When executed as a batch file, why does this not work: --------------- attrib "c:\Documents and Settings\All Users" +h attrib "c:\Documents and Settings\svinyard" +h attrib "C:\Documents and Settings\svinyard.LIBERTY" +h "dir "c:\Documents and Settings" /B > c:\NTUser.txt" for /f "delims=," %I IN (c:\NTUser.txt) DO rd /s/q "c:\Documents and Settings\%I" for /f "delims=," %I IN (c:\NTUser.txt) DO rd /s/q "c:\Documents and Settings\%I" for /f "delims=," %I IN (c:\NTUser.txt) DO rd /s/q "c:\Documents and Settings\%I" for /f "delims=," %I IN (c:\NTUser.txt) DO rd /s/q "c:\Documents and Settings\%I" for /f "delims=," %I IN (c:\NTUser.txt) DO rd /s/q "c:\Documents and Settings\%I" del /f/q c:\NTUser.txt attrib "c:\Documents and Settings\All Users" -h attrib "c:\Documents and Settings\svinyard" -h attrib "C:\Documents and Settings\svinyard.LIBERTY" -h --------------- The output I get is: --------------- Microsoft Windows 2000 [Version 5.00.2195] (C) Copyright 1985-2000 Microsoft Corp. H:\>\\Sh-nas\install\SCRIPTS\Printer_Scripts\Remove_local_users.bat H:\>attrib "c:\Documents and Settings\All Users" +h H:\>attrib "c:\Documents and Settings\svinyard" +h H:\>attrib "C:\Documents and Settings\svinyard.LIBERTY" +h File not found - C:\Documents and Settings\svinyard.LIBERTY H:\>"dir "c:\Documents and Settings" /B > c:\NTUser.txt" The filename, directory name, or volume label syntax is incorrect. \NTUser.txt) was unexpected at this time. H:\>for /f "delims=," \NTUser.txt) DO rd /s/q "c:\Documents and Settings\I" H:\> --------------- Yet, if I paste it to a cmd window, all works fine. One more reason for me to learn a new scripting language!

The following line should not be enclosed by " "dir "c:\Documents and Settings" /B > c:\NTUser.txt" so replace it with Dir "c:\Documents and Settings" /B > c:\NTUser.txt The effect is to miss the C:\NTUser.txt file dooming the balance of code. I hope you begin your script coding @Echo Off otherwise you get each line echoed to the screen with a cumbersome effect.

This is pretty hard to read but if the intent of the first three lines is to hide directories, don't you need ?: attrib /d /s +h M2

The attrib to hide the lines is so when DIR /B outputs to txt, it doesn't output hidden drectories, therefore not allowing the script to delete the "all users" folder and my profile. I simply needed to hide the root of that folder, and not the subfolders. Actually, I have not been running the script with echo off, due to ignorance, but adding it does not seem to correct the issue. This is a very strange problem. I also removed the quotes, but this had no effect.

Well, first things first. Does your first line hide the directory or not? M2

Sorry for my previous post, but now I am quite sure to nail the error. It is due to the %I variable in the For statements as that works fine from the command prompt, but the same must be entered as %%I if embedded in a batch script. This explains the For statement failure.

It would seem, sir, that you are the most knowledgeable programmer I have met thus far. Your suggestion corrected the issue and everything works perfectly. Thank you