Microsoft KB Archive/175477

= Batch Files Run from Within Other Folders May Fail =

Article ID: 175477

Article Last Modified on 10/31/2006

-

APPLIES TO


 * Microsoft Windows NT Workstation 4.0 Developer Edition
 * Microsoft Windows NT Server 4.0 Standard Edition

-



This article was previously published under Q175477



SYMPTOMS
When you run a batch file from a different folder that contains non- alphabetic characters, you will receive the following error message:

The name specified is not recognized as an internal or external command,

operable program or batch file.

Steps to reproduce the problem:

 Create a folder named test(2) off your root directory. Create a batch file in the test(2) folder called test.bat.  Insert the following lines in test.bat:

echo off pause  Save test.bat.  From the root directory at a command prompt, run the batch file with the following line:

\test(2)\test.bat 

Notice the error message received:

The name specified is not recognized as an internal or external command,

operable program or batch file.



WORKAROUND
Although the batch file does not run from the root directory, the command will run if you enclose the command line within quotes. For example, for the above situation, a user should enter the following line in a command prompt:

<pre class="fixed_text">  "\test(2)\test.bat"

This command will run the batch file normally.

<div class="status_section">

STATUS
Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in Windows NT version 4.0. We are researching this problem and will post new information here in the Microsoft Knowledge Base as it becomes available.

Additional query words: program

Keywords: kbbug KB175477

-

[mailto:TECHNET@MICROSOFT.COM Send feedback to Microsoft]

© Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.