The problem you are experiencing has nothing to do with ActivePerl (or even Perl), but with the invalid data you are supplying to the various Windows commands you are using. (You owe ActiveState an apology.)

>copy dir1/file dir2
The syntax of the command is incorrect.

>copy dir1\file dir2
        1 file(s) copied.

>del dir2/file
Parameter format not correct - "file".

>del dir2\file
[download]

++Corion. This post is a more visual version of his post.