Batch Files

I still remember when the computers entered to our Department during the early 90s, the local computer technician used to install Windows operating system as and when required and used to charge an amount of Rs 250 per installation. He was dare enough to give a bill with description that “installation of Windows” The OS CD supplied along with computer was somewhere in the cupboard and we were not aware of the CD supplied was a licensed version. The guy always used the pirated CD!

One of the DOS program which was the main program used then was opening in the directory in which it was installed and not opening in any other directory we wanted. Then we had to beg him for the remedy. He was doing something to make that DOS software functioning in any directory.


It took me a few months to detect what exactly he was doing. He was creating one bat file or precisely saying, he was editing the Autoexec.bat file. But he never revealed the secret he was doing.

What is Bat or Batch file?

In DOS and Windows, batch file is the name given to a type of script file, a text file with filename extension .bat containing a series of commands to be executed by the command interpreter.

Batch files are used to ease the work required for certain regular tasks by allowing the user to set up a script to automate them. When a batch file is run, the shell program (usually COMMAND.COM or cmd.exe) reads the file and executes its commands, normally line-by-line.

Variants
Brief information on the function and parameters of commands are usually displayed by typing the command at the command prompt followed by "/?" and pressing the Enter key. In some cases "-?", "?", or just the command name without parameters (if parameters are required) will also elicit information.

DOS
In MS-DOS, a batch file can be started from the command line by typing its name followed by any required parameters and pressing the "enter" key. When MS-DOS loads, the file AUTOEXEC.BAT is automatically executed, so any commands that need to be run to set up the MS-DOS environment for use could be placed in this file. Computer users would have the autoexec file set up the system date and time, initialize the MS-DOS environment, load any resident programs or device drivers, or initialize network connections and assignments.

In MS-DOS, the extension ".BAT" identified a file containing commands which could be executed by the command interpreter COMMAND.COM line by line as if it was a list of commands to be entered, with some extra batch-file-specific commands for basic programming functionality, including a GOTO command for changing flow of line execution.
 
Windows
Microsoft Windows was introduced in 1985 as a GUI Operating System alternative to text-based operating and was designed to run on MS-DOS. In order to start it the WIN command was used and could be added to the end of the AUTOEXEC.BAT file to allow automatic loading of Windows. In the earlier versions one could run a .bat type file from Windows in the MS-DOS Prompt.

Example
This example batch file displays "Hello World!", prompts and waits for the user to press a key, and terminates.

@ECHO off
ECHO Hello World!
PAUSE
To execute the file it must be saved with the extension .bat (or .cmd for Windows-NT type operating systems) in plain text format, typically created by using a text editor such as Notepad or a word processor in text mode.

Result
When executed (either from Windows Explorer or Command Prompt) this is displayed:

Hello World!
Press any key to continue . . .
Explanation
The interpreter executes each line in turn, starting with the first. The @ symbol at the start of the line turns off the prompt from displaying that command. The command ECHO off turns off the prompt permanently, or until it is turned on again. Then the next line is executed, the ECHO Hello World! command outputs Hello World!, as only off and on have special functions. Then the next line is executed, the PAUSE command displays Press any key to continue . . . and pauses the script's execution until a key is pressed, when the script terminates as there are no more commands. In Windows, if the script is run within a Command Prompt window, the window remains open at the prompt as in MS-DOS, otherwise the command prompt windows closes on termination (unless the batch file has a command to prevent this).


Create a BAT File
Create a new text document on your desktop. Double click the file – it should be blank inside. Now, go to file>save as, and in the “Save As” window, input a name for your BAT file and then add a “.bat” on the end (without the quotes). For example: Shiva.bat

If you know how to run commands in the command prompt, you’ll be a wiz at creating BAT files because it’s the same language. All you’re doing is telling the command prompt what you want to put in through a file, rather than typing it every time you run the command prompt. This saves you time and effort; but it also allows you to put in some logic (like simple loops, conditional statements, etc. that procedural programming is capable of conceptually).

There are SEVEN simple commands. These are NOT case sensitive.

TITLE - The Window name for the BAT file.

ECHO - The “print” statement for BAT files. Anything following the word ECHO will be displayed in the command prompt as text, on its own line.

