TM>> del /q/s/z anti-vir.dat > nul
 GM> I've since had the time to perform a number of "trial runs" and there
 GM> does not seem to be a method to prevent the "messy" screen display
 GM> when using `> nul` (which I've since removed).  
As I said, use the /E switch to the DEL command.  This is the best solution.
The second best solution is to note that errors are sent by the DEL command 
to the standard *error*, and *not* to the standard output.  (All well-written 
commands will do this.  It is a widely accepted convention.)  "> NUL" only 
redirects standard output.  To redirect standard error, use
        del /q/s/z anti-vir.dat >& nul
If you have 4OS2, Take Command for OS/2, or indeed anything other than 4DOS, 
then the syntax can also be
        del /q/s/z anti-vir.dat > nul 2>&1
 ¯ JdeBP ®
--- FleetStreet 1.19 NR
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