NT4 MSDOS Command prompt error message

From Command Prompt: "The Name Specified Is Not Recognized..."
-----------
SYMPTOMS
From the Windows NT Command Prompt, when you try to run a file or change to a directory whose name contains one of these characters

& ( ) ^ ; | , or

you then receive one of the following error messages:

The name specified is not recognized as an internal or external command, operable program or batch file.
-or-
The system cannot find the path specified.
The name specified is not recognized as an internal or external command, operable program or batch file.

CAUSE
Although File Manager and some other applications allow the use of the characters shown above, if you use any of these characters in a filename or directory name and then try to run the file or change to the directory from the Command Prompt, you will receive one of the error messages shown above.

WORKAROUNDS
In the Command Prompt, put quotation marks around the entire filename.

-or-

Put a "^" (without the quotation marks) before the extended character in the filename or directory name. The ; and , characters will not work in a filename or directory name.

MORE INFORMATION
The Windows NT Command Prompt uses these characters forspecial functions. Refer to the Windows NT online Help file in the "What's New or Different from MS-DOS" section for information on the functions of these characters.

Steps to Reproduce Problem
Using File Manager, in the Windows NT program directory, copy NOTEPAD.EXE and rename it to NOTE&PAD.EXE.

From the Main group, start the Command Prompt.

Change to the Windows NT program directory, type the following command, and press ENTER:
note&pad
One of the above error messages will appear.
Type the following command (with the quotation marks) to successfully run Notepad:
"note&pad"

Sounds like your path statement is screwed up. To fix it, go to system properties, environment tab. Select "Path" in the lower box (you must be an administrator) and verify that your systemroot\system32 is there. If it isn't, add it by using the edit button. Entries made here will stick through rebooting, unless a script or something else cancels it. Each entry in the path statement is seperated by a semi-colon.

Good luck,

Ian

Along with the path problems prev. mentioned, are you using COMMAND.COM or CMD.EXE.

If you are playing with actual MSDOS programs, you are probably using NT DOS or COMMAND.EXE in an NTVDM. Try using CMD.EXE the native NT command prompt.