Command Prompt Troubles

[rapidarp]

First off, I apologize for posting a DOS question here....figured it'd have a better chance of getting answered.

Anyway, I'm using an old Sony Vaio machine that i purchased back in 2002 (ya, I need a major upgrade now) and it's running XP Home version 5.1.2. When I go to start->run->cmd and type ipconfig it says it's not a recognized command. Just a couple months ago I did this and it worked fine. I also tried netstat and it still said it wasn't recognized.

It also has a problem switching directories. For example, to get to a Perl script, I'd type D:\Code\Perl\Script1.pl but it often says something to the effect of "unspecified directory." Sometimes, it wont point to a directory no matter how many times I try to type it. Sometimes it works if i /cd each directory one at a time, but even that doesn't always work.

Can anyone tell me what's wrong? Do I need a different version of DOS or something? Is there anything I can do to fix this issue?

Thank you.

[EzyStvy]

D:\Code\Perl\Script1.pl
Script1.pl is a file name isn't it?

It depends on where you start when you try to change directories...

Try-> D: to get to the D drive
Then->cd D:\Code\Perl to get to that directory.

[glc]

Path problems.

Control panel, system, advanced, environment variables. That's where you can edit the path, like you used to with autoexec.bat.

[rapidarp]

This is what was listed under the System Variables - PATH section:

D:\Perl\site\bin;D:\Perl\bin;

Is there anything that needs to be added?

[rapidarp]

Originally Posted by glc Path problems. Control panel, system, advanced, environment variables. That's where you can edit the path, like you used to with autoexec.bat.

Ok I got them to work again...I copied the PATH that was on the other computer on my network. I'm good to go.

[rapidarp]

Ok, the commands work, but I still seem to be having problems opening directories. It seems like if the directory name is is 5/6 or more characters long, I have type the first 5/6 letters followed by ~1. For example, to cd\ into the directory My Documents, I have to enter cd\MYDOCU~1\. A lot of times, this simply won't work.

Even directories will short names such as "java" seem impossible to cd\ into.

Anyone know how to fix this, if can even be fixed?

[glc]

If you are using the 16 bit command shell (command) that is normal. It uses strict 8.3 DOS syntax. The 32 bit command shell (cmd) will get you around that.

[rapidarp]

Originally Posted by glc If you are using the 16 bit command shell (command) that is normal. It uses strict 8.3 DOS syntax. The 32 bit command shell (cmd) will get you around that.

I use cmd. I go Start->Run->cmd

[EzyStvy]

The command to type can also depend on where you're starting from...

Instead of->cd\MYDOCU~1\

Try-> cd C:\mydoc~1

[glc]

My Documents is not off the root of C. It's a link to c:\documents and settings\username\my documents.

[rapidarp]

Originally Posted by glc My Documents is not off the root of C. It's a link to c:\documents and settings\username\my documents.

I know it isn't off the root C. I was just giving a quick example.

[rapidarp]

Originally Posted by EzyStvy Try-> cd C:\mydoc~1

That seems to have solved it.

[EzyStvy]

Long Live Dos

[rapidarp]

Originally Posted by EzyStvy Long Live Dos