create directory problem

I have WinNT 4.0
I have a problem creating a directory.
eg:
connected as SCOTT: create or replace directory bitmaps_dir as 'c:\bitmaps';
connected as SYS: grant read on directory bitmaps_dir to scott;

But then when I try to access this directory, I get an error message(invalid dir).
I don't know if it is relevant but I am also unable to change to another directory from sqlplus.
eg : $cd \

     $dir
  I still get the list of files of oracle_home\bin

Do I need to make any changes to init.ora or something else? Any ideas?

--
Vagelis S. Hristidis
Electrical and Computer Engineering
National Technical University of Athens
e-mail:exrist_at_cc.ece.ntua.gr
URL:http://www.cc.ece.ntua.gr/~exrist