IPCONFIG - does it work on XP Home?

[Terry Pinnell]

At this page
http://www.techiwarehouse.com/cms/engine.php?page_id=163e0b14
and elsewhere I read that:
"Windows XP comes with a useful command-line utility, ipconfig...you
can run it from Command Prompt..."

But when I tried it, such as ipconfig /displaydns, or just ipconfig,
I got a message "'ipconfig' is not recognized as an internal or
external command, operable program or batch file."

Could someone clarify please.

 

[BP]

At this page
http://www.techiwarehouse.com/cms/engine.php?page_id=163e0b14
and elsewhere I read that:
"Windows XP comes with a useful command-line utility, ipconfig...you
can run it from Command Prompt..."

But when I tried it, such as ipconfig /displaydns, or just ipconfig,
I got a message "'ipconfig' is not recognized as an internal or
external command, operable program or batch file."

Could someone clarify please.

I run XP home-SP2 and I have IPConfig.

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

At this page
http://www.techiwarehouse.com/cms/engine.php?page_id=163e0b14
and elsewhere I read that:
"Windows XP comes with a useful command-line utility, ipconfig...you
can run it from Command Prompt..."

But when I tried it, such as ipconfig /displaydns, or just ipconfig,
I got a message "'ipconfig' is not recognized as an internal or
external command, operable program or batch file."

Could someone clarify please.

Yes, ipconfig comes with XP Home and works with it.

If you are having trouble, it's likely that either your copy is missing or
damaged or (more likely) that you have a problem with the path and it can't
find it.

Try this: open a command prompt window and issue the command cd
\windows\system32 Then try the ipconfig command. If it works there, the
problem is with your path.

 

[Wesley Vogel]

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

--
Hope this helps. Let us know.

Wes
MS-MVP Windows Shell/User

In

 

[Terry Pinnell]

Yes, ipconfig comes with XP Home and works with it.

If you are having trouble, it's likely that either your copy is missing or
damaged or (more likely) that you have a problem with the path and it can't
find it.

Try this: open a command prompt window and issue the command cd
\windows\system32 Then try the ipconfig command. If it works there, the
problem is with your path.

Thanks all. It was indeed a path problem, because a little later I
tried entering the full path
C:\WINDOWS\system32\ipconfig.exe
so that the entire Command Prompt looked like this
C:\Documents and Settings\Terry
Pinnell>C:\WINDOWS\system32\ipconfig.exe /displa
ydns

....and it worked.

Presumably, for it to work in the way the various articles described,
i.e. just entering 'ipconfig /displaydns' after the prompt, there is
an assumption that my 'environmental paths' or whatever they're called
are setup accordingly? In the old DOS days, I seem to recall that was
in Autoexec.bat or Config.sys or similar, but not sure how it's done
in XP?

 

[Terry Pinnell]

Thanks all. It was indeed a path problem, because a little later I
tried entering the full path
C:\WINDOWS\system32\ipconfig.exe
so that the entire Command Prompt looked like this
C:\Documents and Settings\Terry
Pinnell>C:\WINDOWS\system32\ipconfig.exe /displa
ydns

...and it worked.

Presumably, for it to work in the way the various articles described,
i.e. just entering 'ipconfig /displaydns' after the prompt, there is
an assumption that my 'environmental paths' or whatever they're called
are setup accordingly? In the old DOS days, I seem to recall that was
in Autoexec.bat or Config.sys or similar, but not sure how it's done
in XP?

I've since found what seems to be the answer to my last question. But
having looked at System Properties|Environment Variables, I can't see
anything wrong. The PATH entry is as follows:
%SystemRoot%\system32;%SystemRoot%;%SystemRoot%\system32\WBEM;C:\Program
Files\Executive Software\DiskeeperWorkstation\;C:\Pico

(Actually, it's *displayed* explicitly, i.e. starting
C:\WINDOWS\system32, etc, but the above is how it pasted here.)

Anyway, surely that first entry should ensure that entries like
ipconfig (and ping, which I also see fails) should work OK?

BTW, when I open a Command Prompt, why does it always open to
C:\Documents and Settings\Terry
Pinnell> ?

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

Thanks all. It was indeed a path problem, because a little later I
tried entering the full path
C:\WINDOWS\system32\ipconfig.exe
so that the entire Command Prompt looked like this
C:\Documents and Settings\Terry
Pinnell>C:\WINDOWS\system32\ipconfig.exe /displa
ydns

...and it worked.

