Windows XP Sleep Command

  • Thread starter Thread starter Steven Adams
  • Start date Start date
S

Steven Adams

Sorry couldn't find a windows XP group to post this to !.

Under a default Windows XP install there doesn't seem to be a sleep command
available at the command prompt ?
Has this been replaced or just removed.
I need to pause the execution of a script for a period of time in an
automated way.
any ideas ?

thanks,

Steve
 
Steven Adams said:
Sorry couldn't find a windows XP group to post this to !.

Under a default Windows XP install there doesn't seem to be a sleep command
available at the command prompt ?
Has this been replaced or just removed.
I need to pause the execution of a script for a period of time in an
automated way.
any ideas ?
Click to expand...
There is a sleep in w2k reskit which isn't free.

When networking/tcp installes use as an alternative:

ping -n xx 127.0.0.1 >NUL

where xx is the number of seconds to pause.
 
As far as I know sleep has never been part of the standard OS but is in the
resource kit.

There are also freeware sleep.exe around the web.

Here's two methods without going to an additional prog.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
call sleep 10
:sleep
:: sleep for x number of seconds
ping -n %1 127.0.0.1 > NUL 2>&1
goto :EOF
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
cscript sleep.vbs 10

where sleep.vbs is:
args = wScript.Arguments.Count
if args <> 1 then
wscript.Echo "usage: " & Wscript.ScriptName & " seconds to sleep" & _
vbCRLF & "Example: " & Wscript.ScriptName & " 10"
wscript.Quit
end if
wscript.sleep wscript.Arguments.Item(0) * 1000
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Problems:
firewalls could screwup ping either by disallowing it or by not being
configured for it and asking the user for what to do with it.

sleep.vbs is not accurate because it may take a couple of second to
initialize. So 10 second delay might be 12 or even 13. Also, anti-virus
programs can be set to block scripts and some people even change the
scripting associations.

But if you know the machine(s) then these might do, or not. Only you can
decide.
 
call sleep 10
:sleep
:: sleep for x number of seconds
ping -n %1 127.0.0.1 > NUL 2>&1
goto :EOF
Click to expand...
Problems:
firewalls could screwup ping either by disallowing it or by not being
configured for it and asking the user for what to do with it.
Click to expand...

Pinging 127.0.0.1, actually any address starting with 127, will not
cause any IP packets to leave the computer, much less hit any
firewall. The 127 range contains only loopback addresses. Try
unplugging the network connection and then running the script.
Replies will still happen.

Also note that to be closer to accurate that the parameter should be
one larger. In other words to sleep for 10 seconds use the following:

ping -n 11 127.0.0.1 >NUL

It doesn't make that much difference, but it could.

Clay Calvert
(e-mail address removed)
Replace "W" with "L"
 
Clay Calvert said:
Pinging 127.0.0.1, actually any address starting with 127, will not
cause any IP packets to leave the computer, much less hit any
firewall.
Click to expand...

I'm talking about software firewalls. I don't like them but had to test one
and pinging the localhost did set off the warning asking me whether to allow
it or not.
 
I'm talking about software firewalls. I don't like them but had to test one
and pinging the localhost did set off the warning asking me whether to allow
it or not.
Click to expand...

Gotcha. Good point.


Clay Calvert
(e-mail address removed)
Replace "W" with "L"
 
Steven Adams said:
Under a default Windows XP install there doesn't seem to be a sleep command
available at the command prompt ?
Click to expand...

19} How can one build a delay / sleep / wait procedure for a script?

56675 Dec 27 2003 ftp://garbo.uwasa.fi/pc/link/tscmd.zip
tscmd.zip Useful NT/2000/XP script tricks and tips, T.Salmi

All the best, Timo
 
Back
Top