Path environment variable does not work in "cmd"

[enrio]

My sister has a laptop running windows 2000, where the command "path"
responds %SystemRoot%\system32;..., and "echo %SystemRoot%" gives
C:\winnt. Yet, if I issue the command ipconfig, it says The command
"ipconfig" is not recognized as an internal or external command. The
same thing happens with "ipconfig.exe", "ping", and "ping.exe". But,
if I issue the command "C:\winnt\system32\ipconfig.exe", it works.
"C:\winnt\system32\ping (an ip address)" also works. All this happens
when I am logged in as administrator.

If I right-click "My Computer", select "Properties", and examine the
"Path" environment, I find it shown as "C:\winnt\system32;...". If I
select the it and click "edit", the edit window shows it as
"%SystemRoot%\system32;...".

I just can't think of any explanation. There are some other things that
do not work too, primarily it seems unable to obtain an IP address from
the dhcp server, even it can ping the server, and another laptop gets
an IP address if I connect it in place of the laptop in question, to
the same cable.

Any suggestions?

 

[Pegasus \(MVP\)]

My sister has a laptop running windows 2000, where the command "path"
responds %SystemRoot%\system32;..., and "echo %SystemRoot%" gives
C:\winnt. Yet, if I issue the command ipconfig, it says The command
"ipconfig" is not recognized as an internal or external command. The
same thing happens with "ipconfig.exe", "ping", and "ping.exe". But,
if I issue the command "C:\winnt\system32\ipconfig.exe", it works.
"C:\winnt\system32\ping (an ip address)" also works. All this happens
when I am logged in as administrator.

If I right-click "My Computer", select "Properties", and examine the
"Path" environment, I find it shown as "C:\winnt\system32;...". If I
select the it and click "edit", the edit window shows it as
"%SystemRoot%\system32;...".

I just can't think of any explanation. There are some other things that
do not work too, primarily it seems unable to obtain an IP address from
the dhcp server, even it can ping the server, and another laptop gets
an IP address if I connect it in place of the laptop in question, to
the same cable.

Any suggestions?

The path is defined here:
HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Session Manager\Environment
It must of of type REG_EXPAND_SZ, not REG_SZ. Yours is
most likely an incorrect type. Use regedt32.exe to delete it, then
recreate it.