Introduction to Windows Scripting

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

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 Vérifier les privilèges administrateur
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 Supprimer les fichiers temporaires sans supprimer les dossiers principaux
for %%F in ("%WinDir%\Temp\*.*" "%WinDir%\Prefetch\*.*" "%Temp%\*.*" "%AppData%\Temp\*.*") do (
    del /s /f /q "%%F" >nul 2>&1
)

rem Supprimer les dossiers inutiles
for %%D in ("%SYSTEMDRIVE%\AMD" "%SYSTEMDRIVE%\NVIDIA" "%SYSTEMDRIVE%\INTEL") do (
    if exist "%%D" rd /s /q "%%D"
)

echo Cleanup completed successfully!
pause >nul
exit

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.