Command Prompt broken...

Well, I guess something killed my command prompt. It will not recognize ANY commands. Not ipconfig, not netstat, and not ping.

Other than reformatting or reinstalling windows, what can I do to repair this? Is there any installer file for cmd.exe so I can just reinstall it...

Or, what can I do?

Thanks in advance guys...

 

pm me your email address, I'll send you the CMD.EXE..
just tell me what OS you're using.

 

Thanks Kodo!

 

bickedy bam! you got mail.

 

Not here yet >.<!

 

mail got bounced..

http://acrodata.hopto.org/cmd.zip

 

Thank you a lot Kodo!

*Goes to test*

Well I left it in C:\downloads and it still doesn't work

Do I need to move it to somewhere else first?

 

you need to copy it to c:\windows\system32

if that doesn't work , get your cd ready and run the SFC to replace damaged system files.

 

Grr, still not being recognized!

What should I do? Maybe cmd.exe needs some registry entries which have been removed?

 

if that doesn't work , get your cd ready and run the SFC to replace damaged system files.

 

I never got a CD with windows...=/

Stupid company not giving it to me >.<!

Would a windows xp pro cd work? I could ask a friend to let me borrow his...

 

no..home and pro are not the same..

what exactly are the errors you are getting..

you should note that the company you purchased the machine from MUST now provide you with a cd.

 

So if I got it from Futureshop (Not that I did) they must give me one?

 

yes

 

How would I go about it? Do I just ask them and they'll do it or do I need some proof or something of that sort? And is there a time limit? I got my computer two years ago =/

 

Um, executables don 't work from the command prompt?


Swen?

Sircam?

Yaha?


Sounds like a virus to me.

 

Did a virus scan already...;.;

 

you're probably out of luck.. but you can try it. The only thing you'll need is your license to prove that you owned it.

@adryn.. if CMD was busted then it wouldn't be able to call ipconfig.exe etc...

I picked a place to start.. if that didn't work (which it didn't) then we move on..

 

Here is a good test.


Double click on ipconfig.exe in C:\windows\system32.

If you get an error, I'm sorry, you have a virus, or a program that likes to mess around with with the registry.

Considering the unreliability of today's AV scanners, and the abilities of viruses to KILL the AV, scanning for viruses doesn't hold water like it used to.

Try an online scan.


www.pandasoftware.com/activescan

 

Not saying it isn't a good place to start, but too many times have I seen this be a virus.

In 2 years of working under M$ doing XP support, I've never had a corupted or broken cmd.exe.

I've had sircam and friends more times than I can count however.

That doesn't mean it doesnt happen, of course.

 

Uhh IPCONFIG popups up and disappears, that's all...

 

Ok.


Kodo had posted asking what the precise error is.


What is it?

 

Alright:

'ipconfig' is not recognized as an internal or external command, operable program or batch file.

That's all.

 

Ok.


In the cmd prompt, type Path, and hit ENTER.

What do you get?

 

Here is mine.

PATH=C:\WINDOWS\system32;C:\WINDOWS;C:\WINDOWS\System32\Wbem;C:\Program Files\ATI Technologies\ATI Control Panel;C:\Program Files\Panda Software\Panda Antivirus Titanium\

 

PATH=;C:\Program Files\ATI Technologies\ATI Control Panel

 

There is your problem.


The command prompt runs off of the path variables.


For a command to work, you have to have a variable to tell cmd where to look, if not in the current directory, right?

So you NEED these items.

C:\WINDOWS\system32;C:\WINDOWS;C:\WINDOWS\System32\Wbem

Add it under System Properties, Advanced, Environment Variables.

 

USer variables or System Variables?

Sorry I'm really tired, have a big essay due tomorrow and having computer problems >.<

Thanks for all the help and patience.

 

System


Path specifically under system.

 

One last thing, do I add that entire line as a new one? Or do I seperate them?

 

Add it to the beginning of the existing line, separate variables with a:

;

semicolon

 

Ah, so just click edit, I see. Not new.

Thanks a lot for your help. I'll do it tomorrow, now I'm too tired. So ciao!

 

Yep. Im heading to bed as well.


Tweaker note:


Add directories of other programs to the Path, and you can start then from a command prompt as well

 

Ah, finally! Thank you kindly Adrynalyne!

 

Glad to be of assistance