Presumably, for it to work in the way the various articles described,
i.e. just entering 'ipconfig /displaydns' after the prompt, there is
an assumption that my 'environmental paths' or whatever they're called
are setup accordingly? In the old DOS days, I seem to recall that was
in Autoexec.bat or Config.sys or similar, but not sure how it's done
in XP?

Right-click on My Computer and choose Properties. On the Advanced tab, click
Environment variables. You can edit the path there.

 

[Wesley Vogel]

Terry,

What the heck is in C:\Pico ?

[[In some cases, the actual contents of the environment variable is correct,
but the registry data type is incorrect. The system registry environment
variable type should be REG_EXPAND_SZ, not REG_SZ.]]

[[To check your registry setting manually, run REGEDIT and navigate to
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Session
Manager\Environment. Examine the registry data type of the Path entry. If it
is not REG_EXPAND_SZ, then you need to perform the following steps:

Open the Path entry so that it is an editable string.
Select the entire string, and press Ctrl+C to copy it to the clipboard.
Cancel editing of the Path entry.
Open notepad and paste the string, to make sure it copied to the clipboard
correctly.
Delete the Path entry.
Create a new value called Path and make sure that you select REG_EXPAND_SZ
as the data type.
For the contents, press Ctrl+V to paste the contents of the clipboard.
Click OK to save the contents of the registry value.

The cause of this problem is probably an installation program that doesn't
correctly read and re-write the registry value with the correct data type.]]
from...
6. Why don't my commands work?
http://internet.cybermesa.com/~bstewart/cmdprompt.html#6

To show your path in a command prompt, type path and hit Enter.

Microsoft Windows XP [Version 5.1.2600]
(C) Copyright 1985-2001 Microsoft Corp.

C:\>path
PATH=C:\WINDOWS\system32;C:\WINDOWS;C:\WINDOWS\System32\Wbem;C:\Program
Files\Support Tools\;C:\Program Files\Common Files\Autodesk Shared\

C:\>

BTW, when I open a Command Prompt, why does it always open to
C:\Documents and Settings\Terry Pinnell> ?

That is the way the Start in is set on your shortcut.

Try this...

Right click the Desktop | New | Shortcut |
Paste this in the location box:

%SystemRoot%\system32\cmd.exe

Click Next | Click Finish |

Right click the new cmd.exe shortcut | Properties |
In the Start in box replace %windir% with C:\ |
Click Apply | Click OK

Double click the new shortcut and you should see.............

Microsoft Windows XP [Version 5.1.2600]
(C) Copyright 1985-2001 Microsoft Corp.

C:\>

You can also change the Start in for the cmd shortcut located under
Accessories on the Start Menu.

HOW TO: Set the Command Processor Appearance in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;309019

Set the Command prompt default path to a certain directory
http://windowsxp.mvps.org/autoruncmd.htm

--
Hope this helps. Let us know.

Wes
MS-MVP Windows Shell/User

In

 

[Terry Pinnell]

Right-click on My Computer and choose Properties. On the Advanced tab, click
Environment variables. You can edit the path there.

Thanks, but you must have missed my later post.

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

Thanks, but you must have missed my later post.

Yes, I saw it only later, and now see that Wesley Vogel has since answered
it.

 

[Terry Pinnell]

Terry,

What the heck is in C:\Pico ?

[[In some cases, the actual contents of the environment variable is correct,
but the registry data type is incorrect. The system registry environment
variable type should be REG_EXPAND_SZ, not REG_SZ.]]

[[To check your registry setting manually, run REGEDIT and navigate to
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Session
Manager\Environment. Examine the registry data type of the Path entry. If it
is not REG_EXPAND_SZ, then you need to perform the following steps:

Open the Path entry so that it is an editable string.
Select the entire string, and press Ctrl+C to copy it to the clipboard.
Cancel editing of the Path entry.
Open notepad and paste the string, to make sure it copied to the clipboard
correctly.
Delete the Path entry.
Create a new value called Path and make sure that you select REG_EXPAND_SZ
as the data type.
For the contents, press Ctrl+V to paste the contents of the clipboard.
Click OK to save the contents of the registry value.

The cause of this problem is probably an installation program that doesn't
correctly read and re-write the registry value with the correct data type.]]
from...
6. Why don't my commands work?
http://internet.cybermesa.com/~bstewart/cmdprompt.html#6

To show your path in a command prompt, type path and hit Enter.

