Command Line problems

[AlbertLionheart]

Hi
anyone any idea why command line instructions should suddenly stop working?
Basic things like DIR and CLS work fine but IPCONFIG and PING produce the following error message "not recognised as an internal or external command, operable program or batch file".
It all worked the other day and all that has changed is to reinstall the AV software (F-Secure) today.
Albert (Newbie)

 

[DelJo63]

seems obvious that the last install impacts your system.

first choice is to UNINSTALL IT and test again.

after that, verify your PATH statement
run->cmd /k echo %PATH%
it should look something like

C:\WINDOWS\system32;C:\WINDOWS;C:\WINDOWS\system32\WBEM;C:\Program Files\PC Connectivity Solution\;C:\Program Files\Java\jre1.5.0_10\bin;C:\Program Files\QuickTime\QTSystem\​

notice the first three items are inside the \windows directory

 

[AlbertLionheart]

thanks for your help - the path shows %/systemroot%\;%systemroot$\system32\wbem;c:\program files\ etc etc.
I guess the % signs are variables?@
cheers
Albert

 

[DelJo63]

'%' are variables, but you can only see those via the system properties, as
they are expanded when accessed via the ECHO.

would seem that ;C:\WINDOWS; is missing, but the commands you seek
are all in system32\

 

[AlbertLionheart]

thanks for the diagnostics - now how do I edit the path to add the windows folder to it? Gone are the days of autoexec.bat!

 

[DelJo63]

login as admin
right click My Computer ->properties
click Advanced Tab
the Environment button at the bottom

under System Variables
scroll to PATH and double-click

place the cursor AFTER the first C:\Windows\system32;
INSERT \Windows

click ok until the System Props close.

test your work using
run->cmd /k echo %PATH%

 

[AlbertLionheart]

star quality - thanks for all your help!

 

[computerexpert1]

if you were wanting to edit AUTOEXEC.BAT, then --- START>RUN and type sysedit
then you will see 4 child windows opened, here you can edit system files, including the boot files. BE CAREFUL WHEN EDITING THESE FILES, THESE ARE CRITICAL OPERATING SYSTEM FILES that are normally hidden except when using the sysedit program or you go to folder options and find the option "Hide Critical Operating System Files" you can uncheck this if you want. not recommended for basic computer users and non-advanced users. even after unhiding system32 files and all files, these files are still hidden unless you uncheck the "Hid Critical Operating System Files" checkbox.after doing this then you can view System Volume Information which contains all of your computers history, even after you empty the recycle bin parts of the files go to the system volume information, the only way to completly get rid of delete files is to reformat the harddrive...sorry about this lesson if it bugged anyone