Okay, I'm doing that, and all that happens is a blank command windows opening up with a c: prompt

This is the batch file:

cmd

s:

cd NortonDefs

rename s://x/x/x/x/x.exe x.old

and the results:

C:\>cmd
Microsoft Windows 2000 [Version 5.00.2195]
(C) Copyright 1985-2000 Microsoft Corp.

you don't need the s: or the cd nortondefs. You just need the:
cmd
rename s:\\nortondefs\*.exe *.old
exit

as before, when I run it, all that happens is a blank command window that opens. I took the exit out to see what the results would be so what is going on? Again, here it is the file as you specified:

cmd

ren s:\\nortondefs\*.exe *.old

and when it is run:

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

C:\>cmd
Microsoft Windows 2000 [Version 5.00.2195]
(C) Copyright 1985-2000 Microsoft Corp.

C:\>

OK

Take out the command (and you don't need to have a line between each command).

ok, that worked fine. Now, onto the next project. To get the new file to download and install with no user interaction.

To do this, could I just simply issue the command directly in the batch file? For example, since I'm already in the directory in which I'm downloading from, could I just issue the command to install the new file? So, basically, just type *.exe? Somehow I don't think so, but what do I do here?

So you're thinking of just having one batch file?

I'm not sure about that - since you're having multiple desktops accessing one file in one location, you'd end up with the first box to complete doing whatever to the update file and the rest not being able to use it.

Right, actually this is for only one machine. ) Sorry I wasn't clear. So, the next thing I would like to do is setup the update script to run silently. What do I do with the script to allow that to happen?

and by the way, no changes will be made to the file being run. It's just doing it's thing and that's it

But I suppose it really doesn't matter. I could do it with two. So, what's next chief?

Would a call command here work? And if so, how?

In the batch file, at the end of the command(s) you need to use the switches. On my XP Box, the switches for delete are: del <whatever> /q (for quiet). To find out the switches on your system, type <command> /? into a command window and it will give a list. Most likely /y /q or something similar.

Okay, maybe I'm crazy but it doesn't even look like I have the option to do it quietly or am I wrong? Take a look. . .


C:\>command /?
Starts a new instance of the MS-DOS command interpreter.

COMMAND [[drive:]path] [device] [/E:nnnnn] [/P] [/C string] [/MSG]

[drive:]path Specifies the directory containing COMMAND.COM file.
device Specifies the device to use for command input and output.
/E:nnnnn Sets the initial environment size to nnnnn bytes.
/P Makes the new command interpreter permanent (can't exit).
/C string Carries out the command specified by string, and then stops
/MSG Specifies that all error messages be stored in memory. You
need to specify /P with this switch.

Jeesus, am I stupid or what? I took what you said literally about the command /?

No - type in the name of the command say, xcopy (as an example) then type in /?

So your line would be:
c:\> xcopy /?

That would then bring up a list of options to go with xcopy. You can do this with all command line commands.

You replied before me. Never mind. lol

Okay, okay. again the problem exists of getting the system to know which file to run, how do I get any exe file to run that it finds in the directory?

What does *.exe give you? If it fails, try 2*.exe (assuming that the filename starts with 2)