Hi, I'm trying to run a EXE file from with in a batch file ( A terminal server connection to be presise.) But the batch file dose not process commands after this line till the exe file is closed. Is there a way I can just start this program and make the batch file continue with the processing of the rest of the batch file? Thanks!

Yep, you use the CALL command (I think call was originally intednded for calling other batch files, but exe files that don't return control to the batch file can be fixed by using call). To use you just put CALL before the command. Not many EXEs are like this I might add and it's interesting when you come across them :)

Yep, the CALL cmd was made to execute batch files from withing other batch files. I had never seen a .EXE/.COM that stoped the batch script's activities from then on (except for WIN.COM, but that's a very peculiar case hehe). In case the CALL trick ("call filename.exe") doesn't work, you may also execute the .exe from a child shell: %comspec% /c filename.exe -- Leonardo Pignataro - Secret_Doom -- secret_doom@hotmail.com www.batch.hpg.com.br

WIN.COM works too if you select "shut down the computer" without the ACPI power(Note:it doesn't work if you select "Restart the computer and switch to MS-DOS mode",because this doesn't leave WIN.COM from memory completely).I have seen some articles about this.

And if you have the ACPI power,then load NOOFF.COM before loading WIN.COM,and it will not shut down as if no ACPI power present. You can make the following batch file to verify this: @ECHO OFF NOOFF WIN.COM MODE CO80 ECHO Now I'm in DOS mode! Run it.Now you can select "Shut down" in Windows,and see the result.

I have XP so I'm asking this purly out of interest: would that work for people with ME?

With recent version of Windows, you can't use all function of DOS, and most of file work only in windows, If in your batch file you use "@echo off", it's possible DOS not print this message "CANNOT BE RUN IN DOS MODE"