cmd.exe ipconfig problem

H

Henry

On my laptop, when I go to 'Start' then 'Run' then 'cmd',
I go to the "C:/Prompt" screen. At the "C:>", I type
in "ipconfig" and I get and error message: " 'ipconfig'
is not recognized as an internal or external command,
operable program or batch file." This is executing the
cmd.exe file Windows Command Processor File Version
5.1.2600.0 Date Created 8/30/2001 6:30 AM Size: 367 KB.

On my desktop, also operating under XP Pro, this function
works just fine. Now, I do notice that the cmd.exe file
on the desktop is shown to also be 5.1.2600.0 Date
Created: 8/29/2002 8:00 AM. Size 367 KB.

I would appreciate any help in getting the cmd.exe
function to work on the laptop.
 
W

Wesley Vogel

Henry,

Is ipconfig the only command that doesn't work?

Sounds like the path is messed up or....

Is ipconfig.exe in C:\WINDOWS\system32 ??

Does set work?

At the c prompt, type: set hit ENTER
Take a look at Path=

Mine >>
Path=C:\WINDOWS\system32;C:\WINDOWS;C:\WINDOWS\System32\Wbem;C:\Program
Files\Su
pport Tools\
 
H

Henry

Wesley,
Thanks for the response and clue. When I used 'set', I
got a whole page of output, but 'Path'
was "Path=C:\Program Files\Palm;C:\Program
Files\Palm;C:\Program Files\Palm;C:\Program Files\Palm;%
SystemRoot%\System32;%SystemRoot%;%SystemRoot%\System32
\wbem;C:\PROGRA~1\COMMON~1\MGISHA~1\Video"

Now, I've "solved" the problem, but I need to explain
more fully.

On my desktop, I go to Start, Run, cmd. This brings up
the DOS black window with the C:prompt as "C:\Documents
and Settings\Henry W. Ince". Immediately following that
Prompt -- without any spaces -- I type 'ipconfig'. This
brings up the "ipconfig" screen showing the configuration
of my LAN network.

On my laptop, I follow the same procedure and get the
same C:prompt as on the desktop. Again, "C:\Documents and
Settings\Henry W. Ince". It is here that I again type
in 'ipconfig' and get the error previously described.

Now, at the C:prompt, which again appears, I change the
directory setting, i.e., CD\ then Enter. Then,
CD\Windows\System32 then Enter. Now, of course, I have
the C:prompt as "C:\Windows\System32." So, when I type
in 'ipconfig', I get the same/correct "ipconfig" screen
as on the desktop showing the configuration of my LAN
network from the viewpoint of the laptop.

The 'ipconfig' program on the desktop works correctly
with either C:prompt configuration.

So, what do I need to do on the laptop to make 'ipconfig'
work there under either configuration?

Thanks for any suggestions.

Henry
 
W

Wesley Vogel

Henry,

I honestly don't know why you have to change directory.
Here's a work around.

This will open the command prompt to C:\WINDOWS\system32>

Create a shortcut to cmd.exe.
Right click Desktop | New | Shortcut |
Use this for the Target:
%SystemRoot%\system32\cmd.exe
Use this for the Start in:
%windir%\system32
Run: Normal Window
Right click the shortcut | Properties | Options tab |
Display options | Make sure Window is selected |
Apply | OK

If for some reason the command prompt opens full screen |
Use Alt + Enter to toggle back to a window.
 
V

*Vanguard*

Henry said in news:[email protected]:
Wesley,
Thanks for the response and clue. When I used 'set', I
got a whole page of output, but 'Path'
was "Path=C:\Program Files\Palm;C:\Program
Files\Palm;C:\Program Files\Palm;C:\Program Files\Palm;%
SystemRoot%\System32;%SystemRoot%;%SystemRoot%\System32
\wbem;C:\PROGRA~1\COMMON~1\MGISHA~1\Video"
Click to expand...

In the future, and to just see the value for one variable, run "set
<variable>" to see its value. "set" (with no parameters) shows them all.

You sure the value for PATH is correct? Why are there 4 instances of
the same path of "C:\Program Files\Palm"? It only needs to be specified
once.

Was this the PATH value on both your desktop and laptop, or just on your
desktop?
Now, I've "solved" the problem, but I need to explain
more fully.

On my desktop, I go to Start, Run, cmd. This brings up
the DOS black window with the C:prompt as "C:\Documents
and Settings\Henry W. Ince". Immediately following that
Prompt -- without any spaces -- I type 'ipconfig'.
Click to expand...

Might be easier to see your command if you separate them from the line
showing your current path (aka working directory). Instead of $P$G for
your PROMPT, used $P$_$G. Right-click on My Computer or open System
Properties, Advanced, Environment variables, and define or change the
PROMPT environment variable as a SYSTEM variable (effective for every
user) or as a USER variable (for just you).
This
brings up the "ipconfig" screen showing the configuration
of my LAN network.

