"Run > cmd" results in "Open With" window prompt

[none]

While trying to ping an NTP server (it was nist1-dc.WiTime.net or
nist1-ny.WiTime.net), I accidentally typed "cmd ping %NTPServerURL% in
the command line. This resulted in an error message scrolling across
the command line window non-stop. I killed the command line window by
pressing the X symbol at the top right of the window, and did not
receive any message about killing a running process. Now this happens:

I go to "Start > Run" and type in "cmd," I get an "Open with" prompt
window that asks me to

"Choose the program you want to use to open this file:
File: cmd"

I've used the "Browse" button to locate the Windows Command Processor,
but I have to select it from the list of "Program." The "Always use the
selected program to open this kind of file" check box is grayed out. I
don't even know why Windows has decided cmd is a file to be opened by an
external application.

This problem only occurs on one user account. On another user account,
"Start > Run > cmd" still opens up a command line window. Is this a
file association problem? Can I fix it via the Registry? Thanks.

 

[Ramesh, MS-MVP]

This happens if a file named "cmd" is present somewhere in your user profile folder. Try this:

Click Start, Run and type:

%comspec% /k dir "%userprofile%\cmd*" /s

Press {ENTER}

Copy the output and post the results here.

--
Regards,

Ramesh Srinivasan, Microsoft MVP [Windows Shell/User]
Windows® Troubleshooting http://www.winhelponline.com


While trying to ping an NTP server (it was nist1-dc.WiTime.net or
nist1-ny.WiTime.net), I accidentally typed "cmd ping %NTPServerURL% in
the command line. This resulted in an error message scrolling across
the command line window non-stop. I killed the command line window by
pressing the X symbol at the top right of the window, and did not
receive any message about killing a running process. Now this happens:

I go to "Start > Run" and type in "cmd," I get an "Open with" prompt
window that asks me to

"Choose the program you want to use to open this file:
File: cmd"

I've used the "Browse" button to locate the Windows Command Processor,
but I have to select it from the list of "Program." The "Always use the
selected program to open this kind of file" check box is grayed out. I
don't even know why Windows has decided cmd is a file to be opened by an
external application.

This problem only occurs on one user account. On another user account,
"Start > Run > cmd" still opens up a command line window. Is this a
file association problem? Can I fix it via the Registry? Thanks.

 

[Hairy]

While trying to ping an NTP server (it was nist1-dc.WiTime.net or
nist1-ny.WiTime.net), I accidentally typed "cmd ping %NTPServerURL% in the
command line. This resulted in an error message scrolling across the
command line window non-stop. I killed the command line window by
pressing the X symbol at the top right of the window, and did not receive
any message about killing a running process. Now this happens:

I go to "Start > Run" and type in "cmd," I get an "Open with" prompt
window that asks me to

"Choose the program you want to use to open this file:
File: cmd"

I've used the "Browse" button to locate the Windows Command Processor, but
I have to select it from the list of "Program." The "Always use the
selected program to open this kind of file" check box is grayed out. I
don't even know why Windows has decided cmd is a file to be opened by an
external application.

This problem only occurs on one user account. On another user account,
"Start > Run > cmd" still opens up a command line window. Is this a file
association problem? Can I fix it via the Registry? Thanks.

Try the cmd file association fix at,
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_tweaks.htm
It's on Line 325, right side.

 

[Crow]

Try the cmd file association fix at,
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_tweaks.htm
It's on Line 325, right side.

While logged into the affected account, merged cmdfile.reg with the
Registry. Logged out of account, logged back in, no change. Running
"cmd" from "Run" in the other account still works fine.

 

[Crow]

This happens if a file named "cmd" is present somewhere in your user profile folder. Try this:

Click Start, Run and type:

%comspec% /k dir "%userprofile%\cmd*" /s

Press {ENTER}

Copy the output and post the results here.

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

C:\Documents and Settings\M. Haber>%comspec% /k dir "%userprofile%\cmd*" /s
Volume in drive C has no label.
Volume Serial Number is 4898-D0C1

Directory of C:\Documents and Settings\username

11/11/2007 05:37 PM 0 cmd
1 File(s) 0 bytes

Directory of C:\Documents and Settings\username\Desktop

11/13/2007 01:24 PM 3,486 cmdfile.reg
1 File(s) 3,486 bytes

Directory of C:\Documents and
Settings\username\Desktop\username\Application Da
ta\Microsoft\VBExpress\8.0\1033

04/07/2006 09:32 PM 14,561 CmdUI.PRF
1 File(s) 14,561 bytes

Directory of C:\Documents and
Settings\username\Desktop\username\Application Da
ta\Microsoft\VCExpress\8.0\1033

04/07/2006 09:30 PM 1,592 CmdUI.PRF
1 File(s) 1,592 bytes

Directory of C:\Documents and
Settings\username\Desktop\username\Application Da
ta\Microsoft\VWDExpress\8.0\1033

04/07/2006 09:27 PM 3,875 CmdUI.PRF
1 File(s) 3,875 bytes

Directory of C:\Documents and Settings\username\Desktop\username\Local
Settings
\Temporary Internet Files\Content.IE5\B69DLZ8U

03/08/2007 02:56 PM 681 cmdarrw_nor[1].gif
1 File(s) 681 bytes

Total Files Listed:
6 File(s) 24,195 bytes
0 Dir(s) 117,809,848,320 bytes free"

I deleted "cmd" from C:\Documents and Settings\username, and it works
fine now. Thanks.

 

[Ramesh, MS-MVP]

I deleted "cmd" from C:\Documents and Settings\username, and it works
fine now. Thanks.

You're welcome!

--
Regards,

Ramesh Srinivasan, Microsoft MVP [Windows Shell/User]
Windows® Troubleshooting http://www.winhelponline.com

This happens if a file named "cmd" is present somewhere in your user profile folder. Try this:

Click Start, Run and type:

%comspec% /k dir "%userprofile%\cmd*" /s

Press {ENTER}

Copy the output and post the results here.

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

C:\Documents and Settings\M. Haber>%comspec% /k dir "%userprofile%\cmd*" /s
Volume in drive C has no label.
Volume Serial Number is 4898-D0C1

Directory of C:\Documents and Settings\username

11/11/2007 05:37 PM 0 cmd
1 File(s) 0 bytes

Directory of C:\Documents and Settings\username\Desktop

11/13/2007 01:24 PM 3,486 cmdfile.reg
1 File(s) 3,486 bytes

Directory of C:\Documents and
Settings\username\Desktop\username\Application Da
ta\Microsoft\VBExpress\8.0\1033

04/07/2006 09:32 PM 14,561 CmdUI.PRF
1 File(s) 14,561 bytes

Directory of C:\Documents and
Settings\username\Desktop\username\Application Da
ta\Microsoft\VCExpress\8.0\1033

04/07/2006 09:30 PM 1,592 CmdUI.PRF
1 File(s) 1,592 bytes

Directory of C:\Documents and
Settings\username\Desktop\username\Application Da
ta\Microsoft\VWDExpress\8.0\1033

04/07/2006 09:27 PM 3,875 CmdUI.PRF
1 File(s) 3,875 bytes

Directory of C:\Documents and Settings\username\Desktop\username\Local
Settings
\Temporary Internet Files\Content.IE5\B69DLZ8U

03/08/2007 02:56 PM 681 cmdarrw_nor[1].gif
1 File(s) 681 bytes

Total Files Listed:
6 File(s) 24,195 bytes
0 Dir(s) 117,809,848,320 bytes free"

I deleted "cmd" from C:\Documents and Settings\username, and it works
fine now. Thanks.