Windows 2000 command prompt problem: 'Parameter format incorrect' (or 'Parameter format not correct')

After upgrading from Windows 98 to Windows 2000 (a.k.a. win2k, win2000) I found that I couldn't get the interactive command prompt (a.k.a. DOS prompt / windows shell / C:\ prompt) to work properly. Whenever I entered a command involving a file name with spaces in it, even if I used quote marks, I got an error message saying "Parameter format not correct".

Eventually I discovered the problem: in Windows 98 my usual way of getting to the command prompt was Start->Run and enter "command". In Windows 2000, this brings up a command prompt window (perhaps its the old Win98 one?), but not the right one! To start the proper Windows 2000 command prompt, either use Start->Accessories->Command Prompt or enter "cmd" into the Run box.

I believe Windows XP behaves the same way.

I've put this little note here in the hope that it might help out someone encountering a similar situation who finds this page with a search engine. If you find it useful, a little note letting me know it was worth my time putting this page here would be appreciated :-). saw27@mrao.cam.ac.uk.