How do I make this Batch run as Administrator by default?

[dav1129]

I haven't looked back since recently and initially reluctantly upgrade from XP to Windows 7.

Just loving it now. But I have a small BATCH file problem.

I found and adapted a batch file (see below) to start the VAG parts catalogue program after first resetting the system date but then resetting the system date back.

This is because the program checks the system date against the last program updates installed. If too much time has elapsed, the program will not be able to progress beyond the splash screen.

Starting the program is this way is fine for me as it is for personal use and I am interested only in my own vehicle which is old enough now that is not affected by updates except perhaps in the rare instance where parts are deleted or superseded.

What I would like to know is how to make the BATCH file (shortcut) run as administrator as otherwise the BATCH file cannot change the system date.

ECHO OFF
CLS
:MENU
ECHO.
ECHO ....................................... ........
ECHO PRESS 1 to select your task, or 2 to EXIT.
ECHO ....................................... ........
ECHO.
ECHO 1 - Launch C:\ETKA\PROG\EtStart.exe "C:\ETKA\PROG\ETKA_VW.INI"
ECHO 2 - Exit
ECHO.
SET /P M=Type 1, 2, then press ENTER:
IF %M%==1 GOTO PROGRAM
IF %M%==2 GOTO RESETDATE

ROGRAM
FOR /F "TOKENS=1* DELIMS= " %%A IN ('DATE/T') DO SET CURDATE=%DATE%
COLOR 4f
echo Setting System date to 01-01-2012
echo.
runas /user:Administrator date 01-01-2012
echo Launching Program........Please Wait
echo.
C:\ETKA\PROG\EtStart.exe "C:\ETKA\PROG\ETKA_VW.INI"
echo Resetting System Date back to Todays Date....Please Wait
date %CURDATE%

PS If the script looks complicated such that I should know the answer to my own question, I didn't write it, only adapted it and found that but for needing to run as administrator, it worked.

Yes as it turns out, once successfully started the programs checks the system date again when loading a VIN data file (which is used to cross check against VIN first). So whilst this BATCH file is slick and works well, is there a way to only change the system date when the program actually exits?

 

[rustberger]

Right click on the shortcut and select the 'shortcut' tab (not the compatibility tab), then click Advanced. Here you will find ANOTHER Run as Administrator option that is just for shortcuts.

 

[dav1129]

Right click on the shortcut and select the 'shortcut' tab (not the compatibility tab), then click Advanced. Here you will find ANOTHER Run as Administrator option that is just for shortcuts.

Thanks. Yes I ultimately discovered this myself.

I still have a problem in that the batch file resets the system date immediately. This is a problem because the program later checks the system date again. So I have found this batch file. But then syntax in the first line seems to be wrong for the date.

SET TODAY=%date:~4,2%-%date:~7,2%-%date:~10,2%
REM setting date back to an older date
DATE 01/01/2012
start "" C:\ETKA\PROG\EtStart.exe "C:\ETKA\PROG\ETKA_VW.INI"
REM Changing date back to todays date
DATE %TODAY%

 

[Alejandro85]

In your first sample use START /W to run the program. It will cause the bat to stop running until the called program ends, so the subsequent lines are warranted to be run after the program has exited.

 

[dav1129]

In your first sample use START /W to run the program. It will cause the bat to stop running until the called program ends, so the subsequent lines are warranted to be run after the program has exited.

