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Need help using the 'AT' command in NT

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8 replies

by johnm

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I'm trying to use the 'at' command in NT4 to run a batch file 'backup.cmd' sometime during the night (approx 11:59 pm).

I have started the 'scheduling' service.

I've tried the command below as a test to see if it will work, but it doesn't seemto start the backup.
(I typed this in at 1:58pm)

'at 14:00 c:\backup.com' -- which should run the batch file at 2:00pm, it shows that the 'job' has been added, but it doesn't work.

Also, I'm looking for some better documentation other than the limited info referenced in the NT help system. Does anyone have some more examples that I can use to help me understand the 'at' command better.

Thanks,

John.

8 replies

by stewy

Why are you trying to use it from the commandline? I usually use the scheduler in My Computer. This gives the GUI interface to the AT command.

Also check to see that the task scheduler service is running.

by wjoubert

Hi

The first problem is the command line u are typing. Try at 14:00 c:\backup.CMD not .com

This should solve your problem.
If that was just a typo error sorry.

If you are trying to make a backup using NT Backup please refer to MS Technet Article ID: Q300439.
Type this in a cmd/bat file and then execute it using the AT command.

I have a program also that is just a GUI for the at command. (I cannot remember the name)

If you need any futher help please mail me.

Wessel

by shanghai sam

stevwy suggests that you should use the GUI version of at but you may not have this - it's part of W2K but not NT. It called Scheduled Tasks and if you have it it will appear when you open my computer. If you don't have it you can get it as part of IE4 (which you should have as it was needed for Y2K compliance in service pack 4) or better still IE5 as an additional component. In IE5 it's the offline browsing pack add on. With Scheduled tasks you get more granularity and most helpfully the ability to run the task as a particular user. The at command runs as the system by default and you should never change this for security reasons.

John

by don christner

John,
you need to launch cmd.exe when using a batch file with the AT command. So your command to setup the batch file would be:

at 14:00 cmd c:\backup.bat

Then of course once you have it working, you would schedule it to run daily, hourly whatever.

If you do Start|Help and type AT it will give you three different articles. Print all three of them and read them carefully, I think you'll get all of the info. you need (it helped me).

Don

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