Thanks Mark for your reply.

  Well, you probably have me by the neck on whether it is a full 32-bit
command line or a DOS window.  It appears to be something very close to a
DOS window.  Once accessed, I find that I can use commands that are very
close to those from DOS like "Dir" and "CD".  I fear that I'm going to need
some serious instruction to understand the difference.

  It actually came to my attention when trying to invoke MSCONFIG from the
Run window.  In my installation of XP Pro the executable is down in a funny
subdirectory of Windows called something like "PC Health".  It does not run
when invoked at the Run window.  I find that I must do a Dir /S of Windows
to locate the applet, change directory appropriately, type the program name
and hit enter.  That seems peculiar to me.

   As far as running a batch file when the command line loads, I really
don't know what command generates then.  Would one name the batch file
something like "cmd.bat" and put it in the windows subdirectory?

Tommy Holmes, Jr.
[log in to unmask]
713.621.5666

> -----Original Message-----
> From: PCSOFT - Personal Computer software discussion list
> [mailto:[log in to unmask]]On Behalf Of Mark Rode
> Sent: Thursday, November 06, 2003 10:43 AM
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Re: [PCSOFT] XCopy in XP
>
>
> There is no DOS or DOS window in XP. There is a full 32 bit command line,
> which is the same one that was available with NT or Windows 2000. The
> difference between DOS, and the XP command line, is the difference between
> my Toyota Tachoma and an F15.
>
> You are asking how to run a program from the command line, without using
> the correct path? If it is in the windows directory then just type
> program >notepad.exe . If it is somewhere else just type out the path
>
>  >c:\My Programs\program folder\myprogram.exe
>
>   There is no reason why you may not use a path statement, and
> then run the
> exe. You can run a path statement in a autoexec.bat at start up or invoke
> it from a batch file when the command line window loads.  What
> command line
> are you trying to execute, perhaps an example.
>
> Rode
> The NOSPIN Group
> http://freepctech.com
>
>
> At 07:17 AM 11/6/2003, you wrote:
> >My experience with XP Pro is that when one goes to the Run Window and
> >invokes a DOS command directly, it executes and immediately
> closes the DOS
> >window.  Consequently, we instead type the "CMD" command
> actually to open a
> >DOS window, change to the directory wherein resides the DOS application
> >which we wish to invoke and then type the correct program name and hit
> >enter.  The command will execute and the DOS window remain open until
> >manually closed, again from the command line.  The command to
> close the DOS
> >window is "exit".  That should address your question, I believe.
> >
> >   Now, a related one of my own.  Previously we used a "Path
> Statement" to
> >cause DOS to search a series of subdirectories for the application we
> >invoked.  Does anybody know how we might duplicate that and avoid having
> >manually to search for the correct subdirectory for these DOS
> commands in XP
> >Pro?
> >
> >Tommy Holmes, Jr.
>
>               The NOSPIN Group is now offering Free PC Tech
>                      support at our newest website:
>                           http://freepctech.com
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