ECHO OFF – BAT writers typically put this at the beginning of their files. It means that the program won’t show the command that you told it to run while it’s running – it’ll just run the command.

PAUSE - This outputs the “press any key to continue…” message that you’ve seen all too many times. It’s helpful because it pauses the BAT file execution until the user tells it to go again. If you don’t put this in your program, everything will speed by and end before you can see it. People typically put this in BAT files to give the user a chance to review the material on the screen before continuing.

CLS - Clears the DOS window.


IPCONFIG – Outputs a lot of network information into DOS window.

PING - Pings an IP, letting you know if your computer was able to contact it. This command also returns the latency (ping time) and by default pings three times.

Write Your BAT File
Right click your BAT file and click “edit” to bring up Notepad. The whole document should be blank – ready for some epic programmer input.

ECHO OFF
ECHO Network Information for SA

IPCONFIG /ALL
PAUSE
PING www.google.com
ECHO All done pinging Google.
PAUSE


Run Your BAT File
Save the file and double click it. Your output should be something like the screenshot below.


Advanced Windows batch example - conditional shutdown

@echo off
color 0A
title Conditional Shutdown

:start
echo What would you like to do?
echo.
echo 1. Shutdown in specified time
echo 2. Shutdown now
echo 3. Restart now
echo 4. Log off now
echo 5. Hibernate now
echo.
echo 0. Quit
echo.

set /p choice="Enter your choice: "
if %choice%==1 goto shutdown
if %choice%==2 shutdown -s -f
if %choice%==3 shutdown -r -f
if %choice%==4 shutdown -l -f
if %choice%==5 shutdown -h -f
if %choice%==0 exit
echo Invalid choice: %choice%
echo.
pause
cls
goto start

