"Environmental Variables" in batch files

There are no "\system\" directory variables immediately available. You have to remember that what you are playing with is the old MS-DOS bat programming language and that was long before Windows existed in any form and the "\system\" dirsctories hadn't even been comtemplated yet.

You can however create your own variables using the "SET variable name= xxxx" command.

It's been a few years since I've done much batch file programming and I tossed all my books on it a while back. You should be able to find a bunch of references on the WWW though. Try "MS-DOS Batch File Programming" in Google.

Windows XP is still using "Environmental Variables"
System Properties --> Advanced --> Environmental Variables
By the way, here is my problem:
I need to write a script, which copies some files in to every Windows' system directory, which is a common task, and I don't want to go deep into programming. The easiest possible way!

the easiest way would be to use a scripting language.

email me and i'll hack something out for you, wouldn't take but a minute...

Yeah but those aren't designed for use in DOS. forget DOS batch files & just go for windows scripting like inked says. More powerful, more environment variables, & such.

If you don't wanna do that for some reason but still want to use DOS .bat files (and don't want to use two separate ones), let me know & I'll show ya how to pull it off. It's a fair bit more complex though. (involves running a .com file file I can give you which returns errorcodes to check for in your .bat) --- (a windows script inkedmn could write would be a much better method to use, though)

Script Progs
Not to steal away from the original question, but is there any way someone could help me make a script that would move all the startup programs, listed in MSconfig, from the "RUN" location to their inactive location. If you need more clarification on this let me know.

Otherwise, if someone could show me the ropes or show me where I can go to learn how to make the script. I'm willing to learn from scratch, and I know it's alot eaiser to make the prog rather than show someone the programming language. Anywho, I apologize again for stealing the attn.

Hi enigma,
I don't use WSH, but here is Microsoft's extensive documentation about the scripting host.

Here're a couple other good links for ya..

• WSH Tutorial Light - very good free primer to start with WSH scripting.
  
• Windows Script MSN group - good general information on Scripting.
  
• Scripting guide for Windows
  
• Introduction to Windows scripting - very basic tutorial

Hope that helps.

Obviously code will need to change for writing to the registry's Run locations, but that should show the relative ease of working with the WSH. (that script doesn't change anything it'll just read out your screensaver's filename from the HKCU (Hkey_Current_User) \Control Panel \Desktop \SCRNSAVE.EXE value.)

To change values you'd use WSHShell.RegWrite