following up a message from Gord Hannah to Kevin Klement:

KK> Any way of making *.bat *.cmd files non-legible?

GH> Quite some time ago I recall a utility that would convert a .bat
GH> file into a .com file I tool a real quick look for it on my system
GH> and could not find it. 

I"ve seen two or three different ones.  I don't like them
however because I use too many dependent programs that I
might lose, and I'd prefer to modify the files quickly.
Also, paths and other items may change over time.

My approach here to your concern is a bit different.  When I have to be
away from the machine here, the only thing the
average person might find is an exit from binkleyterm or the master batch.
VAlid keystrokes can only get you to a menu, which has a few items that the
average gui person could get to.  somebody
with knowledge of a couple of different passwords can get to either more
menu selections or in one case the os.

No cd-r or anything but a floppy and an hd, and they'd need
a boot disk to get around it.  After the third attempt trying to access
something and failing with the password we allow
no keyboard input for next remainder of 12 hours.

After 12 hours, or what remains, if the same person might be present and
try again, one attempt gets them no keyboard
input accepted once again.

THe system also leaves me mail when this happens, and sends
email to another party (or two).
HE or I can email the system back telling it *when* to allow keyboard input
again, as in date and time.

Iow they need somebody with a little knowledge of a no
longer current os to break in, and nobody that I"l have
looking in on the place has that ability .

Iirc I  think you said you were using xp.  Even my batch
solutions to this wouldn't help you any, as they require the use of
environment variables, and you can't get there from
here with that os iirc.


Regards,
           Richard
... Secret of electronics:  Keep the smoke in the wires.
--- timEd 1.10.y2k+