cmd.exe, system exe's, registry, meh...

well, I have no idea what to call this.., thus the messed up subject...

when I open cmd.exe, if I type ping <ip>, I get an error-
'Ping' is not recognized as an internal or external command, ect.

so I have to type in D:\windows\system32\ping <ip>, for it to work.., and I know I dont have to do it on other computers..

I am almost certain that there is a registry edit to add directories the system checks for commands when no directory is given.., but I can't find it anywhere..., mostly cause I have no idea what to search for...

thanx in advanced,
Byan

Hi, need to add www ( eg:- ping www.ozonline.com.au)

what?

when I am testing it was using 127.0.0.1..., no need to for www then...


I can use the ping command ok, but I have to type in "D:\windows\system32\ping 127.0.0.1", instead of just typing in "ping 127.0.0.1"

look at the attached picture...

lets see if I can actually get the picture attached this time..

Type "cd.." without the quotes twice, until you get back to the D> prompt and see if it works OK there.

no it doesn't...

This is an odd one. Try Tracert instead of Ping and see what that does.

same thing, wont work unless I put D:\windows\system32\ in front of it...

Type PATH form your cmd prompt. Sounds like the default path is screwed up (with C:\windows\system32, or what ever letter is your system drive, not being in it).

After opening the command box using cmd.exe, type set | more and press enter

Look for path and post back what it says as it sounds like your path is not set up correctly.

eg it might be something like

Code:

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path=c:\windows;c:\windows\system32;c:\

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EDIT

Darn beaten again.

path returns-
PATH=%SystemRoot%\system32;%SystemRoot%;%SystemRoot%\System32\Wbem;

Since in one of your posts you mentioned that you have to use the command D:\Windows\System32\Ping, the question is did you actually install windows on D: or do some sort of tweaking post installation ?

Because normally %systemroot% would be the root drive such as C: and gets determined during installation.

So if you installed to C: and then tweaked your system to D: things could be a bit out of wack.

if I type %systemroot% into the address bar it brings me to D:\windows\


I did not do any tweaking.., this what happened-

[list=1][*]I bought Suse 9.1 off ebay and bought a new 80GB HDD..[*]I put my new HDD in as a slave and partitioned it with PM[*]I switched the new HDD to master and the old 60GB to slave[*]I installed windows XP onto the first partiton of my new HDD but did not format my old HDD[*]afterwards, my new HDD decided to show up as D: and my old one as C:[*]I copied everything I wanted from my old HDD onto my new one[*]I formatted my old one and now have it set as M:[*]I installed SuSE 9.1 onto the last space on my first HDD[/list=1]

I was going to say type echo %systemroot% in the dos box, but since typing it in the address bar got you to D:\Windows that would imply that it is correct.

I'm guessing that the reason it installed as D: was because the original drive even though in slave position had an active primary partition on it.

I'm not sure what's going on.

well, how do I change the path?
I want to see what would happen if I add D:\windows\system32\ to it..

I also noticed something else..
if I run something, ie start -> run -> ping 127.0.0.1, it will run correctly, it only seems to effect cmd.exe..,
so I tried the echo command, and it does return D:\windows

The response to the PATH command should not really say %systemroot% in it, rather the actual value (eg. C:\windows) should be substituted in to the response. I realize that when you display %systemroot% it is showing the right value, but... Something is indeed odd here.

From the cmd prompt again type in SET. See what is in the PATHEXT setting (to see that exe is in it).

Right click on My computer, select properties, go to the Advanced tab. You'll see a button for Evvironmental Variables (near bottom). You can set what's need there.

I changed all instances of "%systemroot%" to "D:\windows" and it works now..

heh, when I was going to set it the grid showed the path with the D:\,ect., but if I hit the edit button it will show it with the %systemroots%, see attached photo

I just thought it was funny because I was like WTF, its already set with the D:\,ect. and if one were to not hit the edit button then it would be overlooked that they are in %systemroot%, and it may not work..., good old M$

EDIT-
BTW
PATHEXT=.COM;.EXE;.BAT;.CMD;.VBS;.VBE;.JS;.JSE;.WSF;.WSH

another EDIT-
almost forgot to thank everyone for their help :)

well.., thanx,
Byan

The way it displayed vs the way it showed up when editting is normal. The entry does actually contain/say %systemroot%, but like with other things when it is just displayed the substitution is done.

Quote:

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Originally posted by DrMDJ
The way it displayed vs the way it showed up when editting is normal. The entry does actually contain/say %systemroot%, but like with other things when it is just displayed the substitution is done.

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yeah, I realise that, but since its kinda of ironic how they did that.., when I had to change it to what the product of the subsitution was, because it seems that windows can't do it themselves..