Startup Folder Delay

[McCormack]

WinXP

I've got a Firefox.exe shortcut in my Startup folder to start my browser when I boot my computer, but when the browser starts I get a Server Not Found error message. When I refresh the browser it then connects normally. I'm thinking that if I can delay the browser starting for 15 seconds it will then load normally, and from the research I've done a batch file placed in the Startup folder will accomplish that task, but I'm not very good with batch files and I haven't been able to successfully write a file that will delay my browser from starting when I boot up my computer. Could somebody write a batch file for me that will delay my browser from starting for 15 seconds?

 

[KLin]

Why don't you use google to figure out how to do it yourself?

http://lmgtfy.com/?q=batch+script+delayed+execution

 

[McCormack]

Thank you for the link, KLin, but before I posted here on the forum I spent three hours on the Google machine trying to find a solution to my problem, with no luck.

Personal attack removed -- Programming Moderator Ken g6

 

[Ken g6]

KLin posted a link that should lead you to a solution. This link, which could be found there, contains or links to at least three potential solutions: timeout, sleep, and ping.

Perhaps posting what you have tried so far would help us lead you toward a solution?

 

[Cogman]

Since the question is answered, let me just throw in. You really REALLY should not be using windows xp at this point in time. If this is a personal computer, it is time to upgrade. If this is a company computer, I would raise the issue with your IT department.

Running Windows XP is a huge security risk.

 

[McCormack]

Thanks for the link Ken, but apparently you and KLin are under the mistaken impression that I haven't already spent a lot of time and energy trying to figure out batch files and trying get one to work on my computer to delay my browser program starting up when I boot my computer. I have put in the time and the effort, but I'm not very computer savey and I've never used a batch file before in my life and thus I'm having hard time understanding the workings of batch files, and that's why I came here to the forum, to get some help.

I'm a pretty good mechanic and participate on some auto forums, and when someone asks for help with a car problem I don't just supply them with a link to Google and tell them to go figure it out, I share my mechanical knowledge and experience with them in order to make their lives easier and get their problems solved. I was hoping that one of the knowledgeable people here on the anandtech forum would extend the same courtesy to me in regard to writing a batch file for my needs.

Here's one of the the batch files I tried and it didn't work:

@echo off
rem sleeping for 30000 milliseconds
ping -n 1 -w 30000 -4 10.0.0.0 >NUL
rem starting delayed start programs
start cmd /C "C:\Program Files\Mozilla Firefox\firefox.exe"

If someone here on the forum can help me with that, I'd sure appreciate it.

 

[Ken g6]

There! Now that I see what you wrote, I think I can improve on it. Try this:

@echo off
ping -n 16 127.0.0.1 > nul
start "C:\Program Files\Mozilla Firefox\firefox.exe"

 

[McCormack]

OK, I made a batch file using the info that you supplied, and when I tried it the command window opened but my browser didn't (see screen shot). Just to clarify, my batch file consisted verbatim of the information that you provided... do I need to put time parameters in the file? If so, I don't know how to do that. Like I said in my original post I'm looking for roughly a 15 second delay.

 

[Ken g6]

Never saw that one before. I guess because I always used "c:\progra~1" or something, without quotes.

Edit: I meant to say, "Try this:"

@echo off
ping -n 16 127.0.0.1 > nul
start "Firefox" "C:\Program Files\Mozilla Firefox\firefox.exe"

 

[McCormack]

Like I said even though I tried to educate myself on the subject batch file language is hieroglyphics to me, so if someone knowledgeable on the subject won't give me a hand in writing a working start delay file for me than I guess I'm out of luck.

 

[McCormack]

Alright here's what I came finally got to work:

@echo off
PING 127.0.0.1 -n 16 >nul
start "" "C:\Program Files\Mozilla Firefox\firefox.exe"

The 16 represents 15 seconds, and the start "" closes the batch file command window after my browser opens.