📎 AI Summary:
The thread discusses an issue where a script running in Command Prompt stops when an external drive becomes unavailable. The original poster seeks a method, preferably in PowerShell, to have a script that waits for the drive to become available again without stopping completely. Respondents suggest using PowerShell's `Test-Path` and looping constructs, with one clarifying that commands need to be run within the PowerShell environment for proper functionality; the original poster confirms difficulty in running PowerShell commands from a standard command prompt.
eager2learn

eager2learn

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Thread Author #1
A Windows system use an external drive N:.
A programs that use the external drive give sometimes an error message like "Directory N:\datastore is not available".

To test the continuous availability I write the next batch script.

:loop
@TimE /t >> N:\datastore\test_times.txt
@sleep 30
@goto loop

During the night this script stops in cmd.exe with the message: "The system cannot open the device or file specified".
It is intended that this script continues as soon as the disk is available again.
Is it possible to make such a batch script (maybe in powershell) that don't stop, but continues as soon as the disk is available again?
 

Solution
Neemobeer
In Powershell it would just be
Code: 
While(-not(Test-Path N:\))
{
    Start-Sleep -Seconds 30
}
# Continue the rest of the script when drive N: is available
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Neemobeer

Neemobeer

Windows Forum Team
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#2
In Powershell it would just be
Code: 
While(-not(Test-Path N:\))
{
    Start-Sleep -Seconds 30
}
# Continue the rest of the script when drive N: is available
 
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Solution
eager2learn

eager2learn

Extraordinary Member
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Mar 27, 2017
Messages
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Thread Author #3
I know cmd.exe and I know Linux bash very well, but Powershell is new for me.
I get in Powershell the next error message
'while' is not recognozed as an internal or external command, operable program or batch file.
and the same error message for "{"
 
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