[gbja7]

I hope I'm in the right forum. I've been working with batch files to automate some maintenance and security features for a friend who does not know much about computers but needs some sort of system to keep her computer as clean as possible without her input as it would confuse her. I have a general working knowledge of how .bat files work but have only just begun to delve deeper into its finer points as I stumble across a problem. I have the computer all pretty much setup but I left this last thing to ask as it seems like it would be a little more complex than what I have been doing with batch files.

I am looking for a way to have a batch file activate when a certain event occurs. I want the batch file to automate updating particular applications like spybot. I know how to do that part of the batch. However, the computer uses a dial-up connection and is not on 24/7.

If it were my computer I would automate that feature using rasdial. But this is for a friend who is not computer savvy and they may not use the same ISP in the future so the connectoids may change thus making the automated rasdial feature ineffective as soon as an ISP change is made.

And that is the problem. It would be nice if the batch activates when a certain event occurs telling it that the computer is online so it can perform its updating task without relying on rasdial.

Any kind of advice is welcome. Also I would like to setup a counter of some sort in the batch so it does not activate every time there is an online connection.

If it is of any importance the OS is windows xp home.

Thanks

[Mithrilhall]

I would use "Scheduled Task" in the control panel to run the batch file as often as you want (example: once per week).

Also, you could use the "Scheduled Task" to open Internet Explorer at your desired date and time and using Internet Explorer's Options you can set it to "always dial my default connection". I think that would open Internet Explorer and dial-up automatically.

You could then possibly use 'taskkill' in the batch to kill the dial-up connection.

[gbja7]

Thanks,

I had come across that one a while ago but forgot about it. I suppose that will have to do as I need to get the computer back to her. One last question - I am sorry but I usually look this stuff up without asking people but since I a time restraint . . . I would like to set up some of these batches to run late at night. I was planning on having the computer go into sleep mode or some similar state instead of shutting down so these tasks could run. Is there a way to keep the monitor from coming on and muting sound using batches?

[Fredledingue]

If I were you I would learn/use a more advanced albeit easy language such as VBscript or (especialy for automation) AutoIt.

More on AutoIt
http://www.hiddensoft.com/autoit3/index.php

More on VBs
http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/de...ist/webdev.asp
http://www.html.dk/dokumentation/vbs...vss/vbsTOC.htm
http://www.sloppycode.net/vbscript/?m=2510
www.rgagnon.com/masters/wsh-vbs.html
http://www.asptutorial.info/sscript/...ate_string.asp
http://www.winguides.com/forums/post...d=brdScripting

[gbja7]

Thanks for the advice. Unfortunately, I have kept her computer for too long and I don't have any time to learn something new. I was really looking for a quick fix to get it off my hands and I just wanted to address some automation issues that had been bothering me. However, I will be sure to look at the links you have given me so I can implement them on my own computer. I appreciate the help.