[johnpepper]

Originally Posted by TheOutcaste

Never a hindrance!

Barring a typo, I don't know why it wouldn't appear on the desktop, though from the screenshot this appears to be a non-english version of Windows.
If your username contains characters other than the standard ASCII characters that might be a factor.

If %userprofile%\Desktop gets expanded to a folder that doesn't exist, it should give this error:
The system cannot find the path specified.
If you didn't get an error, the file was put someplace.

You can always use search and search for variables.txt to see where it ended up.
On rare occasions I've seen files get created off of the visible desktop, so it may just be off screen.

The first COMSPEC value is the correct one:
C:\WINDOWS\system32\cmd.exe
so that part is OK. (I'm guessing the period at the end in the 2nd post was added when you typed the reply).

I'm not sure how the path ended up this way. Haven't heard of malware doing this but I'm no malware expert.
I have seen glitches where a program doesn't add itself to the path correctly and ends up deleting the current value.
You end up with just the new program in the path, plus anything added after that point.
It is definitely missing the Windows folders which is the reason cmd doesn't work from the run box.
Two other oddities: 1 item without a drive letter, and it and another item are duplicated.
I've broken it down to the separate folders so it's easier to see:
GL
C:\Program Files\Java\jdk1.6.0_14\bin
C:\Program Files\TortoiseSVN\bin
c:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server\100\Tools\Binn
c:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server\100\DTS\Binn
GL
C:\Program Files\Java\jdk1.6.0_14\bin
The GL doesn't have a drive letter, meaning it will be seen as a relative path, which can cause odd behavior, especially in a Command Prompt.
The items in blue are duplicates.

I'd check and see if you have a C:\GL folder, and if so, make sure you know what it is.

Next we can fix the path variable and see if it resolves the issue. If it gets changed after we fix it and reboot, then it's likely malware at work.

Right click My Computer, click Properties
Click the Advanced tab
Click the Environment Variables button at the bottom
Check under the User variables for username section. There should not be a PATH entry. If there is, copy the value and post back
(Double click on path, press CTRL+C to copy the contents. Then press CTRL+V in the reply window (or notepad))
Under System variables, find the PATH entry and double click it.
The Variable value: box should be selected with it's contents highlighted; Press Delete
Copy and paste the following into the box:

%SystemRoot%\system32;%SystemRoot%;%SystemRoot%\System32\Wbem;C:\Program Files\Java\jdk1.6.0_14\bin;C:\Program Files\TortoiseSVN\bin;c:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server\100\Tools\Binn;c:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server\100\DTS\Binn;GL

OK your way back to the Desktop, and try Start | Run | CMD and see if it now works.
Now, reboot and see if it still works.
If not, then something is changing that path value; it should only be changed when a program is installed that needs to use the path variable, not that many do.
In that case, time to let the malware experts take over.

Note: %Systemroot% will be expanded to the correct value, usually C:\Windows, and will display that way in the System variables window and the Command Prompt, but will appear as %Systemroot% in the Edit box.
I've left the GL as the last item just in case a program needs it for some odd reason.
You can search your hard drive for a folder named exactly GL, and if none exist, just remove ;GL from the end of the line.
Only other thing that comes to mind is it's the tail end of something that got deleted when the glitch happened,
say something ending with OpenGL, perhaps part of a Video Driver.
I don't have that in the path on any of my systems, but I only have Built in or ATI cards.

Thank you my problem is resolved now because of you.

Yes my computer is windows xp thats Chinese.

Anyways I was hoping if you could help me again in this thread
http://forums.techguy.org/windows-se...t-problem.html

Note: At the moment I am using my computer in safe mode with networking.Thanks for your help once again and for your support.

Oh yes by the way I do have a path or whatever in the User variable.Its from my temp folder so it shouldn't be that big of a deal.

[johnpepper]

Originally Posted by TerryNet

That PATH certainly explains why you are not getting the correct "cmd".

Maybe your %userprofile% variable is messed up also. You could try those two set commands again using just C: in place of %userprofile%\Desktop. Then look for the Notepad file directly on the C: drive.

Otherwise, I'm going to take a back seat and let TheOutcaste respond w/o my hindrance. I don't know if that PATH is just the result of something screwing up or has worse (malware) connotations.

Thank my problem is fixed because of you and Outcaste.

[TheOutcaste]

Originally Posted by johnpepper

Thank you very much!
I pasted in the code you told me and at the top I named it path.
I clicked ok and ok again and typed in cmd at the run box and seems commands work now!
Anyways there was one path I deleted that did have GL. I actually added that in myself because I needed a program to open the file I needed for something. Anyways dont pay attention to that. I deleted that because I didnt need it anymore.

I did have something else and it was this:

Variable: TMP
Value: C:\Documents and Settings\hui\Local Settings\Temp
Variable Value: %USERPROFILE%\Local Settings\Temp

It's coming from my temp file but I think it shouldn't do any harm.

