An Introduction to Windows Scripting with Batch Files

Scripting is a way in which one can automate tasks that occur repeatedly through the use of files containing executable commands. Scripting is different from traditional programming languages in that it is normally interpreted rather than compiled, meaning scripts are executed line by line without prior compilation.

Windows Scripting Fundamentals

On Windows, scripting is primarily reliant on Batch files (.BAT) and PowerShell. Batch files are executable scripts that make use of Windows system commands to run a variety of diverse tasks such as file management, system configuration, and program execution.

What is a BAT file?

A Batch (BAT) file is a text file that contains a series of commands, which are executed in sequence by the Windows command interpreter (cmd.exe). It is utilized for the automation of system administration tasks such as cleanup of temporary files, user management, or system monitoring.

Batch Script Sample for Windows Cleanup

The following is a script that deletes temporary and unwanted files in Windows while ensuring it is being run with administrator privileges:

@echo off
title Windows Cleanup Script
cls

rem Check for administrator privileges
net session >nul 2>&1
if %errorlevel% neq 0 (
    echo You must run this script as an Administrator.
    echo Right-click and select 'Run as Administrator'.
    pause >nul
    exit /b
)

echo Cleaning up temporary files...

rem Delete temporary files without deleting main folders
for %%F in ("%WinDir%\Temp\*.*" "%WinDir%\Prefetch\*.*" "%Temp%\*.*" "%AppData%\Temp\*.*") do (
    del /s /f /q "%%F" >nul 2>&1
)

rem Delete unnecessary folders
for %%D in ("%SYSTEMDRIVE%\AMD" "%SYSTEMDRIVE%\NVIDIA" "%SYSTEMDRIVE%\INTEL") do (
    if exist "%%D" rd /s /q "%%D"
)

echo Cleanup completed successfully!
pause >nul
exit

Note: The original script used "Vérifier les privilèges administrateur" and "Supprimer les fichiers temporaires..." which are in French. I've translated these comments to English for broader understanding, but the core commands remain the same.

Conclusion

Windows scripting is a powerful method for automating system administration and streamlining system operations. Batch files are a simple and intuitive method of controlling files, configuring the system, or executing repetitive commands. By mastering this skill, one can simplify Windows administration and reduce the time spent on performing manual operations.