Thanks. Tried that but didn't work

ECHO OFF
CLS
:MENU
ECHO.
ECHO ....................................... ........
ECHO PRESS 1 to select your task, or 2 to EXIT.
ECHO ....................................... ........
ECHO.
ECHO 1 - Launch C:\ETKA\PROG\EtStart.exe "C:\ETKA\PROG\ETKA_VW.INI"
ECHO 2 - Exit
ECHO.
SET /P M=Type 1, 2, then press ENTER:
IF %M%==1 GOTO PROGRAM
IF %M%==2 GOTO RESETDATE

ROGRAM
FOR /F "TOKENS=1* DELIMS= " %%A IN ('DATE/T') DO SET CURDATE=%DATE%
COLOR 4f
echo Setting System date to 01-01-2012
echo.
date 01-01-2012
echo Launching Program........Please Wait
echo.
C:\ETKA\PROG\EtStart.exe "C:\ETKA\PROG\ETKA_VW.INI"
echo Resetting System Date back to Todays Date....Please Wait
date %CURDATE%
​

The script works tests okay but not yet with START /W. Where should I insert it? If I can't get this to work, I need a way to to reset the system date AFTER I close the program. Or the CMD window should at least stay open, and let me manually reset the system date after I close the program. Like this one.

SET TODAY=%date:~4,2%-%date:~7,2%-%date:~10,2%
REM setting date back to an older date
DATE 01/01/2012
start "" C:\ETKA\PROG\EtStart.exe "C:\ETKA\PROG\ETKA_VW.INI"
REM Changing date back to todays date
DATE %TODAY%

​

Except ad per this screenshot, there is something wrong it because 'the system cannot accept the date'. If it did maybe it would do what I want?

If I cannot get the first script to work with START /W, how I can correct this second script to accept the date?

 

[Tookeri]

Hi,

Alejandro85 meant you should add /W to the line with the start command:
start /W "" C:\ETKA\PROG\EtStart.exe "C:\ETKA\PROG\ETKA_VW.INI"

The date problem is this line:
SET TODAY=%date:~4,2%-%date:~7,2%-%date:~10,2%

Have you tried with just this?
SET TODAY=%date%

 

[dav1129]

Alejandro85 meant you should add /W to the line with the start command:
start /W "" C:\ETKA\PROG\EtStart.exe "C:\ETKA\PROG\ETKA_VW.INI"

Doesn't work or make a difference.

Have you tried with just this?
SET TODAY=%date%

Doesn't work or make a difference.

The date problem is this line:
SET TODAY=%date:~4,2%-%date:~7,2%-%date:~10,2%

Doesn't work or make a difference.

Sorry did work but only if run as administrator. is there a way to have a batch file automatically run as administrator and to reset the date after the program is closed?

This one actually works best except that

1. You also have to right click and run it as administraton; and
2. It resets the date too early i.e. the program checks the system date after starting and fails because the system has already been reset.

So as well as having the batch automatically run as administrator, is there a way to delay resetting the date until after the program closes

 

[Tookeri]

Not sure what you mean. I think both these questions have already been answered. Create a shortcut to the batch file and set the properties to run as administrator. Then you'll automatically get a UAC prompt when you run the shortcut, assuming you have UAC enabled.

I assume EtStart.exe is a Windows application. The start /W in the batch file will cause the batch file to pause and wait until that program closes until it continues processing the rest of the batch file.
Do this simple test in a command prompt to see how it works. Run the command:
start notepad
Notice how the command prompt is ready so you can type a new command even though notepad is running. Close notepad and now run the command:
start /W notepad
Notice how the command prompt is in waiting mode which means you can't type a new command until you close notepad.

 

[dav1129]

Not sure what you mean. I think both these questions have already been answered. Create a shortcut to the batch file and set the properties to run as administrator. Then you'll automatically get a UAC prompt when you run the shortcut, assuming you have UAC enabled.

I assume EtStart.exe is a Windows application. The start /W in the batch file will cause the batch file to pause and wait until that program closes until it continues processing the rest of the batch file.
Do this simple test in a command prompt to see how it works. Run the command:
start notepad
Notice how the command prompt is ready so you can type a new command even though notepad is running. Close notepad and now run the command:
start /W notepad
Notice how the command prompt is in waiting mode which means you can't type a new command until you close notepad.

Yes I guess they have been answered. but the solutions aren't working or I am doing it wrong. Thanks for the port and suggestions. Thanks also for the example with Notepad. That helped explained a lot.

