undesirable .bat file side effects in Win7 pro 64-bit

[threejeeps]

I run a very simple .bat file every 5 mins:

@echo OFF
cd c:\user_name_directory
mkdir foo
exit

I also run a similar .bat file to remove the foo directory:
@echo OFF
cd c:\user_name_directory
rmdir foo
exit

I use task scheduler to schedule and execute each task, with each task being separated by about 2 mins, so the directory is first created, then two min later is is removed, and the loop repeats.

When either task runs, I get a window that flashes up on the screen and then instantaneously disappears. I can't tell what window it is, but I suspect it is the Command prompt, e.g. DOS window.

In any case, can someone tell me how to eliminate the flashing window side effect??

Thank you!

 

[Dwarf]

Hi threejeeps and welcome to W7 Forums

That is an unfortunate side effect of invoking the command console.

Try the following vbscript files instead:

strFolder = "C:\test"
set objFSO = createobject ("Scripting.FileSystemObject")
if objFSO.FolderExists (strFolder) = False then
objFSO.CreateFolder strFolder
else
objFSO.DeleteFolder strFolder
end if

This code carries out both the creation and deletion of a folder, alternating with each execution cycle. If you require explicitly separate files for each function, use the following pieces of code:

Create Folder:

strFolder = "C:\test"
set objFSO = createobject ("Scripting.FileSystemObject")
objFSO.CreateFolder strFolder

Delete Folder:

strFolder = "C:\test"
set objFSO = createobject ("Scripting.FileSystemObject")
objFSO.DeleteFolder strFolder

 

[threejeeps]

So I tried the two vbs script version (the delete is giving an error):
Delete Folder
Code:
strFolder = "C:\test" set objFSO = createobject("Scripting.FileSystemObject") objFSO.DeleteFolder strFolder

I changed strFolder to: "C:\user_name\my_test"

I get an error reported when it runs: Line 3, Char 1, Path not found, 800a004c, VBScript runtime error.

Any idea as to why??

Thanks

 

[Dwarf]

I've just checked the code on my system, and all scripts run as expected. Check your typing again. I think you have omitted a space character.

What you have written:
set objFSO = createobject("Scripting.FileSystemObject")

What you should have written (notice the space before the ():
set objFSO = createobject ("Scripting.FileSystemObject")

 

[threejeeps]

Yes, you are correct. I omitted the space. Thank you.

I have a related question. Is there a way using a VB script to do a ping of a IP address and send the results into a file?

Thanks

John

 

[Dwarf]

Glad you have got that sorted.

It is possible to do what you wish, however it involves creating 2 files. The first one is a vbscript file which suppresses the command window and then calls a batch file which actually executes the command.

VBScript File:

Set WshShell = CreateObject("WScript.Shell") 
WshShell.Run chr(34) & "<PATH>.bat" & Chr(34), 0
Set WshShell = Nothing

<PATH> should be edited to point to the location of the following batch file.

Batch File:

ping 173.194.67.94 > <PATH>\pingresult.txt

<PATH> should be edited to point to the location where you want to store the results. The filename can be changed if desired. Obviously, you will need to substitute the required IP in place of what I have included (which is Google.co.uk). You can check functionality by executing the batch file separately, if you wish.

 

[TanyaC]

I run a very simple .bat file every 5 mins:

In any case, can someone tell me how to eliminate the flashing window side effect??

Thank you!

Sorry to jump in here. Not meaning to detract from the help that has already been provided, but I'm sure I don't have this this issue. I have tasks running regularly across multiple W7 computers and the DOS window does not flash up on any of them.

I achieved this using the combination of settings as shown on the attached image.

Tanya

 

[Ztruker]

Does you scheduled task launch a batch file? You don't show the action tab.

 

[TanyaC]

Does you scheduled task launch a batch file? You don't show the action tab.

Yes, sorry, it does the following (I've changed the user names)
This one runs from the server..

net user xxxxxx /times:m-f,su,9am-3am;Sa,9am-2am
net user xxxxx/times:m-f,Su,9am-3am;Sa,9am-2am
net user "zzzzzz yyyyyy" /times:m-su,9am-1am
net user xxxxxx /times:m-Su,9am-1am
shutdown /t 60 /s

There's are different versions for different times of the year, but you get the gist.

This one runs from each client computer every two hours...

netsh interface ip set address name="Local Area Connection" dhcp
netsh interface ip set dns name="Local Area Connection" source=dhcp

This helps stop the boys from trying to configure their way around network security

 

[Dwarf]

I've had a further look into this, and there is a way to do what you want. At the moment, I have the results displayed on the screen, but I'll see what I can do about that.

Here are the blocks of code I used to test. They are identical, apart from the strIP variable (the IP address that is being queried).

