Using win98se, my directory command gives me corrupted file/directory names and wrong dates and sizes when I access my 1.44mb diskette in A drive when I boot to ms-dos mode or command prompt only mode . no problem with C drive. For example, in explorer or in a dos window it shows correctly my diskette as containing 5 files using 1,054,614 bytes and 402,944 bytes free. But in ms-dos or command prompt only mode it shows garbled files/directories names and wrong dates such as 15-31-99 and containing 39 files and 18 directories using 34,172.33 Mb with 192,032 bytes free. The volume label is also garbled. I've scanned the diskette using the latest McAfee 4140 engine and 4137 dat file with no viruses found. Can anyone tell me what's wrong and how do I correct this? thanx.

Sounds like your COMMAND.COM could be mangled. Check if you've got 2 copies - you should have one in root of C: and one in windows folder. Unless you've got a SHELL command in config.sys pointing to the windows one, it's the root version is up the spout. Try SYS A: from a dos boot to C:\ and reboot with the floppy, and then try DIR. You'll have to work out which one is u/s - make a copy before you overwrite the duff one in case your logic is wrong - you'd end up with TWO bad copies.

Whatever file is appended to COMMAND.COM when windows boots is corrupt. I would START>PROGRAMS>ACCESSORIES>SYSTEM TOOLS>SYSTEM INFORMATION. There I would access the dropdown menu TOOLS and run System File Checker.

have done fc but no differences between the c:\command.com and the c:\windows\command.com and also system file checker but of no use. problem still exist. any other ideas everyone out there? help me please.