So I tried interchanging notepad for etstart after pasting a copy of notepad.exe into the directory and found it worked as you say it should. Notepad just opens the configuration file and the batch file resets the system date as it should when notepad is closed.

But with etstart restore the batch file resets the system date immediately after starting the program not after it closes. The problem maybe is with "C:\ETKA\PROG\ETKA_VW.INI". But with this reference to a configuration file removed the program cannot start.

ECHO OFF
CLS
:MENU
ECHO.
ECHO ....................................... ........
ECHO PRESS 1 to select your task, or 2 to EXIT.
ECHO ....................................... ........
ECHO.
ECHO 1 - Launch C:\ETKA\PROG\EtStart.exe "C:\ETKA\PROG\ETKA_VW.INI"
ECHO 2 - Exit
ECHO.
SET /P M=Type 1, 2, then press ENTER:
IF %M%==1 GOTO PROGRAM
IF %M%==2 GOTO RESETDATE

:PROGRAM
FOR /F "TOKENS=1* DELIMS= " %%A IN ('DATE/T') DO SET CURDATE=%DATE%
COLOR 4f
echo Setting System date to 01-01-2012
echo.
date 01-01-2012
echo Launching Program........Please Wait
echo.
[B] START / W [/B]C:\ETKA\PROG\EtStart.exe "C:\ETKA\PROG\ETKA_VW.INI"
echo Resetting System Date back to Todays Date....Please Wait
date %CURDATE%

Also creating and changing a shortcut to run automatically isn't working because for some reason the option is greyed out on compatibility tab.

 

[Tookeri]

Your example has a space between / and W which won't work. It should be:
start /W C:\ETKA\PROG\EtStart.exe "C:\ETKA\PROG\ETKA_VW.INI"

Because you want the program EtStart.exe to run with an old system date, right? And when that program is closed you want to reset the date to todays date?

An alternative to inserting start /W is to insert a pause after launching EtStart.exe

C:\ETKA\PROG\EtStart.exe "C:\ETKA\PROG\ETKA_VW.INI"
echo When EtStart.exe has been closed, press any key to Reset System Date back to Todays Date....
pause
date %CURDATE%

Then it would be up to you know when EtStart.exe has been closed, and you would have to "press any key" in the command window so the batch continues and resets the system date. But the start /W is better because it automatically keeps track of when EtStart.exe is closed.
Or you could use both start /W and the pause.

As for the shortcut and administrator, go to tab "Shortcut" in the properties instead of Compatibility, click button "Advanced", then check the "Run as administrator" checkbox.

 

[dav1129]

Your example has a space between / and W which won't work. It should be:
start /W C:\ETKA\PROG\EtStart.exe "C:\ETKA\PROG\ETKA_VW.INI"

Maybe I posted with a space but actually, the behavior I describe is the same without a space.

Because you want the program EtStart.exe to run with an old system date, right? And when that program is closed you want to reset the date to todays date?

Yes to both

An alternative to inserting start /W is to insert a pause after launching EtStart.exe

C:\ETKA\PROG\EtStart.exe "C:\ETKA\PROG\ETKA_VW.INI"
echo When EtStart.exe has been closed, press any key to Reset System Date back to Todays Date....
pause
date %CURDATE%

Then it would be up to you know when EtStart.exe has been closed, and you would have to "press any key" in the command window so the batch continues and resets the system date.

This works exactly as you describe.

But the start /W is better because it automatically keeps track of when EtStart.exe is closed. Or you could use both start /W and the pause.

I tried both and it works but not without PAUSE. So because it does not work with start /W alone start /W becomes redundant with or without a space.

As for the shortcut and administrator, go to tab "Shortcut" in the properties instead of Compatibility, click button "Advanced", then check the "Run as administrator" checkbox.

