Windows 7 - Command prompt won't open

I'm running 32 bit Windows 7, and when I run cmd.exe or click on the icon in the System32 folder nothing happens. I checked the task manager and the process is running but no window displays. Any ideas?

Thanks.

Try this, go to Start and type cmd in the lower bottom box, when it appears in the upper window right mouse click and run as administrator, you can also make it a shortcut to cmd on the desktop or in the Taskbar set to run as admin.

yeah i had tried that, but it has the same result, nothing happens. strange right? i have like 15 cmd.exe processes running in the background now according to the task manager haha

Yikes, this answer comes from another forum and has solved this issue, if you feel comfortable working in the Registry you might want to give this a go.

This problem may be also caused by the policies keys. You can use the followling method to remove the policies keys:
Remove Group Policy
================
1. Click Start, type REGEDIT in the Start Search bar and press Enter.
2. Locate the following key in the left pane:

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Policies\Microsoft]

3. Highlight “Microsoft” folder and click "Delete".
4. Repeat to delete the following keys:
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Group Policy]
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Policies\Microsoft]
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Group Policy]
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies
If some keys do not exist, please ignore them.
If the issue persists, you can run an in-place upgrade to repair the system.

In-place Upgrade
=============
1. Insert the Windows 7 DVD in the computer's DVD drive.
2. Click Start and choose Computer.
3. Please find the "setup.exe" file in the DVD-ROM and double click it.
4. Click Install now.
5. When we are prompted to input the product key, please click Next without inputting any key. The setup wizard will prompt and ask if you agree to install Windows Vista without the key. Please choose to confirm.
6. When you reach the "Which type of installation do you want" screen, click Upgrade to upgrade the system files of Windows 7.

Run a scan with MBAM.

Malwarebytes

Welcome

I know that you were given the instructions in the first post, but I have seen this before, make sure you are doing this exactly.

Elevated Command Prompt

The problem in the similar thread was that the OP was using the run command to ask for cmd.

Some thoughts:

1. It's been disabled: Open GPEDIT.MSC and check that it hasn't been disabled (see attached pic) and navigate to User Config | Admin Templates | System.
2. It's off Screen: if it appears in the taskbar, hold down the shift key and right click on it, select MOVE and move it somewhere that you can see it.
3. Run it as a seperate memory process: Type CMD into SEARCH, right click on it and send it to the desktop (i.e. create a shortcut). Right click on the shortcut and select properties, On the shortcut tab select ADVANCED. On the Advanced window, tick the box "Run as Administrator", leave the separate memory space box ticked. Press Ok, OK. and try your new shortcut.
4. You have a nasty virus: Install UNHACKME, the trial installs a full version for a few days, although I recommend that you buy a copy. As a system admin, I use this in the business environment as well as at home. This will check for rootkits and other virus' which are likely to disable CMD.

Goodluck

Timo

so I've tried all of the suggested solutions except the registry deletions but they have all yielded the same result. they all add a cmd.exe process but none display a window. the malware scan yielded a few results but none made a difference. I will do the registry deletions if there is confidence it will work and if there are no other ideas.

thanks again everyone

If you decide to go with registry

Make a system restore point first

and

Back up the registry

You mess with registry and there is no back up, its bad.

As an alternative, you can try to run the Windows Power Shell. You find that in All Programs > Accessories. But you have to also run it in elevated mode - easiest is to right click on it > Properties > Advanced button > tick the "Run as Admin" box > OK > Apply. Now it will always run in elevated mode. Now you can use it to execute the cmd commands. If you type in help, it will show you all the commands possible.