Unable to access the DOS system32 subdirectory

[Patrick]

I click on Start-Run and the black DOS screen titled
C:\WINNT\system32\cmd.exe appears and says:
C:\Documents and Settings\Owner>
I type in 'path=c:\windows\system32\' without the quotes and the same
message appears:
C:\Documents and Settings\Owner>
then I ussue the command cd\ I get to the root directory,
when I issue the above path command from the c: root directory nothing
happens,
when I issue the above path command from the c:\windows nothing happens,
when I ussue the DIR command from the windows directory I only see three
no-name sub-directories nothing that says system32,
what am I doing wrong, I need to execute the Ping command to trouble
shoot my isp connection. Can anyone help?
Patrick

 

[geoffmcc]

You should be able to just start/run and type cmd.exe -- then when
command prompt (black screen) comes up you should just be able to ping
from there.

 

[Patrick]

Tried typing cmd.exe command at the run prompt and it opened the DOS window
showing c:\Documents and Settings\Owner>, I typed in ping/? and got the
return message 'ping' is not a recognized as an internal or external
command, operable program or batch file. Any other suggestions?

 

[Ricky]

Try typing ping /?..note the space after the g.

| Tried typing cmd.exe command at the run prompt and it opened the DOS
window
| showing c:\Documents and Settings\Owner>, I typed in ping/? and got
the
| return message 'ping' is not a recognized as an internal or external
| command, operable program or batch file. Any other suggestions?
|
| "geoffmcc" <[email protected]>
| wrote| > You should be able to just start/run and type cmd.exe -- then when
| > command prompt (black screen) comes up you should just be able to
ping
| > from there.
| >
|
|

 

[Patrick Keenan]

I click on Start-Run and the black DOS screen

This is a command prompt, it's not DOS.

titled
C:\WINNT\system32\cmd.exe appears and says:
C:\Documents and Settings\Owner>
I type in 'path=c:\windows\system32\' without the quotes
and the same
message appears:
C:\Documents and Settings\Owner>

Yes. that's because what you typed will not change directory, it will
change the PATH environment variable to be c:\windows\system32. You see
the same directory because the command completed and did not require - nor
was it asked to perform - a change of directory. What you describe is
expected and normal.

then I ussue the command cd\ I get to the root directory,
when I issue the above path command from the c: root directory nothing
happens,

See above. You should just see the c:\prompt.

when I issue the above path command from the c:\windows nothing happens,

Well, you're not asking it to change anything at all, so... ?

when I ussue the DIR command from the windows directory I only see three
no-name sub-directories nothing that says system32,

Note that there is a Windows directory in your profile folder in Documents
and Settings. Be sure that that isn't where you're looking.

what am I doing wrong, I need to execute the Ping command to trouble
shoot my isp connection. Can anyone help?
Patrick

Change directory to the c:\windows\system32 folder, and type dir ping.*.
Then, assuming it's found, type ping.

HTH
-pk

 

[Patrick Keenan]

Tried typing cmd.exe command at the run prompt and it opened the DOS window
showing c:\Documents and Settings\Owner>, I typed in ping/?

You typed incorrectly. You only really need to type ping. If you want
help on ping or any other command, include the space between the command and
the help switch, /?. So, ping<note space here> /?

HTH
-pk

 

[Patrick]

Hi All:
Thanks for all your explainations. My problem is that my system32 directory
is not in my windows directory, it resides in the winnt directory. Since I
was looking for it in my System directory it was not found, when I entered:
C:\WINNT\SYSTEM32 and entered PING it worked. I don't know if this is normal
but that's where it is.
Patrick

 

[Patrick Keenan]

Hi All:
Thanks for all your explainations. My problem is that my system32 directory
is not in my windows directory, it resides in the winnt directory. Since I
was looking for it in my System directory it was not found, when I entered:
C:\WINNT\SYSTEM32 and entered PING it worked. I don't know if this is normal
but that's where it is.
Patrick

Where exactly is Windows XP installed?

Go to a command prompt, and type SET. Look for 'windir' and 'systemroot'
values. these will tell you what the actual Windows directory is.

Winnt was normally used up to Windows 2000. Only with XP did Windows become
the default directory name for NT-based installs.

HTH
-pk

 

[Patrick Keenan]

The attached screenshot shows the results of the cms prompt set.

You can right-click on the command prompt, choose Mark, then drag the mouse,
left-button down, to highlight text, then press Enter to copy it.

The environment variables show that the active Windows install is in fact in
the Winnt folder, *not* in the Windows folder. That is why, when you
issued the path command specifying the path as c:\windows\system32, Ping
would not work; you had explicitly excluded the actual location of the file
from the path.

HTH
-pk

 

[Patrick]

Patrick: Isn't it odd that it resides in the winnt directory rather then the
windows directory?
Patrick

 

[WTC]

If you upgraded to Windows XP from Windows 2000 then you will have the WINNT
folder. If you perform a clean without an unattended file then XP will be
installed in the WINDOWS folder.

 

[Patrick Keenan]

Patrick: Isn't it odd that it resides in the winnt directory rather then the
windows directory?
Patrick

Not really. This would happen in an upgrade from Windows 2000 or NT4.
Some people also name it as Winnt out of preference; you can specify a name
during setup.

It is not in any way an indication of malfunction.

HTH
-pk

 

[Patrick]

Thanks for your prompt replies.... I purchased my computer from Gateway and
that is how the OS was installed by them!!!
thanks,
Patrick