This worked. Just a pity I can't get the scipt to work with start /W

 

[Tookeri]

Ok, but at least it works with PAUSE so you should be fine with only that. Yes, the start /w is redundant in that case.

This is just a guess: maybe start /w doesn't work with this specific program EtStart.exe. As the name of it suggests(the word "start" included it the name) maybe it's used only to start another program and then immediately terminate EtStart.exe? That would explain why it's not working.

For example, if I try to run notepad in a similar way, in this case started through explorer.exe then start /w doesn't work anymore.

start /w explorer.exe %windir%\system32\notepad.exe

(the path was required for notepad.exe to be started through explorer.exe)

 

[dav1129]

For example, if I try to run notepad in a similar way, in this case started through explorer.exe then start /w doesn't work anymore.

start /w explorer.exe %windir%\system32\notepad.exe

(the path was required for notepad.exe to be started through explorer.exe)

I didn't quite (yet) understand this or the relevance

Ok, but at least it works with PAUSE so you should be fine with only that. Yes, the start /w is redundant in that case.

This is just a guess: maybe start /w doesn't work with this specific program EtStart.exe. As the name of it suggests(the word "start" included it the name) maybe it's used only to start another program and then immediately terminate EtStart.exe? That would explain why it's not working.

thanks. yes I think are right.

 

[Tookeri]

Sure, but I don't think that information will be helpful, unless it works with specifying that program in the start /w command instead of EtStart.exe

Either way you'll be fine with only the PAUSE command too.

 

[dav1129]

Sure, but I don't think that information will be helpful, unless it works with specifying that program in the start /w command instead of EtStart.exe

Either way you'll be fine with only the PAUSE command too.

it appears the program in the script starts another and once the other has started, it closes which explains why the batch file reset the system date immediately. so the program directory looks like this

I never quite understood why there are so many ' PROG' directory.

ETstart.exe is in PROG. the contents of PROG are different from PROG1 and PROG2. I never understood quite how the directories work but the updating process downloads updates to TEMP folder and I think, then updates one PROG directory and maybe modifies shortcuts and INI files (to include update level) and the next update, updates the other PROG directory and so forth. Not sure the reason for this.

not being official you can't just download updates from official servers - you have to find them usually where you find the programs.

anyway, I only use this (hacked) program for my own car which is 1999, or DIY interests. updates have stopped being relevant except perhaps for deletions for my car, so I have no need really to update so stopped updating the program.

this is the reason for the batch file - to get around the program thinking it is out-of-date.

once started etstart.exe does close and leaves ETKA7.exe running. ETKA7.exe (presently) is in the PROG1 directory.

so can I modify the batch file to reflect this? remember reading the INI file is somehow involved is properly starting the program. the INI file tells the program which brands (AUDI SEAT SKODA VW) to load - I deleted the DATA for all but VW and have modified the INI to reflect this - this INI file I think also has the update level which the programs checks against the system date.

 

[dav1129]

Sure, but I don't think that information will be helpful, unless it works with specifying that program in the start /w command instead of EtStart.exe

Either way you'll be fine with only the PAUSE command too.

okay thanks. so I have just substituted ETKA7.exe for Etstart.exe and modified the path, so that the batch now reads:

ECHO OFF
CLS
:MENU
ECHO.
ECHO ....................................... ........
ECHO PRESS 1 to select your task, or 2 to EXIT.
ECHO ....................................... ........
ECHO.
ECHO 1 - Launch C:\ETKA\PROG1\Etka7.exe "C:\ETKA\PROG\ETKA_VW.INI"
ECHO 2 - Exit
ECHO.
SET /P M=Type 1, 2, then press ENTER:
IF %M%==1 GOTO PROGRAM
IF %M%==2 GOTO RESETDATE

:PROGRAM
FOR /F "TOKENS=1* DELIMS= " %%A IN ('DATE/T') DO SET CURDATE=%DATE%
COLOR 4f
echo Setting System date to 01-01-2012
echo.
date 01-01-2012
echo Launching Program........Please Wait
echo.
START /W C:\ETKA\PROG1\Etka7.exe "C:\ETKA\PROG\ETKA_VW.INI"
echo Resetting System Date back to Todays Date....Please Wait
date %CURDATE%

and it seems to work and do as it should without PAUSE i.e. when I close the program which is actually ETKA7.exe the batch automatically resets the system date and closes the CMD window. PERFECT!

