64 bit W7 cannot find telnet, but only when ...

We support software that occasionally launches a windows command window to start a telnet client session. On 64 bit Windows 7, this "launched" command window cannot find telnet.exe, even if the full path is specified (C:\Windows\System32\telnet.exe).

As a test, the "launched" command window IS able to find and start notepad.exe. The telnet "launch" works on all earlier versions of Windows, including 32-bit Windows 7.

The C:\Windows\System32 folder is defined in the system PATH environment variable. Telnet IS properly enabled, because 64bit W7 can successfully find and start telnet when the full path is specified from a command window that is started manually from the Start button.

I have read about the difference between System32 and SysWoW64 (Windows 64-bit: The 'Program Files (x86)' and 'SysWOW64' folders explained (Technical Article)), but can't seem to find a solution for our problem.

(Please feel free to move this post to the correct forum, if necessary.)

You can quickly re-enable Telnet by following these steps, it's turned off by default, I'm not sure how else you could be having a problem using Telnet. :)

1. Start
2. Control Panel
3. Programs And Features
4. Turn Windows features on or off
5. Check Telnet Client
6. Hit OK

Telnet IS properly enabled, because 64bit Windows 7 can successfully find and start telnet when the full path is specified from a command window that is started manually from the Start button.

lhh995 said:

Telnet IS properly enabled, because 64bit Windows 7 can successfully find and start telnet when the full path is specified from a command window that is started manually from the Start button.

I can't begin to guess at why this command isn't working, my goal was only to show you how to enable telnet which is disabled by default. :)