Win XP Pro: cmd (command prompt) wont load

delop

Anyone have any ideas?

When i try to run the command prompt from the start menu or START ==> Run 'cmd'

It appears and then quick disappears

very frustrating, I dont want to reinstall xp for that

Not sure why its happening, or what I installed to stop it working, but it used to work..

Can anyone help?

Nick_oliveri

Suppose it wouldnt hurt to run it in safe mode. Does telnet, regedit or dxdiag work? Probably something got to do with dos windows being borked or maybe even administrative privilages.

Mr. Presentable

Does it run from

start-all programs-accessories.?

Does typing cmd.exe at Run work?

Does typing calc at Run work?

delop

nipplenuts wrote:

Does it run from

start-all programs-accessories.?

Does typing cmd.exe at Run work?

Does typing calc at Run work?

It runs both ways but then shuts down straight away

I have admin rights

telnet works

regedit does not, same behavour

grrrrrrr

h8red

Try to run Task Manager by Ctrl+Alt+Del or by right clicking on your taskbar and clicking Task Manager. If it will not run either then you probably have a virus/spyware that is killing off any of the tools you may try to use to get rid of it.

Also try to copy cmd.exe from c:\windows\system32 to your desktop and rename it to cmd.com and see if you can run it from there.

Nick_oliveri

You knew someone was gonna say this. Update your av and run a scan. Safe mode.

Then dl hiijackthis and post it up with the [code] tags!Someone here will probably see the problem.

delop

h8red wrote:

Try to run Task Manager by Ctrl+Alt+Del or by right clicking on your taskbar and clicking Task Manager. If it will not run either then you probably have a virus/spyware that is killing off any of the tools you may try to use to get rid of it.

Also try to copy cmd.exe from c:\windows\system32 to your desktop and rename it to cmd.com and see if you can run it from there.

Well done h8red, thats the prob I believe, Same with Task Manager....

Now the next question, How do I get rid of it?

Its a work machine, so i have McAfee, but that has not seemed to get rid of the prob...

h8red

Hmmm. Getting rid of it is the hard part. If you have McAfee on your machine already see if you can update the virus definitions and do a full system scan. I wouldn't be sure how exactly to do this as I'm not at all familiar with McAfee but it shouldn't be too difficult.

Another option would be to run an online virus scan such as Trend Housecall. But these are quite often dfficult to get running. Try McAfee and let us know how you get on...

ActorSeeksJob

Don't waste your time with a Trend Micro or McAfee scan, if the malware has done this much damage then it's something particularly bad.

You need to run HijackThis
http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/files/hijackthis_sfx.php

Install that and run it, then click "Do a system scan and save a logfile" and post that here, and don't put it in a code box please.

Nick_oliveri

ActorSeeksJob wrote:

Install that and run it, then click "Do a system scan and save a logfile" and post that here, and don't put it in a code box please.

I thought code box takes up less of the page?

ch252

I have the very same problem...it was after I was deleting things from the registry....any solutions greatly appreciated

Redisle

Did you try running "command" instead of "cmd"?
Its pretty much the same thing

ActorSeeksJob

I thought code box takes up less of the page?

I'm sure this is right, but reading a HijackThis log thats in quotes or code is a real strain on the eyes, and is definitely not helpful.

darragh-k don't suppose you made a registry backup before deleting stuff? A HijackThis log might be a good idea for yourself.