CMD locked and wait for closing program

Vista business build 5744 RC2
running in ESX server
remote connection from XP SP2

- type "cmd" from run
- in cmd type the following commands like (msconfig, gpedit.msc,...) and
press enter
- when program is launched and you wish to continue with cmd, the process
locked cmd until you closed the program which you run before
- after that you can work with cmd again

Even if you use UNIX command like "msconig &" still locks the cmd for
further work. I hope this is not by design while then is no need to upgrade
OS. In Windows XP it works as should.

rgd, S