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autoexec.bat

Discussion in 'Windows XP' started by Ahriman, 2009/05/25.

  1. 2009/05/25
    Ahriman

    Ahriman Inactive Thread Starter

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    Hi guys....I have a problem...i cannot seem to find autoexec.bat on my computer no matter what i do....my op sys is XP.The thing is a friend of mine has the same op sys and he found it with search.Please help !
     
  2. 2009/05/25
    TonyT

    TonyT SuperGeek Staff

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    Control Panel > Folder Options > View Tab > show hidden files & show system files.
    Anyway, autoexec.bat is there, but XP does not use it, it should be an empty file.
     

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  4. 2009/05/25
    PeteC

    PeteC SuperGeek Staff

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    Welcome to WindowsBBS :)

    It's a hidden system file - when searching include hidden files & folders, or ....

    Windows Explorer > Tools > Folder Options > View and check 'Show hidden files & folders' and uncheck 'Hide protected operating system files'

    It's in the root of C:\ drive, probably 0 bytes and AFAIK not used by XP anyway :)
     
  5. 2009/05/25
    markp62

    markp62 Geek Member Alumni

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    If you are using an old dos program that needs certain lines to be present in the Autoexec.Bat file, you need to instead insert the needed lines in the Autoexec.NT file, located in C:\Windows\System32
     
  6. 2009/05/26
    Ahriman

    Ahriman Inactive Thread Starter

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    Hi and thanks for all the replies but nothing works....i did include hidden files and folders from the first time and also i did check the box with show hidden files and folders....it cannot locate autoexec.bat.....there is one more thing i did and forgot to mention it....i typed C:/autoexec.bat myself and it says that it's not a valid Win32 file and then asks me if i want to save or run and when i click save it says the file already exists and if i want to replace it....so i am stuck on this.....
     
  7. 2009/05/26
    PeteC

    PeteC SuperGeek Staff

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    Back to square 1 - why do you want to locate autoexec.bat?

    FYI....

    C:\autoexec.bat
     
  8. 2009/05/26
    Ahriman

    Ahriman Inactive Thread Starter

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    I am interested in learning C Programming and i downloaded the software i need and after installing it i need to locate autoexec.bat in order to continue .....
     
  9. 2009/05/26
    PeteC

    PeteC SuperGeek Staff

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    Go back and physically look for the file in C:\ after setting folder options as I indicated.

    As the file is 0 bytes in XP by default you could maybe save a blank file in Notepad as autoexec.bat. (save as - all files and type in autoexec.bat). Whether or not that helps I have no idea.
     
  10. 2009/05/26
    Steve R Jones

    Steve R Jones SuperGeek Staff

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    Win XP does not and will not use the Autoexec.bat file.

    As Markp62 mentioned, you can use the Autoexec.NT file.
     
  11. 2009/05/26
    Ahriman

    Ahriman Inactive Thread Starter

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    Thanks again PeteC but still couldn't find it.... and Steve R Jones pls look for the message where i explained that it does say that the file exists.....also a friend of mine uses XP and he found it....so....thanks anyway.....
     
  12. 2009/05/26
    Steve R Jones

    Steve R Jones SuperGeek Staff

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    It doesn't matter if the .bat file is there or not. Windows XP will not use it.
     
  13. 2009/05/26
    Ahriman

    Ahriman Inactive Thread Starter

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    I know what you're saying...but i need that file....therefore it doesn't matter to me if windows uses it or not....it matters to me to find it....:)
     
  14. 2009/05/26
    Steve R Jones

    Steve R Jones SuperGeek Staff

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    Open Notepad and Save As Autoexec.bat
    Copy the file to C:\

    If you get prompted with the do you want to replace - SAY NO.

    If you don't get the prompt-> BOOM, you now have the file you've always wanted.
     
  15. 2009/05/26
    PeteC

    PeteC SuperGeek Staff

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    As I suggested in post #8 :)
     
  16. 2009/05/26
    Ahriman

    Ahriman Inactive Thread Starter

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    hmmmm....guys?....i did that already as i said before.....and it prompted me with the do you want to replace it?....i said NO ( of course ) but it still didn't show me the actual autoexec.bat file so........
     
  17. 2009/05/26
    Steve R Jones

    Steve R Jones SuperGeek Staff

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    In Tools->Folder Options->View ...there are Three options for hiding files. Make sure all three are unchecked/disabled.
     
  18. 2009/05/26
    Ahriman

    Ahriman Inactive Thread Starter

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    Thank you but i already checked.....i swear i think my computer's playing tricks on me....no idea what else to do.....
     
  19. 2009/05/26
    Steve R Jones

    Steve R Jones SuperGeek Staff

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    The file "should be" in the root of C:\
     
  20. 2009/05/26
    Steve R Jones

    Steve R Jones SuperGeek Staff

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    For grins - click on your Start button and go to RUN...Type CMD and press enter.

    Type: DIR C:\A *.* and press enter.

    That will show you all files that start with the letter A in your root directory.
     
  21. 2009/05/26
    surferdude2

    surferdude2 Inactive

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    The command you gave doesn't seem to work properly Steve.

    dir C:\a*.* /a:-d works for me.

    Ahriman, if that doesn't show the file, it will have been moved or deleted for some strange reason. If you insist on having it back, you can create a blank Notepad file and name it autoexec.bat and place it on the root of your system drive.
     

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