I need to rename a file appending the timestamp of the system in this format:
yyyymmddhhmmss
Example: convert crexp.txt to
crexp20031126144543.txt

I was using this:
for /f "tokens=2-4* delims=/ " %%a in ('DATE /T') do set THEDATE=%%c%%b%%a
for /f "tokens=1* delims=: " %%a in ('time /T') do set THETIME=%%aa%%bb%%cc%%dd
ren %1 %~n1%THEDATE%%THETIME%%~x1

however this does not give hours in 24hrs format, nor does it give me seconds

If you post me the exact output you get typing

Command /C Ver | Time

I can solve your trouble.

the output of
C:\>Command /C Ver | Time
The current time is: 16:20:49:84
Enter the new time: Incorrect MS-DOS version
The system cannot accept the time entered.
Enter the new time:
C:\>

The output I expected is

The current time is: 16:20:49:84
Enter the new time:

neater than you posted. However try to replace your previous

for /f "tokens=1* delims=: " %%a in ('time /T') do set THETIME=%%aa%%bb%%cc%%dd
ren %1 %~n1%THEDATE%%THETIME%%~x1

with the following

For /F "tokens=2-4 delims=:" %%a in ('Command /C Echo. ^| Time ^| Find "current"') Do Set THETIME=%%a%%b%%c
Set THETIME=%THETIME:~1%
ren %1 %~n1%THEDATE%%THETIME%%~x1

If anything goes, wrong post again.

What I am supposed to get with your suggestion above?

so far I have entered the command as it is above, tweaked it in all manners and I always get error messages: like syntax error, /c is not a recognized internal o external command, etc.

The statement beginning For /F ends on the third line with %%a%%b%%c without new lines between. I suggest you highlight, copy and paste into your NotePad the lines I posted to be sure to get them integer.

The statement must work in a batch file.

Report to me what's the result.

Your suggestion work fine. I just made some adjustments to substring the output. The problem was that I got confused with the circumflex accents before the pipe command. I took out this and it work all fine.
Thanks,