Solved Can't run .bat files

[Peter57r]

I know a similar topic has come up before but the solutions aren't working for me.
I got to this site as a result of googling my problem and getting to here:

http://www.sevenforums.com/attachme...d-running-help-associate-batfileexecution.reg

I was in the situation where Windows7 would not recognise a .bat file at all (I would get 'file cannot be found' when right clicking on the bat file and selecting 'Open').

Having established that there was no file association for .bat I tried to fix it in the File Assocation manager by browsing to cmd.exe and selecting it.
This gave the appearance of being associated but still nothing worked.

Eventually I found the registry edit file above and tried to use that to fix the problem.

This got me a step further, in that double clicking a .bat file now opens the command processor, but the file still does not run. This might be because when running the .reg file I get messages that some keys cannot be imported because they are in use. However, I don't know how to get past this problem, because from my perspective I'm not running anything at the time. There are no apps running in task manager. I've tried running regedit in Safe mode but it produces the same messages.

I am Admin on my machine which is 64 bit Win7.

Just as background and not very relevant, this problem emerged when trying to set up an environment for an Android Studio course. Android studio appears to make lots of .bat calls to start up different features.
And of course none of them work for me. I can't change the calls that Android Studio is making. Lots of other people are using the same source material, apparently without this problem as no-one has any idea what I'm talking about.

The .bat calls are all very simple...and there are no spaces or odd characters in the path.
For example..
D:\androidsdk\build-tools\21.1.2\dx.bat

If anyone can suggest how I can complete the registry edit successfully, or has any other suggestions, I'd be grateful. I'm at a complete dead-end at the moment.

Regards

Peter

 

[RolandJS]

CTL-PNL --> Default Programs --> Set Associations, mine shows .bat associated with unknown application.
Registrar Registry Manager returns TMI. Trying W7Pro's regedit; Regedit's 1st .bat showing: .bat with PersistantHandler underneath; that's it; I guess the others hopefully can help you.
One program that might help: Tweaking.com's Windows Repair (All in One), download, install, run with defaults and add items 26 & 27; best run in Safe Mode w/Network; can be run in normal mode if your anti-viri/spy&mal-ware programs are off during the run.

 

[Randycool79]

Try this... Open notepad. Then enter this following script and save as .reg file. But before you do this, go to regedit.exe, locate to HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\FileExts\.BAT\UserChoice and delete the key user choice. Then copy this script and save as .reg file. Example bat.reg and open file. If that doesn't work open the .zip file. It will fix the .bat association file. Run the file and it will fix the .bat. If you get an error with using the .zip file, enter into safe mode and try running the file again. I personally think you should use Fixexec because it is not a pain in the butt!


Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.bat]
@="batfile"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.bat\PersistentHandler]
@="{5e941d80-bf96-11cd-b579-08002b30bfeb}"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\batfile\shell\open\command]
@="\"%1\" %*"

 

[Brink]

Hello Peter, and welcome to Seven Forums.

If you like, you could download and merge the .reg file for the listed bat option in the tutorial below. This will restore the default associations and registry entries for .bat files, and should fix this for you.

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/19449-default-file-type-associations-restore.html

 

[Peter57r]

Thanks to all who have replied above; I appreciate your efforts to help.
Clearly my problem is non-standard.
I'm afraid none of the suggested edits fix the issue. I'm back to the position of bat files not being recognised.
The attachment shows what I get when I right-click a bat file and choose Open, or I just double-click the .bat file.
I have looked at the reg edits that have been posted ( and tried them all) and I'm pretty sure that every key in the registry is set to the values indicated in the suggested .reg files. Even so the problem remains.
I have since discovered that if I rightclick a .bat file and 'Run As Administrator' the file runs. However, my research suggest that it is impossible to set cmd.exe to run as admin automatically.

 

[Brink]

Ok, so it's just not finding the .bat file instead.

Is this a shortcut of the .bat file you are trying to run? If so, are you able to directly run the .bat file?

 

[RolandJS]

https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us...indows-7/0cdcf3b1-e480-431e-bf62-a7312316a4b4

I'm not sure if the above will of any help; can't make things any worse, I guess.

 

[Peter57r]

I'm not using any shortcuts. I'm trying to run the .bat files directly by double-clicking or Using Open.
If I use the command processor and navigate to the folder, i can run the bat file from there. (see below)

 

[Peter57r]

Thanks RolandJS
I'm afraid I've already applied that 'fix' - I deleted the UserChoice key.

 

[Brink]

Are you having this issue with all .bat files, or just this specific one?

As a test, copy the .bat file to your desktop, and see if you are able to run it.

If not, then rename the .bat file, and try again.

 

[Callender]

Post the contents of the batch file.

Double clicking a .bat file now opens the command processor, but the file still does not run. This might be because when running the .reg file I get messages that some keys cannot be imported because they are in use. However, I don't know how to get past this problem, because from my perspective I'm not running anything at the time. There are no apps running in task manager. I've tried running regedit in Safe mode but it produces the same messages.

Did you ever get round that problem? If not try RegOwnershipEx:

http://www.sevenforums.com/general-discussion/322930-help-installing-lines-register.html

Navigate to and take ownership of HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\batfile\

Leave the program running and merge your reg file. Then restore ownership.

 

[Peter57r]

It's every .bat file.
Moving to the desktop does not change anything.

 

[Callender]

Also do you have this shown in Environment Variables?

​

​

 

[Peter57r]

Yes, I have .BAT in my PATHEXT.

Just to summarise where I am....
No .bat files will run when double-clicked or "Open"-ed.
A .bat file can be run by right-clicking and using "Run As Administrator".
A .bat file will run in the command processor (standard or elevated) using the full path to the file.

I have googled this extensively over 3 days and can find similar problems. But suggestions stop once it reaches the same point as I am now.

 

[Brink]

Peter,

If you haven't already, you might see if doing a system restore using a restore point dated before this started happening may be able undo and fix it.

 

[Pyprohly]

Hi Peter,

Check your batch files' open command string.

In a command prompt type the following,

ftype batfile

Post back the result.

 

[Layback Bear]

I'm no expert on .bat files but because of this I think you have a privilege problem not a .bat problem.

From post #5

I have since discovered that if I rightclick a .bat file and 'Run As Administrator' the file runs. However, my research suggest that it is impossible to set cmd.exe to run as admin automatically.

I will go back to watching and leave my thoughts to the experts.

 

[Peter57r]

Layback Bear
I am slowly coming to the same conclusion. Unfortunately it doesn't move me on at all as the only things I know about are UAC control settings and Run as Admin. I have set UAC to the lowest level and Run As Admin can't be set on cmd.exe. I even tried to copy cmd.exe out of system32 , set Run as Admin on the copy (which I could do) and then copy it back in. But Of course I can't paste anything INTO system32.

 

[Peter57r]

pyprohly Thanks for the suggestion. Already been there though.

 

[Pyprohly]

Okay. Those look good.

Now lets check the %ComSpec% variable...

echo %COMSPEC%