Again, I have used Google.co.uk for this example. It returns 0 and True as the results.

strIP = "173.194.67.94"
wmiQuery = "Select * From Win32_PingStatus Where Address = '" & strIP & "'"
Set objWMIService = GetObject ("winmgmts://./root/cimv2")
Set objPing = objWMIService.ExecQuery (wmiQuery)
For Each objStatus in objPing
msgBox objStatus.Statuscode
strPingResult ="True"
If IsNull (objStatus.Statuscode) Or objStatus.Statuscode <> 0 Then strPingResult = "False"
msgBox strPingResult
Next

This IP address does not exist. Consequently, the routine returns 11010 and False.

strIP = "123.45.67.89"
wmiQuery = "Select * From Win32_PingStatus Where Address = '" & strIP & "'"
Set objWMIService = GetObject ("winmgmts://./root/cimv2")
Set objPing = objWMIService.ExecQuery (wmiQuery)
For Each objStatus in objPing
msgBox objStatus.Statuscode
strPingResult ="True"
If IsNull (objStatus.Statuscode) Or objStatus.Statuscode <> 0 Then strPingResult = "False"
msgBox strPingResult
Next

In both cases, the first output is the raw data, which corresponds to the information found in the section StatusCode here: Win32_PingStatus class

The second output returns True if the raw data exists and is 0, and False if it doesn't exist or is non-zero.

 

[Dwarf]

OK, here you go.

strDirectory = "c:\users\<UserName>\documents\pingresults\"
strFile = "pingresult.txt"
strIP = "173.194.67.94"
Const WriteMethod = 8
Set objFSO = CreateObject ("Scripting.FileSystemObject")
If objFSO.FolderExists (strDirectory) Then
Set objFolder = objFSO.GetFolder (strDirectory)
Else
Set objFolder = objFSO.CreateFolder (strDirectory)
End If
If objFSO.FileExists (strDirectory & strFile) Then
Set objFolder = objFSO.GetFolder (strDirectory)
Else
Set objFile = objFSO.CreateTextFile (strDirectory & strFile)
End If
Set objFolder = nothing
set objFile = nothing
Set objTextFile = objFSO.OpenTextFile (strDirectory & strFile, WriteMethod, True)
objTextFile.WriteLine (" ")
objTextFile.Close
Set objTextFile = objFSO.OpenTextFile (strDirectory & strFile, WriteMethod, True) 
wmiQuery = "Select * From Win32_PingStatus Where Address = '" & strIP & "'"
Set objWMIService = GetObject ("winmgmts://./root/cimv2")
Set objPing = objWMIService.ExecQuery (wmiQuery)
For Each objStatus in objPing
strPingResult ="True"
If IsNull (objStatus.Statuscode) Or objStatus.Statuscode <> 0 Then strPingResult = "False"
objTextFile.WriteLine (strIP)
objTextFile.WriteLine (strPingResult)
objTextFile.Close
Next

Adapt the initial variables to suit your needs. They should take the format shown.

strDirectory This is the directory where the results file is located.
strFile This is the name of the results file. Don't forget to include the .txt suffix.
strIP This is the IP address.

 

[threejeeps]

Cool Dwarf! Thank you! I got it to work...and thanks for the template that I can expand on.

So my last issue is writing a script to simulate a small mouse movement, i.e. 2-3 pixels, periodically.

I am aware of AutoIt and am looking into it. I am wondering if there is another approach?

-John

 

[UsernameIssues]

Does you scheduled task launch a batch file? You don't show the action tab.

Not that you were talking to me... but:



Am I missing something in the OP's request?

 

[UsernameIssues]

........Is there a way using a VB script to do a ping of a IP address and send the results into a file?.......

I'm not sure if you had the same requirement of hiding the command prompt window on this request too, but if the actions/settings shown in the video that I posted above do indeed hide the command prompt window for you then a simple batch file with

ping google.com > c:\users\username\foo\pingout.txt

or

ping 74.125.227.135 > c:\users\username\foo\pingout.txt

should do what you want

 

[UsernameIssues]

Cool Dwarf! Thank you! I got it to work...and thanks for the template that I can expand on.

So my last issue is writing a script to simulate a small mouse movement, i.e. 2-3 pixels, periodically.

I am aware of AutoIt and am looking into it. I am wondering if there is another approach?

-John

What is the end goal of this mouse movement? To prevent screensaver or power settings from kicking in?

 

[threejeeps]

What is the end goal of this mouse movement? To prevent screensaver or power settings from kicking in?

Actually, it is to prevent having to reauthenticate. I understand the difference in what you point out,but not sure how (or if) either of them relate to logging in. I need to do some digging to better understand that.

-John

 

[UsernameIssues]

If this mouse movement is to keep a VPN alive, then ping might be enough/better.

As far as moving the mouse - a scripting language like AutoHotKey or AutoIt will do. The AutoIt code in the attached text file (mm1.txt) does what you asked - but exiting that script is a bit problematic. The AutoIt code in (mm2.txt) is less likely to get a gamer banned while AFK.

See this post for some warnings/options about using AutoIt.

 

[Wrench11062]

Or you might just try removing:
@echo off

from the batch file.

Was told long ago when modems were used (tin-cans and strings like) in BBS
type batch files, @echo off removed the seen text on screen to stop some one
from seeing and Cntl-C ing the batch file.
My 2 cents FWIW..