Inactivated command prompt in XP

[zoomie]

Something strange has happened to my computer.
When I try to open the command prompt, I get the message "the command
prompt has been inativated by the administrator".
I am the administrator, and I don't recall making any changes related
to the command prompt recently.
SP2 was installed not to long ago, could this be the source of evil?

Help appreciated!

Rgds, z

 

[Jerry]

Both command prompts? Start > Run and try cmd or command

 

[Colin Nash [MVP]]

Something strange has happened to my computer.
When I try to open the command prompt, I get the message "the command
prompt has been inativated by the administrator".
I am the administrator, and I don't recall making any changes related
to the command prompt recently.
SP2 was installed not to long ago, could this be the source of evil?

Help appreciated!

Rgds, z

If you are not on a corporate domain that uses Group Policy (which will
affect you regardless of whether have admin rights) then this is probably
caused by a spyware/malware infection. Try running REGEDIT... is that
disabled too? If so, look here:
http://www.dougknox.com/security/scripts_desc/regtools.htm

If you can get into REGEDIT, make the following change to this registry
value:

Hive: HKEY_CURRENT_USER
Key: Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\System
Name: DisableCMD
Type: REG_DWORD
Value: 0 (setting it to 0 should enable the command prompt.)


You might want to try a tool such as HijackThis
http://www.spywareinfo.com/~merijn/downloads.html, in addition to your usual
virus scanners.

 

[Bob]

You might check and see if the autoexec.nt file is missing in the
C:\windows\systems32\ subdirectory. If it is place a copy of it back
in the subdirectory from C:\i386 and it should fix the problem. Check
and see if syncroad.exe or winsync.exe is running in the windows task
manager processes tab. If so you will need to download the Gaint
Antispyware software and remove them.

Good luck

 

[zoomie]

If you are not on a corporate domain that uses Group Policy (which will
affect you regardless of whether have admin rights) then this is probably
caused by a spyware/malware infection. Try running REGEDIT... is that
disabled too? If so, look here:
http://www.dougknox.com/security/scripts_desc/regtools.htm

If you can get into REGEDIT, make the following change to this registry
value:

Hive: HKEY_CURRENT_USER
Key: Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\System
Name: DisableCMD
Type: REG_DWORD
Value: 0 (setting it to 0 should enable the command prompt.)


You might want to try a tool such as HijackThis
http://www.spywareinfo.com/~merijn/downloads.html, in addition to your usual
virus scanners.

Much appreciated help from you all, especially to you Colin.
Problem solved, at least for now... (CHG in regedit HKEY_CURRENT_USER - see above)

Thanks!!!

z

 

[Robert]

I have the same problem. It all started after Sygate Personal noting
me about explorer.exe had changed since last session (changed program
tried connecting Internet. When I tried to start Task Manager, it was
disabled by the administrator, the same with the command prompts
command and cmd plus Regedit.

I have tried to run the script that someone here wrote about, after
that I rebooted the system but it didn´t work.

I have also run Ad-aware and it found two registry keys that seemed to
have to do with the problem, since it said that it probably had
disactivated the task man and regedit. I let Ad-aware remove them, but
the problem persists.

I have a 2-user XP Personal edition. I have admin rights.

Any ideas? Greatful for any help.

/Robert Lundkvist