can't use run commands to access/change operating system

  • Thread starter Thread starter jaf
  • Start date Start date
J

jaf

I'm having a number of problems but I will start with this, I have a Dell
computer which came with Windows Home edition Service Pack 2 installed.
Sometime along the way I realized that when I clicked on the MS DOS shortcut
icon I got a black screen, which closed immediately. Typically I don't use
the DOS commands but I now find if I open up the Run window and enter any
command I get "Windows can't find the whateverfile. In as much as my
computer is still running I expect that I have lost the pointer or what ever
it is that links the command to the file.

Can someone help me fixing this, please?

sorry if this has been answered someplace; I did try searching but wasn't
even sure what search words I should use. Anyway the ones I tried didn't come
up with anything useful

Thanks
 
Andrew

when I do that I get the operating system dialogue box or whatever you call
it.

The dialogue box reads C:\Documents and settings\myname>

I have tried to get back to it reading C:\ but no luck. I may have
forgotten how. I tried entering C:\ after the > and that didn't do it.
Either way it hasn't enabled the DOS icon. Actually when you click it the
dialogue box opens - screen goes to black and closes all very fast.

Any further instructions??

jaf
 
jaf said:
I'm having a number of problems but I will start with this, I have a Dell
computer which came with Windows Home edition Service Pack 2 installed.
Sometime along the way I realized that when I clicked on the MS DOS shortcut
icon I got a black screen, which closed immediately. Typically I don't use
the DOS commands but I now find if I open up the Run window and enter any
command I get "Windows can't find the whateverfile. In as much as my
computer is still running I expect that I have lost the pointer or what ever
it is that links the command to the file.

Can someone help me fixing this, please?

sorry if this has been answered someplace; I did try searching but wasn't
even sure what search words I should use. Anyway the ones I tried didn't come
up with anything useful

Thanks
Click to expand...


One possibility is that the Path environmental variable for your system is
missing or damaged. I'm guessing that if you entered regedit in the Run box, you
get an error message. What happens if you enter C:\Windows\regedit? Does it open
the Registry Editor? If so, do the following;

In the Registry Editor, navigate to the following registry key.

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Session Manager\Environment

Look in the right hand pane for an entry titled Path. Next to it in the Type
column it should say REG_EXPAND_SZ. Finally, in the Data column, you should at
least see the following.

%SystemRoot%\system32;%SystemRoot%;%SystemRoot%\System32\Wbem

Note: You can also access the Path entries by entering
C:\Windows\System32\cmd.exe in the Run box and entering Path at the command
prompt.

If any of this information is missing in your Path, take a look at this article.

Why don't my commands work?
http://web.archive.org/web/20070531192801/http://internet.cybermesa.com/~bstewart/cmdprompt.html#6

You can download the Fixpath2.zip file from this web site to see if it will fix
the problem.

Fixpath2
http://web.archive.org/web/20070602123638/http://internet.cybermesa.com/~bstewart/misctools.html

Good luck

Nepatsfan
 
Andrew

when I do that I get the operating system dialogue box or whatever you call
it.

The dialogue box reads C:\Documents and settings\myname>

I have tried to get back to it reading C:\ but no luck. I may have
forgotten how. I tried entering C:\ after the > and that didn't do it.
Click to expand...



Enter cd \
 
Back
Top