:shutdown
cls
set /p sec="Minutes until shutdown: "
set /a min=60*%sec%
shutdown -s -f -t %min%
echo Shutdown initiated at %time%
echo.
set /p cancel="Type cancel to stop shutdown "
if %cancel%==cancel shutdown -a
if %cancel%==cancel cls
if %cancel%==cancel echo Shutdown is cancelled.
if %cancel%==cancel echo.
if %cancel%==cancel pause
if %cancel%==cancel exit
An A-Z Index of the Windows CMD command line
   ADDUSERS Add or list users to/from a CSV file
   ADmodcmd Active Directory Bulk Modify
   ARP      Address Resolution Protocol
   ASSOC    Change file extension associations•
   ASSOCIAT One step file association
   ATTRIB   Change file attributes
b
   BCDBOOT  Create or repair a system partition
   BOOTCFG  Edit Windows boot settings
   BROWSTAT Get domain, browser and PDC info
c
   CACLS    Change file permissions
   CALL     Call one batch program from another•
   CD       Change Directory - move to a specific Folder•
   CHANGE   Change Terminal Server Session properties
   CHKDSK   Check Disk - check and repair disk problems
   CHKNTFS  Check the NTFS file system
   CHOICE   Accept keyboard input to a batch file
   CIPHER   Encrypt or Decrypt files/folders
   CleanMgr Automated cleanup of Temp files, recycle bin
   CLEARMEM Clear memory leaks
   CLIP     Copy STDIN to the Windows clipboard.
   CLS      Clear the screen•
   CLUSTER  Windows Clustering
   CMD      Start a new CMD shell
   CMDKEY   Manage stored usernames/passwords
   COLOR    Change colors of the CMD window•
   COMP     Compare the contents of two files or sets of files
   COMPACT  Compress files or folders on an NTFS partition
   COMPRESS Compress individual files on an NTFS partition
   CON2PRT  Connect or disconnect a Printer
   CONVERT  Convert a FAT drive to NTFS.
   COPY     Copy one or more files to another location•
   CSCcmd   Client-side caching (Offline Files)
   CSVDE    Import or Export Active Directory data
d
   DATE     Display or set the date•
   DEFRAG   Defragment hard drive
   DEL      Delete one or more files•
   DELPROF  Delete user profiles
   DELTREE  Delete a folder and all subfolders
   DevCon   Device Manager Command Line Utility
   DIR      Display a list of files and folders•
   DIRUSE   Display disk usage
   DISKPART Disk Administration
   DNSSTAT  DNS Statistics
   DOSKEY   Edit command line, recall commands, and create macros
   DSACLs   Active Directory ACLs
   DSAdd    Add items to active directory (user group computer)
   DSGet    View items in active directory (user group computer)
   DSQuery  Search for items in active directory (user group computer)
   DSMod    Modify items in active directory (user group computer)
   DSMove   Move an Active directory Object
   DSRM     Remove items from Active Directory
e
   ECHO     Display message on screen•
   ENDLOCAL End localisation of environment changes in a batch file•
   ERASE    Delete one or more files•
   EVENTCREATE Add a message to the Windows event log
   EXIT     Quit the current script/routine and set an errorlevel•
   EXPAND   Uncompress files
   EXTRACT  Uncompress CAB files
f
   FC       Compare two files
   FIND     Search for a text string in a file
   FINDSTR  Search for strings in files
   FOR /F   Loop command: against a set of files•
   FOR /F   Loop command: against the results of another command•
   FOR      Loop command: all options Files, Directory, List•
   FORFILES Batch process multiple files
   FORMAT   Format a disk
   FREEDISK Check free disk space (in bytes)
   FSUTIL   File and Volume utilities
   FTP      File Transfer Protocol
   FTYPE    Display or modify file types used in file extension associations•
g
   GLOBAL   Display membership of global groups
   GOTO     Direct a batch program to jump to a labelled line•
   GPRESULT Display Resultant Set of Policy information
   GPUPDATE Update Group Policy settings
h
   HELP     Online Help
i
   iCACLS   Change file and folder permissions
   IF       Conditionally perform a command•
   IFMEMBER Is the current user a member of a Workgroup
   IPCONFIG Configure IP
k
   KILL     Remove a program from memory
l
   LABEL    Edit a disk label
   LOCAL    Display membership of local groups
   LOGEVENT Write text to the event viewer
   LOGMAN   Manage Performance Monitor
   LOGOFF   Log a user off
   LOGTIME  Log the date and time in a file
m
   MAPISEND Send email from the command line
   MBSAcli  Baseline Security Analyzer.
   MEM      Display memory usage
   MD       Create new folders•
   MKLINK   Create a symbolic link (linkd)
   MODE     Configure a system device
   MORE     Display output, one screen at a time
   MOUNTVOL Manage a volume mount point
   MOVE     Move files from one folder to another•
   MOVEUSER Move a user from one domain to another
   MSG      Send a message
   MSIEXEC  Microsoft Windows Installer
   MSINFO32 System Information
   MSTSC    Terminal Server Connection (Remote Desktop Protocol)
   MV       Copy in-use files
n
   NET      Manage network resources
   NETDOM   Domain Manager
   NETSH    Configure Network Interfaces, Windows Firewall & Remote access
   NETSVC   Command-line Service Controller
   NBTSTAT  Display networking statistics (NetBIOS over TCP/IP)
   NETSTAT  Display networking statistics (TCP/IP)
   NOW      Display the current Date and Time
   NSLOOKUP Name server lookup
   NTBACKUP Backup folders to tape
   NTRIGHTS Edit user account rights
o
   OPENFILES Query or display open files
p
   PATH     Display or set a search path for executable files•
   PATHPING Trace route plus network latency and packet loss
   PAUSE    Suspend processing of a batch file and display a message•
   PERMS    Show permissions for a user
