This is from an old post of a batch file provided by M2. deleting old backups http://www.computing.net/answers/pr... ##sample script## :: keep14z2.bat @echo off pushd "C:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server\MSSQL$SIMS\BACKUP" :loop dir /b/od *.zip > %TEMP%\templist set /p file2del=<%TEMP%\templist call :deleter %file2del% popd goto :eof :deleter dir /a-d *.zip |find "File(s)">%TEMP%\# for /f "tokens=1" %%T in (%TEMP%\#) do if %%T LEQ 14 goto :eof del %1 goto :loop :eof :: DONE The script executes perfectly and deletes all but the last 14 *.zip files. But I tested the script when there are no (zero) (none) *.zip in the specified directory, then the script just loops endlessly. For some reason this script does not consider 0 LEQ 14 and does not goto :eof Does this make sense? M2 are you still out there? Anyone? Ideas? Thank you. Surfred

Change this: dir /a-d *.zip |find "File(s)">%TEMP%\# To this: dir /a-d *.zip |find "File(s)">%TEMP%\# || goto :eof

problem resolved. thanks for the help.