'ipconfig' is not recognized as an internal or external command, . . .

[churin]

I am getting a message as above if I attempt to execute ipconfig. I tried another machine but the same message returns. What could be wrong?

 

[zigzag3143]

I am getting a message as above if I attempt to execute ipconfig. I tried another machine but the same message returns. What could be wrong?

where are you typing it and what switches are you using?

 

[churin]

I am not sure if I understand your question. What I am doing is going from start, run, typing in cmd and typing in ipconfig.

 

[pricetech]

If you mean you're typing ipconfig from a command prompt, and you get the error you mentioned above, I'd look for malware. Check to see if "ipconfig.exe" is in c:\windows\system32\ also. It may have been tampered with in some fashion.

 

[churin]

The ipconfig.exe is in that path(c:\windows\system32).
I will check to see if the system is infested with virus.

 

[Night Hawk]

In order to run the ipconfig tool you need to open an elevated command prompt not type commands in at the Start>Run command line.

First go to Start>All Programs>Accessories and right click on the command prompt icon to select "run as admin". Then type the "ipconfig /all" command to list all commands such as ipconfig /release or ipconfif /renew.

You will want to read the guide on this. http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/783-elevated-command-prompt.html

 

[churin]

I ran a full virus scan but none found.

Elevated command prompt did not help.

 

[SledgeDG]

In order to run the ipconfig tool you need to open an elevated command promptl

Sorry..there seems to be some confusion here:
you don't need an elevated command prompt....a regular one works just fine



Besides to get all possible switches you should put in

ipconfig /?

ipconfig /all gives you just the verbose version of your actual configuration

-DG

It could be some Virus or a defective/incomplete path variable
against the first I would try some online scanners

http://www.eset.com/online-scanner

to find out about #2 open cmd, cd to C:\windows\system32 (or where ever ipconfig is supposed to be on your system and run it from there

 

[churin]

The paths returned when "PATH" is executed on command prompt does not include "c:\windows\system32".

"ipconfig" command works if path is included as "c:\windows\system32\ipconfig".

How can I make "ipconfig" work without specifying the specific path for it?

Edit:
A solution has been found.
In the system properties, Value for Path is edited to include c:\windows\system32.
More specifically, navigate from system properties to Advanced System Settings, Advanced, Environment Variables, and Path in System Variables. Then Edit the Value to include c:\windows\system32.

 

[SledgeDG]

I wonder why system32 isn't in the path...it should be.
So here is how to get it back in there

After you highlited Path and clicked the edit button go to the end of that edit line and add the following :
a trailing ; (in case there is none)

%SystemRoot%\system32;


If you want it to work without modifying the path variable, you have to be in the directory "\system32"
to use any of those commands.
-DG

 

[churin]

SledgeDG:
Your post was done while I was editing my previous post as above.
Thank you anyway for your response.

I wonder why c:\windows\system32 was dropped.

 

[SledgeDG]

That's OK...such things happen Most important :you got it working !


So how could that have happened.....some reasons I could think of:
Malware,
3rd party applications to stream line/optimize Windows (which was fine for XP but should be avoided in se7en )
Some application that tried to add itself to the path variable but failed miserably...corrupting the former content in the process.
A hard shutdown due to a hung computer during a write operation.
A flipping bit on the harddrive due to a weak spot the magnetizing.
The RAM content got corrupted somehow and escaped the plausibility check while being written back.
(the last two virtually never happen or you would see other weird behavior)

-DG

 

[churin]

1) Virus -- I regularly watched and a full scan this time did not detect any.
2) 3rd party applications to stream line/optimize Windows -- Such applications was never used
3) Some application that tried to add itself to the path variable but failed miserably...corrupting the former content in the process. -- A lot of these were in the PATH variable.
4) A hard shutdown due to a hung computer during a write operation. -- This happened from time to time.

I would think 3) is the greatest possibility of the problem cause. I really cleaned it up by deleting all entries related to third party applications.

Thanks for your enlightenment.

 

[SledgeDG]

You're very welcome, churin
Glad you got it figured out
For my taste way too many application feel the need to add themselves to the path (besides filling the registry with heaps of ***) That's why I usually set a restore point before any installation...reversing the whole process when something goes wrong.

Single Click Restore Point - - CNET Download.com

-DG

 

[Night Hawk]

On one machine I just looked over where the owner had just closed out FaceBook and a new window suddenly opened he was unable to get online again when the malware bugged the registry as well as restore points. The network adapter driver was reinstalled and there was plenty of connectivity but not even adding a second browser could get him online.

Two restore points before that day were found useless as I expected when recommending a total wipe of the drive to start over. He's back on now. Goes to show that you can't always count on restore points.

One thing to consider trying would be the system file checker just to see if the tool will find the file corrupted and replace it. Simply type the sfc /scannow command in at the Start>Run to see if that will help. The other thought before an upgrade to repair or fresh install would be finding a way to manually expand the file from the 7 dvd.

 

[zigzag3143]

I am not sure if I understand your question. What I am doing is going from start, run, typing in cmd and typing in ipconfig.

Start>search>cmd>right click and run as admin>IPCONFIG /ALL (no period)