I don't why the Etstart.exe exists then. maybe something to with how the program updates and keeps 2 copies of the PROG* directory.

anyway seems all's well that ends well. thanks for your help and patience.

 

[hugo1111]

current date

Hi mate,

your batch file is fantastic and is exactly the work around i was looking for. However, it fails to reset the current date automatically upon leaving and prompts me to enter it manually ...any idea Why ? i ve copied and pasted your code and saved it as a batch file. I am running XP 32, so i don t have any run as administrator option, although logged on as one.

thanks for your help

 

[dav1129]

Hi mate,

your batch file is fantastic and is exactly the work around i was looking for. However, it fails to reset the current date automatically upon leaving and prompts me to enter it manually ...any idea Why ? i ve copied and pasted your code and saved it as a batch file. I am running XP 32, so i don t have any run as administrator option, although logged on as one.

thanks for your help

were you addressing me? if so, I started the thread because I needn't help myself. This is all a little beyond me although I did ultimately, get batch file together which worked. Trouble is I deleted the program because I want to upgrade it and never did. I'll see if I can find the batch file.......

ECHO OFF
CLS
:MENU
ECHO.
ECHO ....................................... ........
ECHO PRESS 1 to select your task, or 2 to EXIT.
ECHO ....................................... ........
ECHO.
ECHO 1 - Launch C:\ETKA\PROG1\Etka7.exe "C:\ETKA\PROG\ETKA_VW.INI"
ECHO 2 - Exit
ECHO.
SET /P M=Type 1, 2, then press ENTER:
IF %M%==1 GOTO PROGRAM
IF %M%==2 GOTO RESETDATE

:PROGRAM
FOR /F "TOKENS=1* DELIMS= " %%A IN ('DATE/T') DO SET CURDATE=%DATE%
COLOR 4f
echo Setting System date to 01-01-2012
echo.
date 01-01-2012
echo Launching Program........Please Wait
echo.
START /W C:\ETKA\PROG1\Etka7.exe "C:\ETKA\PROG\ETKA_VW.INI"
echo Resetting System Date back to Todays Date....Please Wait

date %CURDATE%

This batch file above worked for me. It reset the system date (to earlier one, which allowed my program to run without recent updates), and then start the program. The DOS command window stays open and when the desired program was closed, reset the system date.

I am not sure any more how I got this to work for me but if it works for you, great. Of course, you will have to swap the executable. If it doesn't work as is, you'll have to try some trial and error and learn a little DOS yourself.

 

[hugo1111]

Hi David,

yes the message was for you. It works fine , only the command date %curdate% doesn t automatically set the current date back . it asks me to enter manually mm-dd-yy. Not the end of the world as it enables to use EKTA without being reminded its out of date. If it could put it back automatically, it would be great.

I simply copied all your command lines so it s odd that it works for you and not for me.

cheers

hugo

 

[dav1129]

Hi David,

yes the message was for you. It works fine , only the command date %curdate% doesn t automatically set the current date back . it asks me to enter manually mm-dd-yy. Not the end of the world as it enables to use EKTA without being reminded its out of date. If it could put it back automatically, it would be great.

I simply copied all your command lines so it s odd that it works for you and not for me.

cheers

hugo

Oh, I see you're using it with ETKA too! I was using this script with ETKA 7.3 Plus. But recently downloaded, 7.4. I forgot to try installing it to see if it is better. I was already using Windows Seven though so if it didn't work for you you're using XP, then I suspect the SYNTAX might be different for XP you could google it and see.