---

@lpollsnoop wrote:
I am trying to run some software under XP using the command prompt.

I click Run and enter cmd -
A prompt appears on the screen

c:\documents and settings> with the blinking cursor sfter the >

no matter what I do I can't change to get at the root directory of c

I try cd but it keeps taking me back to documents and settings
I also try cd:

I must be doing something wrong but being a DOS novice I cant find out
what it is.

I've read the use of DOS commands and how to use the command prompt but
nothing is working

Any light will be much appreciated

Michael in Brooklyn

CD\

FYI, it's NOT DOS and may not run what you're trying to run.

Thanks Rickmktg

I know it's sort of a fake DOS but all I'm trying to do is get to
the root directory of C.

I'm running a memory tester which is designed to run as stand alone or
under Windows.

I'm able to run the program as I moved it's folder to documents and settings
The program runs normally
I'm just so frustrated at not being able to change directories.

Thanks again for the response

If you use the cmd window frequently, there's a nice MS powertoy, open command window here, which adds that to the right click context menu of any folder, including C:\, and opens it at that folder.

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/downloads/powertoys/xppowertoys.mspx

Thanks so much JRosenfeld and MSGale for the response.

The command cd \ worked like a charm and I downloaded the 'powertoy'

I am running this memory test program under Windows to more accurately simulate
the environment where I've been getting many many machine checks and have
been trying to rule out hardware piece by piece.
Machine checks are mostly 0x0000008e/0x00000050/0x0000009c

So far I've run hours and hours of 4 different memory testers - no problems
Hours of 3 different Hard drive testers - no problems
Hours of Video Card 'stress' tests - no problems
Dell 32 bit Diagnostics for hours - no problems.
I've re-installed XP cleanly.
Insured there is no malware/virus or Trojan on the system

I'm beginning to think it's either the Power supply or software

Thanks again for the responses and advice.

Michael in Brooklyn

---

@msgale wrote:

Try the command cd \  at the command prompt note there is a space between cd and the slash (\).  Enter the command cd /? to get information about the cd command, again note the space between cd and the slash, also it the other slash (/).  Finally cd without parameters/agruements returns the name of the current directory.  P.S. commands are case insensetive.

No space is needed.

Hi Tony and thanks for the info

I have already installed a UPS hoping it would solve the problem - it hasn't
I had tried to use memory monitoring pgms to monitor temperature and
voltage but found out they can't work on Dell systems as Dell disables
the sensor chip ( Dell strikes again !!)

I have updated all of my drivers and have also played around with reducing hardware
acceleration - nothing works, but - the system is much more stable since
doing a clean reinstall of XP - where I used to get 5-10 BSOD daily it's possible to go for
2-3 days crash free now.


Michael in Brooklyn

Lpollsnoop,

Looks like you've narrowed down your problem.  Have you run Bazooka?  It's pretty good at detecting those bugs which hide from antivirus and antispyware programs.  Doesn't automatically fix anything.  Tells you how to manually get rid of the bug.  Available from www.download.com.   Abexo Free Registry Cleaner is also available at www.download.com.

If you're not getting any beeps from the UPS, indicating lost power cycles, then that's not the problem.  While in BIOS setup, press Ctrl-F11 to see  if you have additional settings such as CPU clocking.  Only certain bioses have this feature, so no problem if you don't have it.

Hi Tony

I downloaded and ran Bazooka - it found nothing.
I was surprised with how fast it ran and reported it's results - less than
20 seconds.
I have Ewido, Trojan Hunter, Microsoft Antispyware, Mcafee Virus Scan and Ad-Aware
on my system and run all of them daily - they don't complete their scans until 5 min. or more have passed -

I have also scanned for 'Rootkit' infections - nothing was found.

I am beginning to suspect it is either the power supply unit or some
esoteric software/driver problem.

This is a Dell 8300 with ATI Radeon AIW 9000 Video Card -

After searching Dell forums for 8300 problems I found they are susceptible to
overheating but I don't think that is the problem as the system is able to
reboot instantly after a crash - not usually the case with overheating problems.

My next, best, cheapest, stab at solving the problem will be to replace the power supply
with a 3rd party mfg.

Thanks again for the advice Tony

Michael in Brooklyn