFour window = new ConnectFour();
    }
}