command interpreter - what's this

Hi,

While trying to boot up my desktop which I have lots of problems with, a page of files missing or corrupted comes up. The last entry is :

Type the name of the command interpreter (e.*. C:\WINDOWS\COMMAND.COM)
A>

Any idea what I type.

There is no floppy disk drive on this machine.

Thanks

 

command.com is in the C:\Windows\System32 folder on my XP Home machine...should be the same on yours.

However, if you're getting "a page of files missing or corrupted" when you try to boot the system, I'm thinking it's time for a reinstall of Windows.

It may be that the computer has contracted a rather destructive virus, in which case a reinstall may or may not allow it to boot to Windows long enough to get your data off of in so you can either run a virus scan and try to clean it or, more likely at this point, wipe the harddrive clean and start over.

 

Command.com was the app that gave you the "DOS" window on previous systems. Still does on 9x/ME.

On 2K/XP systems is still exists as a "compatibility" thing but runs a very old 16bit version that is almost never a good idea to use.

c:\windows\system32\Cmd.exe (assuming your OS is loaded on C: and that your windows folder is named windows) is the one you want if you need a command line interperter.

But if your PC is failing to boot up, it is really confused since XP uses ntldr and a few other files to start up and your system seems to be trying to find 9x startup files.

If you want to fix things and can boot from the XP CD, try the recovery console and run the fixmbr command and then the fixboot command. Then try a normal reboot.

 

Hi Miz + Newt,

Many thanks for your input.

Miz I had already wiped the HD but it wouldn't reformat and I kept getting "no hard disks present ", however, I tried to wipe everything off again (whatever might be still on there) and it seems to have helped,because when I tried something that I have tried a 100 times before, this time it worked and the reload cd worked at the 2nd attempt.

Newt I had already fixed it before I read your post, but I think you are spot on about the way this machine has been set up. I am just so happy after 6 weeks to get it up again.

For anybody reading this and wanting some help, these are some of the sites that gave me very helpful advice:

www.winsupersite.com/showcase/windowsxp_sg_clean.asp

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;307654

www.cyberwalker.com/columns/aug02/010802.html

www.kellys-korner-xp.com-xp.com/xp_setup.htm

www.bootdisk.com

Once again many thanks for the help you have given me. You can't believe the buzz I've got from fixing this.