Can’t get to the DOS prompt in WIn98!!!

This is a good one!!! I have a user whose PC works fine (she runs Win98). However, today i was trying to ping another node from her computer – so i went start>run>command and the comp tells me that it can’t find that file (command.com) and prompts me to locate it. Fine, I look in the root dir – hehe, the system files are there including the mighty command.com. So, i give comp the path – it tells me that it can’t find the file – what the hell? So: i tried cmd – no luck, programs>msdos – no luck. Hmm… rebooted with a bootable disk, copied the system files into another dir, specified the path – no luck!!! Went thru GUI to open it – no luck!!! So, the upshot is – can’t use DOS, but Windows runs like Michael Johnson!! Anybody got any ideas?