Thanks, Wes. I made the registry change you suggested. Maybe it needs
a reboot (which I can't do right now), but on trying it again it still
fails. This is what I see now:

C:\Documents and Settings\Terry Pinnell>ipconfig /?
'ipconfig' is not recognized as an internal or external command,
operable program or batch file.

C:\Documents and Settings\Terry Pinnell>path
PATH=%SystemRoot%\system32;%SystemRoot%;%SystemRoot%\system32\WBEM;C:\Program
Fi
les\Executive Software\DiskeeperWorkstation\;C:\Pico

C:\Documents and Settings\Terry Pinnell>

(Oh, Pico is the program files folder for an electronics application.
Can't immmediately recall why I stuck it in the path!)

Microsoft Windows XP [Version 5.1.2600]
(C) Copyright 1985-2001 Microsoft Corp.

C:\>path
PATH=C:\WINDOWS\system32;C:\WINDOWS;C:\WINDOWS\System32\Wbem;C:\Program
Files\Support Tools\;C:\Program Files\Common Files\Autodesk Shared\

C:\>

BTW, when I open a Command Prompt, why does it always open to
C:\Documents and Settings\Terry Pinnell> ?

That is the way the Start in is set on your shortcut.

Try this...

Have to go leave PC for a while, but will get back on the case
tomorrow and try your suggestions below.

Right click the Desktop | New | Shortcut |
Paste this in the location box:

%SystemRoot%\system32\cmd.exe

Click Next | Click Finish |

Right click the new cmd.exe shortcut | Properties |
In the Start in box replace %windir% with C:\ |
Click Apply | Click OK

Double click the new shortcut and you should see.............

Microsoft Windows XP [Version 5.1.2600]
(C) Copyright 1985-2001 Microsoft Corp.

C:\>

You can also change the Start in for the cmd shortcut located under
Accessories on the Start Menu.

HOW TO: Set the Command Processor Appearance in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;309019

Set the Command prompt default path to a certain directory
http://windowsxp.mvps.org/autoruncmd.htm

Appreciate your help. Will report back soon.

 

[Terry Pinnell]

Terry,

What the heck is in C:\Pico ?

[[In some cases, the actual contents of the environment variable is correct,
but the registry data type is incorrect. The system registry environment
variable type should be REG_EXPAND_SZ, not REG_SZ.]]

[[To check your registry setting manually, run REGEDIT and navigate to
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Session
Manager\Environment. Examine the registry data type of the Path entry. If it
is not REG_EXPAND_SZ, then you need to perform the following steps:

Open the Path entry so that it is an editable string.
Select the entire string, and press Ctrl+C to copy it to the clipboard.
Cancel editing of the Path entry.
Open notepad and paste the string, to make sure it copied to the clipboard
correctly.
Delete the Path entry.
Create a new value called Path and make sure that you select REG_EXPAND_SZ
as the data type.
For the contents, press Ctrl+V to paste the contents of the clipboard.
Click OK to save the contents of the registry value.

The cause of this problem is probably an installation program that doesn't
correctly read and re-write the registry value with the correct data type.]]
from...
6. Why don't my commands work?
http://internet.cybermesa.com/~bstewart/cmdprompt.html#6

To show your path in a command prompt, type path and hit Enter.

Thanks, Wes. I made the registry change you suggested. Maybe it needs
a reboot (which I can't do right now), but on trying it again it still
fails. This is what I see now:

C:\Documents and Settings\Terry Pinnell>ipconfig /?
'ipconfig' is not recognized as an internal or external command,
operable program or batch file.

C:\Documents and Settings\Terry Pinnell>path
PATH=%SystemRoot%\system32;%SystemRoot%;%SystemRoot%\system32\WBEM;C:\Program
Fi
les\Executive Software\DiskeeperWorkstation\;C:\Pico

C:\Documents and Settings\Terry Pinnell>

(Oh, Pico is the program files folder for an electronics application.
Can't immmediately recall why I stuck it in the path!)

Microsoft Windows XP [Version 5.1.2600]
(C) Copyright 1985-2001 Microsoft Corp.

C:\>path
PATH=C:\WINDOWS\system32;C:\WINDOWS;C:\WINDOWS\System32\Wbem;C:\Program
Files\Support Tools\;C:\Program Files\Common Files\Autodesk Shared\

C:\>

BTW, when I open a Command Prompt, why does it always open to
C:\Documents and Settings\Terry Pinnell> ?

That is the way the Start in is set on your shortcut.

Try this...

Have to go leave PC for a while, but will get back on the case
tomorrow and try your suggestions below.

