CMD.EXE Help Refers To Non-Existing Registry Key

• Microsoft Windows NT Workstation version 3.51
• Microsoft Windows NT Server version 3.51

SYMPTOMS

When you type "CMD /?" (without quotes), the MS-DOS Command Prompt (CMD.EXE) Help information appears and it mentions the following registry key:

   HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\MicroSoft\Command Processor\EnableExtensions

WORKAROUND

To work around this problem, do the following:

WARNING: Using Registry Editor incorrectly can cause serious, system-wide problems that may require you to reinstall Windows NT to correct them. Microsoft cannot guarantee that any problems resulting from the use of Registry Editor can be solved. Use this tool at your own risk.

1. Start Registry Editor (REGEDT32.EXE) and locate the following Registry subkey in the HKEY_CURRENT_USER subtree:

   \Software\Microsoft

2. From the Edit menu, select Add Key.

3. For the Key Name, enter: Command Processor

4. Select the Command Processor key.

5. From the Edit menu, select Add Value.

6. Enter the following:

         Value Name: EnableExtensions
         Data Type:  REG_DWORD
         String:     1
   
   

7. Click OK and quit Registry Editor.

8. Shutdown and restart Windows NT.

9. To verify that the Command Processor extensions are enabled, start the MS-DOS Command Prompt (CMD.EXE) and type the following:

         assoc
   

   A list of applications currently associated with file extensions appears.

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in Windows NT version 3.51. We are researching this problem and will post new information here in the Microsoft Knowledge Base as it becomes available.

MORE INFORMATION

Command Extensions to the Windows NT version of CMD.EXE are an attempt to make CMD.EXE a more useful programming tool, while maintaining compatibility with existing command scripts. At the same time, given the diversity of usage of the command script language, the possibility exists that some incompatibility may be found. So the capability exists to enable or disable the extensions, either via the command line or via a command in a command script. This allows an escape for any potential compatiblity problems that may be found.

The command extensions currently involve changes and/or additions to the following commands:

• MKDIR creates any intermediate directories in the path if needed. The percent (%) sign and a number in a batch script refers to all the arguments (for example: %1 %2 %3 %4 %5).
• DEL /s only displays files that are deleted and not those it could not find.
• When you invoke the SET command with a variable name, no equal sign, or value, the value of that variable appears. Non-executable files may be invoked through its file association just by typing the name of the file as a command. ASSOC is a new command that you can use to add, display or change file associations.