Command Prompt?

I'm currently running Windows 2000 with SP 4. I found when I run CMD then ipconfig; at the command prompt it said ipconfig was not recognized as an external or internal command. operable program or batch file. It happened to ping as well as edit but exit is ok. Other then this, my computer runs OK. Any clue? What went wrong? Any fix?

Many thanks,

Tom

 

Hi, I believe the path the CMD (command looks for is not defined therefore all this commands you try come up unrecognized).
To see if that is indeed the cause, try this:

Start > Run > cmd > OK
at the command prompt type: echo %path%
if you see %path% come up as the result then that is the problem.
To remedy this at the command prompt type all this:

path c:\windows;c:\windows\system32;c:\windows\system32\wbem

then press ENTER, to check to see if you corrected the path for the command prompt, type those commands that were coming up unrecognized.
If you entered all the above info correctly the problem should be resolved.

 

Will this survive a reboot? I'm not sure what effect altering the cmd prompt with a DOS command will have across, say, restarting windows, or even closing that prompt and starting a new one...

I am speculating, but if the problem reappears after a reboot or a new DOS window then you can change the path settings by right clicking My Computer, going to Properties. Under the Advanced Tab there should be a means of setting the Environment Variables. One of these will be Path and you can check for the entries Turcoloco mentioned and add more... like in DOS these entries are semi-colon seperated...

 

Dear All,

Many thanks! I need to edit in My Computer/Property/Advanced and highlighted path & edit then I have to put in %SystemRoot%\system32;%SystemRoot%;%SystemRoot%\system32\wbem;

Tom

 

Yea - but don't delete whats already in there - just append the entry with the above items (eg put a semi-colon on and then those entries semi-colon seperated)... should do the business...

 

Hi
I was having the same problem .,So I Append my Path by the path given by you,as c:\windows;c:\windows\system32;c:\windows\system32\wbem

But when I Restarted my machine.It gave me a STOP Error of Windows witha Blue Screen.And would not not let me in to go further.

Any Suggestion about this.Its Urgent.Its like my machine crashed.

 

I am not sure what is the cause, are you sure you enter the path correctly with all the correct spacing and characters?
One other thing, is WindowsXP installed on the C partition? If not, then replace the letter C with the applicable drive letter.
IF you are not able to boot normally, try booting in 'Safe Mode' (keep tapping F8 key as soon as the BIOS info appears on the screen after bootup).