Hey, if you're using XP Pro you can give the Group Policy editor a try. Open the run box and type "gpedit.msc". Take a look under "User Configuration - Administrative Templates - System" and look for a setting called "Prevent access to the command prompt" Set this to "disabled" and try opening the prompt again. I hope this works, and if you have XP Home, I'm sorry that I gave you advice you can't follow.