Command Prompt is literally broken

[Windows i7 920]

My laptop:

Windows 7 Professional x64 (build 7601 SP1 Beta)
Intel Core i7 740 QM
8 GB 1333 MHz DDR3 RAM
500 GB 7200 RPM HDD

I press Win + R and type cmd, then a console comes up. I went to flush my dns cache with ipconfig /flushdns then suddenly got an error saying that it is not a command. Well, wait what? I've used that many times in the past. Additionally, typing even basic bath commands fail. I tried typing help, same error. I even made sure I launched it as administrator. I also scanned my laptop for viruses/malware using three different scanners. Nothing came up (McAfee, MS Security Essentials, AVG Free)

Also, oddly enough, batch files still operate as usual. Also before accusing the beta service pack, I installed that a long time ago with absolutely no problems. Although, maybe an update did not install properly or something...

 

[Jacee]

Try C:\Windows\system32\cmd.exe

 

[Windows i7 920]

Try C:\Windows\system32\cmd.exe

That is the same thing as Win + R and then typing cmd.

 

[logicearth]

Check your environment variables, namely PATH.

 

[blakej777]

If you type in "path" do you see C:\Windows\system32\?

 

[Orbital Shark]

Try C:\Windows\system32\cmd.exe

That is the same thing as Win + R and then typing cmd.

What Jacee is getting at is that if typing the above works ok then you we can start looking at your environment variables....

 

[Everlong]

Just sounds like your PATH is not there.

Easy way try and fix it is right clicking on computer>properties>advanced system settings>advanced tab>environment variables then in the system variables go to the path variable and click "Edit", then at the end paste

;%SystemRoot%\system32

Leave the ; on as that splits up paths.