Hi, Why is it that when i try to use the command prompt START-RUN-CMD, that the window that opens alway has C:\Documents and settings\Me> instead of just C:\>. I cant run the commands i want like that. I am the only user and my account is an administrator one. Thanks for any help.

When you get into the Cmd prompt type Help Cmd. The ensuing list will give you assorts of info on Cmd. About half way down it tells you how to modify the registry so that Cmd opens in a designated folder. You just need to enter a value for the auto run parameter which is normally empty. To navigate to the required folder use CD CD \ takes you back to C:\ CD \Windows takes you to the Windows folder CD .. takes you back up one level Stuart

To open Command prompt in the root directory, 1. Create a Command prompt shortcut on your desktop. 2. Right click the shortcut, select Properties. 3. Change (or add) the "Start in" dialogue to C:\ 4. Save and close Command prompt for the change to take effect. i_XpUser

thanks for that. Can you also tell me what the difference is between typing in 'command' in the run box and 'cmd'. I get two different results. When i type in 'command' and press enter I get the following message 16 bit ms-dos subsystem C:\WINDOWS\system32\command.com C:\progra~1\Symantec\S32evnt1.dll. An installable Virtual Device Driver failed Dll initialisation. Choose 'close' to terminate the application. If i type in 'cmd' and enter it i get the cmd.exe program with no error message but both programs tell me the same thing when i try to run a command like 'ipconfig' they both say "ipconfig is not a recognised internal or external command, operable program or batch file". Any tips??

No idea why command.com is getting involved with Symantec. As to ip config, it should be in your path. You can find out if it's on the drive with this: attrib /s \ipconfig.* If it's there, check your path: Path [enter] M2 If at first you don't succeed, you're about average.

I have no idea why Semantic should be getting involved. I would try reinstalling whatever Semantic applications you have. The difference between Cmd and Command is that Cmd is a full blown 32 bit command interpretor. Command, or command.com, is the 16 bit DOS version. Command com is needed to run some DOS programmes under Win XP. Try changing folders to a folder with a long file name under command.com and you will see the difference. You have to use the abbreviated short file name version. Stuart

Hi Stuart, Well, Dunno about XP but in w2k, using command.com I still get LFNs *** screen shot 18-01-2005 12:27 <DIR> MP3Producer 04-06-2003 16:10 <DIR> Microsoft Office 1 File(s) 34 bytes 50 Dir(s) 243,515,392 bytes free C:\PROGRA~1>set COMSPEC=C:\WINNT\SYSTEM32\COMMAND.COM *** M2 If at first you don't succeed, you're about average.