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Batch Files Run from Within Other Folders May Fail

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:


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

          echo off
          pause
  4. Save test.bat.
  5. 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.

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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:


   "\test(2)\test.bat"

This command will run the batch file normally.

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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.

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Keywords: kb, kbbug

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Article Info
Article ID : 175477
Revision : 5
Created on : 8/19/2020
Published on : 8/20/2020
Exists online : False
Views : 130