The TMP variable is normal, there should also be a TEMP variable with the same value.
There will also be a TEMP and TMP in the System variables section, pointing to C:\Windows\Temp

When you say "at the top I named it path" do you mean you added a Path item in the top section? If so, that will only affect that one user account. If you create any new Accounts they will be using the incorrect path from the bottom Window, so you really need to edit the one from the Bottom window:



I agree, it would be nice if you could copy and paste the MSConfig window, or at least resize it so it takes fewer screen shots, and to be able to widen it to see the complete entry without scrolling.
You can resize the services.msc window to show the services and their settings. Start | Run, type services.msc, press Enter

A good method for narrowing down a culprit is to disable 1/2 the entries. If the problem goes away, it's in the half you disabled. Enable 1/2 of them, and continue this divide and conquer method to quickly narrow it down. You can narrow 128 items down to one in just 7 tries with this method.

For the services needed for networking, here's a list from a JohnWill post:

Check your Services are Started on all PCs:

• COM+ Event System (for WZC issues)
• Computer Browser
• DHCP Client
• DNS Client
• Network Connections
• Network Location Awareness
• Remote Procedure Call (RPC)
• Server
• TCP/IP Netbios helper
• Wireless Zero Configuration (XP wireless configurations)
• WLAN AutoConfig (Vista wireless configurations)
• Workstation

Note: You can check the services in Control Panel, Administrative Tools, Services.

All of these services should be started, and their startup type should be automatic.

If a service is not running, open it's properties and check the dependencies. Check each of the dependencies and see which one is preventing the service from running. Checking the event log is also a good idea here, there may be clues to what is failing.

[johnpepper]

Originally Posted by TheOutcaste

The TMP variable is normal, there should also be a TEMP variable with the same value.
There will also be a TEMP and TMP in the System variables section, pointing to C:\Windows\Temp

When you say "at the top I named it path" do you mean you added a Path item in the top section? If so, that will only affect that one user account. If you create any new Accounts they will be using the incorrect path from the bottom Window, so you really need to edit the one from the Bottom window:
Attachment 155147


I agree, it would be nice if you could copy and paste the MSConfig window, or at least resize it so it takes fewer screen shots, and to be able to widen it to see the complete entry without scrolling.
You can resize the services.msc window to show the services and their settings. Start | Run, type services.msc, press Enter

A good method for narrowing down a culprit is to disable 1/2 the entries. If the problem goes away, it's in the half you disabled. Enable 1/2 of them, and continue this divide and conquer method to quickly narrow it down. You can narrow 128 items down to one in just 7 tries with this method.

For the services needed for networking, here's a list from a JohnWill post:

http://i25.tinypic.com/219nr0j.jpg
This is the picture of what I meant when I said adding the word path, I meant that was the value.

Anyways I fixed my computer by disabling theme in msconfig. But now I can't use any themes anymore . I think because since my computer cant open the theme I downloaded my computer which was the bricopack my computer will get an error. I just want to remove that error and I don't know how cause I uninstalled my bricopack and I even used revo uninstaller to search for my registry for letover information but I still get the same error. Maybe if I disabled the bricopack theme specifically I can get my computer to become normal but I don't know how.

[TheOutcaste]

You need to edit the path value in the path item in the bottom window, the one I circled in red in the attachment. From your picture, you can see the bottom window still has the incorrect value. This bottom value will be used for any new accounts you create, so it should be corrected as well.
In addition, any programs that run under the System account will use the path value from the bottom window, so that may cause problems with some programs/services. It's possible the wrong value there could be causing the Stop error -- the theme you installed may need to access something using the path, but can't find it since it's not correct.

[johnpepper]

Originally Posted by TheOutcaste

You need to edit the path value in the path item in the bottom window, the one I circled in red in the attachment. From your picture, you can see the bottom window still has the incorrect value. This bottom value will be used for any new accounts you create, so it should be corrected as well.
In addition, any programs that run under the System account will use the path value from the bottom window, so that may cause problems with some programs/services. It's possible the wrong value there could be causing the Stop error -- the theme you installed may need to access something using the path, but can't find it since it's not correct.

Ok I will change my mistake and put that variable on the bottom. Should I delete the top Variable? Or should I not?

And about the bricopacket nice suggestion. It would be pretty hard for me to find the path though. Anyways thanks for your help. But if I cant fix it I guess I could use a computer without a theme lol and try to get use to it though.

[TheOutcaste]

Fix the one on the bottom, and delete the one on the top. If the path is the issue with the theme, that will fix it. If it's not, it won't.

I'll install that bricopacket on an XP SP3 system, see if I have problems with it, and see if I can find what changes it makes to see what may need to be undone.

[TheOutcaste]

Well, it installed fine on my test system. Got some ideas, but lets continue in your other thread here as it's a different issue:
http://forums.techguy.org/windows-se...t-problem.html