   PERFMON  Performance Monitor
   PING     Test a network connection
   POPD     Restore the previous value of the current directory saved by PUSHD•
   PORTQRY  Display the status of ports and services
   POWERCFG Configure power settings
   PRINT    Print a text file
   PRINTBRM Print queue Backup/Recovery
   PRNCNFG  Display, configure or rename a printer
   PRNMNGR  Add, delete, list printers set the default printer
   PROMPT   Change the command prompt•
   PsExec     Execute process remotely
   PsFile     Show files opened remotely
   PsGetSid   Display the SID of a computer or a user
   PsInfo     List information about a system
   PsKill     Kill processes by name or process ID
   PsList     List detailed information about processes
   PsLoggedOn Who's logged on (locally or via resource sharing)
   PsLogList  Event log records
   PsPasswd   Change account password
   PsService  View and control services
   PsShutdown Shutdown or reboot a computer
   PsSuspend  Suspend processes
   PUSHD    Save and then change the current directory•
q
   QGREP    Search file(s) for lines that match a given pattern.
r
   RASDIAL  Manage RAS connections
   RASPHONE Manage RAS connections
   RECOVER  Recover a damaged file from a defective disk.
   REG      Registry: Read, Set, Export, Delete keys and values
   REGEDIT  Import or export registry settings
   REGSVR32 Register or unregister a DLL
   REGINI   Change Registry Permissions
   REM      Record comments (remarks) in a batch file•
   REN      Rename a file or files•
   REPLACE  Replace or update one file with another
   RD       Delete folder(s)•
   RMTSHARE Share a folder or a printer
   ROBOCOPY Robust File and Folder Copy
   ROUTE    Manipulate network routing tables
   RUN      Start | RUN commands
   RUNAS    Execute a program under a different user account
   RUNDLL32 Run a DLL command (add/remove print connections)
s
   SC       Service Control
   SCHTASKS Schedule a command to run at a specific time
   SCLIST   Display Services
   SET      Display, set, or remove environment variables•
   SETLOCAL Control the visibility of environment variables•
   SETX     Set environment variables permanently
   SFC      System File Checker
   SHARE    List or edit a file share or print share
   SHIFT    Shift the position of replaceable parameters in a batch file•
   SHORTCUT Create a windows shortcut (.LNK file)
   SHOWGRPS List the Workgroups a user has joined
   SHOWMBRS List the Users who are members of a Workgroup
   SHUTDOWN Shutdown the computer
   SLEEP    Wait for x seconds
   SLMGR    Software Licensing Management (Vista/2008)
   SOON     Schedule a command to run in the near future
   SORT     Sort input
   START    Start a program or command in a separate window•
   SU       Switch User
   SUBINACL Edit file and folder Permissions, Ownership and Domain
   SUBST    Associate a path with a drive letter
   SYSTEMINFO List system configuration
t
   TASKLIST List running applications and services
   TASKKILL Remove a running process from memory
   TIME     Display or set the system time•
   TIMEOUT  Delay processing of a batch file
   TITLE    Set the window title for a CMD.EXE session•
   TLIST    Task list with full path
   TOUCH    Change file timestamps  
   TRACERT  Trace route to a remote host
   TREE     Graphical display of folder structure
   TSSHUTDN Remotely shut down or reboot a terminal server
   TYPE     Display the contents of a text file•
   TypePerf Write performance data to a log file
u
   USRSTAT  List domain usernames and last login
v
   VER      Display version information•
   VERIFY   Verify that files have been saved•
   VOL      Display a disk label•
w
   WAITFOR  Wait for or send a signal
   WHERE    Locate and display files in a directory tree
   WHOAMI   Output the current UserName and domain
   WINDIFF  Compare the contents of two files or sets of files
   WINMSDP  Windows system report
   WINRM    Windows Remote Management
   WINRS    Windows Remote Shell
   WMIC     WMI Commands
   WUAUCLT  Windows Update
x
   XCACLS   Change file and folder permissions
   XCOPY    Copy files and folders
   ::       Comment / Remark•
Commands marked • are Internal commands only available within the CMD shell.
All other commands (not marked with •) are external commands which may be used under the CMD shell, PowerShell, or directly from START-RUN.

Source: http://www.makeuseof.com

Beware of Batch file Virus:

If you find any bat files in Pen drive, CDs or receive any bat files through email,Please never open unless you are 100 sure that it does not contain malicious commands/scripts.To read what bat file contains,just right click on it and select edit.Then you can read the file.

A single line of script in Bat file may ruin your entire data and your system will collapse.They may delete the windows files, format data, steal information, consume CPU resources to affect performance, disable firewalls, open ports, modify or destroy registry and do many more losses.

In most of the cases,these bat files cannot be detected as Virus by the Anti Virus softwares. So these files may do harm for what they intended without Anti Virus notice.


For security reasons, I am not sharing such scripts here.

Most Dangerous:

If you can recognize that the bat file is containing malicious script, the hackers are still more intelligent. They create executable files from the batch files and make them invisible and place them in Pen drive with support of Autorun.inf file.

To disable copying Autorun .inf file, use Panda USB Vaccine which will not allow to copy any Autorun.inf file to your Pen drive.

Courtesy : www.srfix.blogspot.in