Why can't I run any programs that use a command-line type interface?

Question

When I attempt to open a command-line style program, the window opens for a fraction of a second during which i can see some output but then immediately closes. This happens no matter how i have the program configured to run. I am the admin. No compatibility modes work, no security settings, running as admin, nothing works. It happens for all command-line style interface programs. For example, kill.exe, tlist.exe, etc. I have scanned for viruses using avast home edition. I have a 64 bit windows vista computer running 4 gigs of ram and a centrino processor. Any help would be appreciated greatly.

Answer 1

You can indeed run programs that open a command line interface. You've just told us that you can. What is happening is that the program runs, does its work, and exits, closing the cmd window.



Try this: click start, click run. Type cmd and hit enter. This opens a cmd window. NOW run your program. It won't close the window.

Answer 2

Are we talking about windows, linux or some other os or program? For an OS both allows you to manipulate files and folders/directories and run programs... it's how you do it that is the great difference. In a GUI you do it by manipulating little pictures (icons) around on the screen. In the CLI you do it by writing in strings of text. The major drawback for the CLI is that there are many obscure command-names -- with even more obscure switches/options -- you must remember. In addition you may have to type in ,ong paths to file, remember where certain files are located and what they're called. The major drawback for the GUI, is that more complex things than starting programs and simple moving/coping files, soon becomes complex and tedious. While you can easely rename a file in a GUI, renaming 20 files (in the same folder) becomes very tedious and timeconsuming. Here the CLI has it's strength, as it allows you to make simple scripts/batch-programs that can quickly do that kind of task (like renaming after some pattern) all the files in a directory. While GUI is very easy and simple to use, some things are just much quicker accomplished in the CLI.

Answer 3

Open the command window first. Then run your program from the command line inside the window.



Windows has conditioned everyone to point and click yet there are some things you just don't do that way.



Shadow Wolf

Answer 4

I'm guessing the window closes as soon as the program is complete.

Try this:

Start --> Run --> cmd



That should give you a prompt for whatever drive is your home (normally C:\)

Try running your command from there.