I go to run in windows and type in cmd as I always do and I get this error:

cmd is not a valid win32 application

When I go and launch command prompt through the start menu and type in anything legal like "ping iinet.net.au" without the quotes. I get this error:

C:\Windows\system32\ping.com is not a valid win32 application

followed by a message in the prompt (not in a dialog), Access is Denied

Any help on resolving this error would be great.

sounds like a virus or malware infection.

I've seen this issue before....and it was due to incorrect 'environment variables'

System Properties > Advanced > Environment Variables, check out ComSpec Path in particular.

Create a new user profile....if this corrects the issue, return to the 'damaged' profile and check closely the environment variables. The differences should be noticable.

Hope this helps,

Runamuck.

Check system32 for ping and cmd files and such, I had malware/a virus do this to me and it was annoying.

Make sure you can view hidden and system files first

RunaMuck writes...

I've seen this issue before....and it was due to incorrect 'environment variables'

Just checked my profile and it all looks correct to me. All paths are ok.

I created a new user profile as you suggested and tried to get into cmd there. It comes up with the same error.

Tried replacing the autoexec.nt file from within C:\Windows\repair\ into C:\Windows\system32 ?

have you tried system restore?

Ok, I found the cause of the problem. I installed ad-aware in addition to spybot and ran its scanning tool and when it finished nod32 told me I had a virus, I deleted it on the spot and my computers running fine now.

Im changing all my bank passwords now.

Heres a screen of the alert.

img98.imageshack.us/my.php?image=oohgr9.jpg

It was a rootkit trojan!

good to hear you got it all under control