Right click the Desktop | New | Shortcut |
Paste this in the location box:

%SystemRoot%\system32\cmd.exe

Click Next | Click Finish |

Right click the new cmd.exe shortcut | Properties |
In the Start in box replace %windir% with C:\ |
Click Apply | Click OK

Double click the new shortcut and you should see.............

Microsoft Windows XP [Version 5.1.2600]
(C) Copyright 1985-2001 Microsoft Corp.

C:\>

You can also change the Start in for the cmd shortcut located under
Accessories on the Start Menu.

HOW TO: Set the Command Processor Appearance in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;309019

Set the Command prompt default path to a certain directory
http://windowsxp.mvps.org/autoruncmd.htm

Appreciate your help. Will report back soon.

Pleased to report that this morning after a reboot, plain vanilla
'ipconfig' now works fine.

Thanks to all for the help received here.

 

[Wesley Vogel]

What about Neapolitan?

Keep having fun, Terry.

(Oh, Pico is the program files folder for an electronics application.
Can't immmediately recall why I stuck it in the path!)

As in picofarad.

--
Hope this helps. Let us know.

Wes
MS-MVP Windows Shell/User

In

Terry,

What the heck is in C:\Pico ?

[[In some cases, the actual contents of the environment variable is
correct, but the registry data type is incorrect. The system registry
environment variable type should be REG_EXPAND_SZ, not REG_SZ.]]

[[To check your registry setting manually, run REGEDIT and navigate to
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Session
Manager\Environment. Examine the registry data type of the Path entry.
If it is not REG_EXPAND_SZ, then you need to perform the following
steps:

Open the Path entry so that it is an editable string.
Select the entire string, and press Ctrl+C to copy it to the clipboard.
Cancel editing of the Path entry.
Open notepad and paste the string, to make sure it copied to the
clipboard correctly.
Delete the Path entry.
Create a new value called Path and make sure that you select
REG_EXPAND_SZ as the data type.
For the contents, press Ctrl+V to paste the contents of the clipboard.
Click OK to save the contents of the registry value.

The cause of this problem is probably an installation program that
doesn't correctly read and re-write the registry value with the correct
data type.]] from...
6. Why don't my commands work?
http://internet.cybermesa.com/~bstewart/cmdprompt.html#6

To show your path in a command prompt, type path and hit Enter.

Thanks, Wes. I made the registry change you suggested. Maybe it needs
a reboot (which I can't do right now), but on trying it again it still
fails. This is what I see now:

C:\Documents and Settings\Terry Pinnell>ipconfig /?
'ipconfig' is not recognized as an internal or external command,
operable program or batch file.

C:\Documents and Settings\Terry Pinnell>path

PATH=%SystemRoot%\system32;%SystemRoot%;%SystemRoot%\system32\WBEM;C:\Progra
m

Fi
les\Executive Software\DiskeeperWorkstation\;C:\Pico

C:\Documents and Settings\Terry Pinnell>

(Oh, Pico is the program files folder for an electronics application.
Can't immmediately recall why I stuck it in the path!)

Microsoft Windows XP [Version 5.1.2600]
(C) Copyright 1985-2001 Microsoft Corp.

C:\>path
PATH=C:\WINDOWS\system32;C:\WINDOWS;C:\WINDOWS\System32\Wbem;C:\Program
Files\Support Tools\;C:\Program Files\Common Files\Autodesk Shared\

C:\>

BTW, when I open a Command Prompt, why does it always open to
C:\Documents and Settings\Terry Pinnell> ?

That is the way the Start in is set on your shortcut.

Try this...

Have to go leave PC for a while, but will get back on the case
tomorrow and try your suggestions below.

Right click the Desktop | New | Shortcut |
Paste this in the location box:

%SystemRoot%\system32\cmd.exe

Click Next | Click Finish |

Right click the new cmd.exe shortcut | Properties |
In the Start in box replace %windir% with C:\ |
Click Apply | Click OK

Double click the new shortcut and you should see.............

Microsoft Windows XP [Version 5.1.2600]
(C) Copyright 1985-2001 Microsoft Corp.

C:\>

You can also change the Start in for the cmd shortcut located under
Accessories on the Start Menu.

HOW TO: Set the Command Processor Appearance in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;309019

Set the Command prompt default path to a certain directory
http://windowsxp.mvps.org/autoruncmd.htm

Appreciate your help. Will report back soon.

Pleased to report that this morning after a reboot, plain vanilla
'ipconfig' now works fine.

Thanks to all for the help received here.