I have an XP machine that can no longer run .BAT files. When you double
click them the message "Windows Cannot find <filename.bat with path> ...".
This happens with shortcuts and the original file. Strangely, if I start a
command prompt and cd to the folder, the script will run.

I have done the virus scan, and it was negative. Best I can tell, no new
software has been installed recently.

I am assuming something is corrupted, but I am not sure where to start
looking.

Any help would be appreciated.

SSC Mike wrote:
> I have an XP machine that can no longer run .BAT
> files. When you
> double click them the message "Windows Cannot find
> <filename.bat with
> path> ...". This happens with shortcuts and the
> original file.
> Strangely, if I start a command prompt and cd to the
> folder, the
> script will run.
>
> I have done the virus scan, and it was negative.
> Best I can tell, no
> new software has been installed recently.
>
> I am assuming something is corrupted, but I am not
> sure where to start
> looking.
>
> Any help would be appreciated.

Sounds like the shortcuts aren't pointing to the bat
file anymore. Has the path to them changed? Check the
shortcut Icon properties, make sure they point to the
bat file/s.

"Poprivet`" wrote:

> SSC Mike wrote:
> > I have an XP machine that can no longer run .BAT
> > files. When you
> > double click them the message "Windows Cannot find
> > <filename.bat with
> > path> ...". This happens with shortcuts and the
> > original file.
> > Strangely, if I start a command prompt and cd to the
> > folder, the
> > script will run.
> >
> > I have done the virus scan, and it was negative.
> > Best I can tell, no
> > new software has been installed recently.
> >
> > I am assuming something is corrupted, but I am not
> > sure where to start
> > looking.
> >
> > Any help would be appreciated.
>
> Sounds like the shortcuts aren't pointing to the bat
> file anymore. Has the path to them changed? Check the
> shortcut Icon properties, make sure they point to the
> bat file/s.
>
>
>
>Problem occurs even if I don't use a shortcut and double click the .bat in Windows explorer.

>>Problem occurs even if I don't use a shortcut and double click the .bat in Windows explorer.

Not sure if it's 100% relevant to your situation but you might want to
see what's going on in this KB article:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/943854

- Thee Chicago Wolf

"Thee Chicago Wolf" wrote:

> >>Problem occurs even if I don't use a shortcut and double click the .bat in Windows explorer.
>
> Not sure if it's 100% relevant to your situation but you might want to
> see what's going on in this KB article:
> http://support.microsoft.com/kb/943854
>
> - Thee Chicago Wolf
>

Looking at the symptoms listed, the hot fix probably would not help. No
messages in the event log either.

Thanks for the thought though.

>> Not sure if it's 100% relevant to your situation but you might want to
>> see what's going on in this KB article:
>> http://support.microsoft.com/kb/943854
>>
>> - Thee Chicago Wolf
>>
>
>Looking at the symptoms listed, the hot fix probably would not help. No
>messages in the event log either.
>
>Thanks for the thought though.

No problem. Saw it a couple days ago and your .bat issue clicked
something in my head. Have you tried to re-create the shortcuts
already?

- Thee Chicago Wolf

"Thee Chicago Wolf" wrote:

> >> Not sure if it's 100% relevant to your situation but you might want to
> >> see what's going on in this KB article:
> >> http://support.microsoft.com/kb/943854
> >>
> >> - Thee Chicago Wolf
> >>
> >
> >Looking at the symptoms listed, the hot fix probably would not help. No
> >messages in the event log either.
> >
> >Thanks for the thought though.
>
> No problem. Saw it a couple days ago and your .bat issue clicked
> something in my head. Have you tried to re-create the shortcuts
> already?
>
> - Thee Chicago Wolf
>

Problem is still there even if I don't use a shortcut and double click the
..bat in Windows explorer.

>Problem is still there even if I don't use a shortcut and double click the
>.bat in Windows explorer.

Ok, let's do a file association check. If you open Control Panel >
File Types, you shouldn't see anything for BAT extension on the
visible list.

Try the following:

From a command prompt;
assoc .bat
should return with
...bat=batfile
If not
assoc .bat=batfile
to restore the default file type association.

ftype batfile
should return with
batfile="%1" %*
If not
ftype batfile="%1" %*
to restore the default "Open" action for the file type.

- Thee Chicago Wolf

>Problem is still there even if I don't use a shortcut and double click the
>.bat in Windows explorer.

Additionally, verify the following:

HKLM\SOFTWARE\Classes\batfile\shell\open\command
make sure the Reg_Sz
(default)
value data is exactly;
"%1" %*

HKLM\SOFTWARE\Classes\batfile\shell\edit\command
make sure the Reg_Expand_Sz
(default)
value data is exactly;
%SystemRoot%\System32\NOTEPAD.EXE %1


Also look for the key;
...BAT
under
HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\FileExts
and delete the key named
...BAT

- Thee Chicago Wolf

>Problem is still there even if I don't use a shortcut and double click the
>.bat in Windows explorer.

Here's a faster solution. Copy and paste the following into notepad
and save it as a .reg file. Then, double-slick the .reg and import it
into your system. I deleted my association to .BAT, tested it and
confirmed it broken, and then ran the .reg file import and it was
restored.


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]
@="MS-DOS Batch File"
"EditFlags"=hex:30,04,00,00

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\batfile\DefaultIcon]
@=hex(2):25,00,53,00,79,00,73,00,74,00,65,00,6d,00,52,00,6f,00,6f,00,74,00,25,\

00,5c,00,53,00,79,00,73,00,74,00,65,00,6d,00,33,00,32,00,5c,00,73,00,68,00,\

65,00,6c,00,6c,00,33,00,32,00,2e,00,64,00,6c,00,6c,00,2c,00,2d,00,31,00,35,\
00,33,00,00,00

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\batfile\shell]

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\batfile\shell\edit]

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\batfile\shell\edit\command]
@=hex(2):25,00,53,00,79,00,73,00,74,00,65,00,6d,00,52,00,6f,00,6f,00,74,00,25,\

00,5c,00,53,00,79,00,73,00,74,00,65,00,6d,00,33,00,32,00,5c,00,4e,00,4f,00,\

54,00,45,00,50,00,41,00,44,00,2e,00,45,00,58,00,45,00,20,00,25,00,31,00,00,\
00

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\batfile\shell\open]
"EditFlags"=hex:00,00,00,00

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

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\batfile\shell\print]

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\batfile\shell\print\command]
@=hex(2):25,00,53,00,79,00,73,00,74,00,65,00,6d,00,52,00,6f,00,6f,00,74,00,25,\

00,5c,00,53,00,79,00,73,00,74,00,65,00,6d,00,33,00,32,00,5c,00,4e,00,4f,00,\

54,00,45,00,50,00,41,00,44,00,2e,00,45,00,58,00,45,00,20,00,2f,00,70,00,20,\
00,25,00,31,00,00,00

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\batfile\shellex]

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\batfile\shellex\DropHandler]
@="{86C86720-42A0-1069-A2E8-08002B30309D}"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\batfile\shellex\PropertySheetHandlers]

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\batfile\shellex\PropertySheetHandlers\PifProps]
@="{86F19A00-42A0-1069-A2E9-08002B30309D}"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\batfile\shellex\PropertySheetHandlers\ShimLayer
Property Page]
@="{513D916F-2A8E-4F51-AEAB-0CBC76FB1AF8}"

- Thee Chicago Wolf