On my laptop, I follow the same procedure and get the
same C:prompt as on the desktop. Again, "C:\Documents and
Settings\Henry W. Ince". It is here that I again type
in 'ipconfig' and get the error previously described.

Now, at the C:prompt, which again appears, I change the
directory setting, i.e., CD\ then Enter. Then,
CD\Windows\System32 then Enter. Now, of course, I have
the C:prompt as "C:\Windows\System32." So, when I type
in 'ipconfig', I get the same/correct "ipconfig" screen
as on the desktop showing the configuration of my LAN
network from the viewpoint of the laptop.

The 'ipconfig' program on the desktop works correctly
with either C:prompt configuration.
Click to expand...

On the laptop in a DOS shell, run:

cd \
dir ipconfig.exe /s

Or use the Search tool to see where any and all copies of this file
exist. On the laptop, make sure that path is included in the PATH
environment variable. If more than one copy of this file is found, the
order of the paths listed in the PATH environment variable is the order
they get searched. There should be only one copy of this file (other
than in the prefetch and dllcache folders).
 
H

Henry

Vanguard,
The 'set <variable>' does make it easier to read. Thanks.

The "Paths" are different on the desktop and laptop. And,
yes, the path on the laptop as stated is verbatim. How
the multiple "Palm" paths got in there, I cannot explain.

I don't really have a problem with the typed program name
on the same line as the Prompt, so probably will go take
the effort to make that change. Also, not clear enough in
my mind how to "delete" the extra "Palm" references in
the "Paths" and not sure what improvement their deletion
would make, so probably will not mess with that either.

Now, I have found that (except for the Prefetch) there is
only one copy of 'ipconfig.exe' on the desktop and it's
in Windows\System32 folder. Then, on the laptop there are
two copies: one in Windows\System32 folder and the other
in Windows\ServicePackFiles\i386. Both of these copies
are Ver. 5.1.2600.1106 created 6/1/2003 1:11 AM Size 50.5
KB.

Finally, I'm responding to Wes that his suggested
shortcut works just fine on both computers.

My thanks for all your support.

Henry
 
H

Henry

Wes,
Your suggested shortcut to cmd.exe works just fine on
both the desktop and laptop. I don't know what happened
to the 'Path' but this certainly goes around it.

Thanks for your help and support.

Henry
 
S

Sharon F

Wesley,
Thanks for the response and clue. When I used 'set', I
got a whole page of output, but 'Path'
was "Path=C:\Program Files\Palm;C:\Program
Files\Palm;C:\Program Files\Palm;C:\Program Files\Palm;%
SystemRoot%\System32;%SystemRoot%;%SystemRoot%\System32
\wbem;C:\PROGRA~1\COMMON~1\MGISHA~1\Video"

Now, I've "solved" the problem, but I need to explain
more fully.

On my desktop, I go to Start, Run, cmd. This brings up
the DOS black window with the C:prompt as "C:\Documents
and Settings\Henry W. Ince". Immediately following that
Prompt -- without any spaces -- I type 'ipconfig'. This
brings up the "ipconfig" screen showing the configuration
of my LAN network.

On my laptop, I follow the same procedure and get the
same C:prompt as on the desktop. Again, "C:\Documents and
Settings\Henry W. Ince". It is here that I again type
in 'ipconfig' and get the error previously described.

Now, at the C:prompt, which again appears, I change the
directory setting, i.e., CD\ then Enter. Then,
CD\Windows\System32 then Enter. Now, of course, I have
the C:prompt as "C:\Windows\System32." So, when I type
in 'ipconfig', I get the same/correct "ipconfig" screen
as on the desktop showing the configuration of my LAN
network from the viewpoint of the laptop.

The 'ipconfig' program on the desktop works correctly
with either C:prompt configuration.

So, what do I need to do on the laptop to make 'ipconfig'
work there under either configuration?

Thanks for any suggestions.

Henry
Click to expand...

Wild guess but may want to check it out:

Check this setting: Folder Options>View> Hide known file extensions.

When known file extensions are shown, I've had to type in the extension for
various files. For example, ipconfig.exe will work where ipconfig will not.
When a switch is made to the directory that ipconfig is stored in, it
defaults to letting you drop the *.exe part of the name. Normal and
expected behavior that dates back to the days of older command line
interfaces.

When known file extensions are hidden, you can pretty much type any command
without the extension - including ipconfig. Extensions should only be
needed for the occasional file whose location is not included in the path
statement.
 
D

David Candy

The pathext environmental variable controls what extensions don't need to be typed in a command window.
 

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