Executing a batch file from VB or another way of doing an automatic backup

hi all
I need my program to automatically back the database up every month

I mad a small backup.bat file in DOS whcih just copies my database to a disk

it is
copy c:\crms.mdb a:\

then in vb i try to execute it by...
dim x
x = shell("c:\backup.bat")

but nothing happens.
is there a way to execute this batch file from VB.
Or does anyone know the better way of doing it...i.e.copying the file to disk straight via VB. I am not sure of those file.copy etc commands
thanks in advance

i just made a automation bot that copies refreshes information from one table to another every night at 3 am

and i have this set up with windows scheduler so that it runs at 3 am without me touching a thing
when its done
it shuts itself down..

I have an app that creates a .bat file and executes it. I use ShellExecute.

Code:

---

Private Declare Function ShellExecute Lib "shell32.dll" Alias _
        "ShellExecuteA" (ByVal hwnd As Long, ByVal lpszOp As _
        String, ByVal lpszFile As String, ByVal lpszParams As String, _
        ByVal lpszDir As String, ByVal FsShowCmd As Long) As Long

---

Here is the function that writes and executes the .bat file.

Code:

---

Function Run_Download(cmdline As String) As Long
  ' Build batch file to run the download
  Dim curr_drive As Variant
  Dim curr_path  As Variant
  Dim batfile    As String
 
  ' Get current path
  curr_path = CurDir
  curr_drive = Left$(curr_path, 2)
 
  ' open batch file
  batfile = App.Path & "\wftu.bat"
  Open batfile For Output As #giFileNum
  ' and write the commands
  Print #giFileNum, gsPCDrive(giPCPath)
  Print #giFileNum, "cd " & gsPCPath(giPCPath)
  If Left$(cmdline, 10) = gsPCEXE(giPCPath) Then
      Print #giFileNum, cmdline
  Else
      Print #giFileNum, "call " & cmdline
  End If
  Print #giFileNum, "rem "
  Print #giFileNum, "pause"
  Print #giFileNum, curr_drive
  Print #giFileNum, "cd " & curr_path
  If Exists(gsINIFile) Then
      Print #giFileNum, "del " & gsINIFile
  End If
  Print #giFileNum, "del " & batfile
  Close #giFileNum
 
  Run_Download = ShellExecute(gScr_hDC, "Open", batfile, _
                  "", "C:\", gSW_SHOWNORMAL)
                 
End Function

---

Try

x = shell("<path to>\cmd.exe c:\backup.bat")