CMD window closes as soon as it opens!

I'm having a strange problem with the cmd.exe window. When I open the cmd window it closes as soon as it opens
not allowing me to enter any commands

I can run cmd.exe from safe mode and tried running sfc /scannow while in safe mode but this did not fix anything

Has anyone else run into this problem and does anyone have any suggestions on repairing this

TIA


Post Originated from Vista Support Forums

<zoney> wrote:

> I'm having a strange problem with the cmd.exe
> window. When I open the cmd window it
> closes as soon as it opens, not allowing me
> to enter any commands.

Is there anything in the event logs that is related to the CMD shell being
closed?

How are you attempting to open the CMD window? There are several ways to do
so and whether or not they all show the same symptom will help identify the
cause of the problem. You can open the CMD window by:

* <Pearl> -> Programs -> Accessories -> Command Prompt (or <Pearl> -> All
Programs -> Accessories -> Command Prompt if you're using the Toys-R-Us
version of the START menu)

* <whatever> -> RUN and type CMD

* <whatever> -> RUN and type C:\Windows\System32\cmd

Also, does the failure occur when you're logged in as a different user?


If only the link under ACCESSORIES fails, the shortcut is probably broken.
Open its properties (you can do this directly from the START menu) and look
at the settings; among other items the target for the shortcut should be
%SystemRoot%\system32\cmd.exe (with no switches)and the "Start in" field
should read %HOMEDRIVE%%HOMEPATH% and it should be set to run in a normal
window.

If all invocations of CMD fail, try running CMD from the RUN dialog, but
include the /D switch (i.e., enter "CMD /D" without the quotes). If this
works, look at the Registry settings in the two keys

HKCU\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Command Processor
HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Command Processor

and see if either (or both) have a value named "AutoRun". If the AutoRun
data item exists, rename it to something else (e.g., "FUBAR") and try
opening the CMD shell again. By default, neither key will have this data
item, but I've seen some malware that among other things cripples the CMD
interface.

Good luck.

Joe Morris

zoney wrote:

> I'm having a strange problem with the cmd.exe window. When I open the
> cmd window it closes as soon as it opens, not allowing me to enter any
> commands.
>
> I can run cmd.exe from safe mode and tried running sfc /scannow while in
> safe mode but this did not fix anything.
>
> Has anyone else run into this problem and does anyone have any suggestions
> on repairing this?

What is the malware/virus status of the machine? If you think it is clean,
what programs (and versions) did you use to determine this?

Be sure the computer is clean:
http://www.elephantboycomputers.com/...moving_Malware

Malke
--
MS-MVP
Elephant Boy Computers - Don't Panic!
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