Another IT question! Batch files

[Digsy]

I run two hard drives in my PC (actually three, but one is used exclusively for video editing).

 

On startup I have a batch filr which copies the contents of certain directories into a backup area on the second drive, so if my data drive fails I will at least have a copy of all my best porn - ahem - I mean my most important data

 

This batch file is basically a list of old skool DOS "COPY" commands in a text file. Under Windows 98 this was called by the AUTOEXEC.BAT file ans so ran before Windows even started, and it ran in the blink of an eye (it copes about 200 files).

 

Now, with Windows XP Pro, there is no AUTOEXEC.BAT so I have had to shove a shortcut to the batch file into my Startup folder so that it runs when the desktop appears. This is causing me some issues:

 

1) It runs BLOODY SLOOOOOOOWLY! What used to take less than a second now takes about 30 seconds to a minute. It also seems to eat system resources.

 

2) Its messy having a big COMMAND box pop up on the screen. People who know me well will realise just how much this will annoy me

 

3) As well as files like .DOC, .XLS and .MDB I now also want to back up my Outlook .PST files. Trouble is, as I also have Outlook starting up at the same time I am going to get a sharing violation if the backup trie to copy the files across at the same time that Outlook is opening them up.

 

I really need to force my backup to run BEFORE Windows XP loads any other apps. Can ayone think of a way to do this?

 

(NOTE: Ideally, I'd like the backup to run at shutdown, AFTER all other apps have closed, but how to do this is beyond me).

[Jake]

To run batch files or whatever in XP at shutdown time :

Start - Run - gpedit.msc

Computer Configuration - Windows Settings - Scripts,

Right-click on Shutdown, Properties, then add the

name of the program you want to run.

[GeordieSteve]

Use VBS scripts. muuuuch faster

[Digsy]

To run batch files or whatever in XP at shutdown time :

Start - Run - gpedit.msc

Computer Configuration - Windows Settings - Scripts,

Right-click on Shutdown, Properties, then add the

name of the program you want to run.

Coo-ool! Well it wil lbe if it works when I get home.

 

Is there any way to specify thst it must wait until Outlook closes before it runs?

 

 

 

GeordieSteve: I don't know any VBS.

[Jake]

Is there any way to specify thst it must wait until Outlook closes before it runs?

IIRC it'll do that by default. I mean that it executes only after everything else has shutdown.

[GeordieSteve]

Can you post up your batch script. Someone may be able to turn it into VB for you

[Digsy]

If Jake's suggestion doesn't work for any reason then I'll do that.

[Digsy]

Just thinking about this some more...

 

When I first moved to XP and encounted this problem, I tried to use the pukka MS Backup utility and MS Scheduler to run the backup task on shutdown, but for some reason it didn't work. IIRC Scheduler reported that I didn't have the necessary privaleges to run the backup job.

 

As I recall, the MS backup was lighting fast and of course it makes it easy to add sub-folders later on. Could I create the backup task and use gpedit to run that at shutdown?

[Digsy]

Respect to Jake. It worked a treat! Many thanks.

[Jake]

Cool. Glad it worked for you.