my $fn = q{ C:\img\del me\pic (images)[2k]\00000253.jpg"};

##</code><code>##

#works (note extra space required)
"H:\TEST\ActivePerl-5.10.0.1001-MSWin32-x86-283495\perl\bin\perl.exe" -e "my $fn = ' \"C:\img\del me\three (3\00000253.jpg\"'; system($fn)"

#Doesn't work
"H:\TEST\ActivePerl-5.10.0.1001-MSWin32-x86-283495\perl\bin\perl.exe" -e "my $fn = '\"C:\img\del me\three (3\00000253.jpg\"'; system($fn)"

'C:\img\del' is not recognized as an internal or external command,
operable program or batch file.

##</code><code>##

cmd.exe /c "C:\img\del me\three (3\00000253.jpg"