Porax:

So putting a command like that in the beginning of your batch file actually generated a file? If so, and your batch file isn't doing what you expect, then I'd check the environment of your batch file to see if it's different from when you run it under your perl script. To do so, I'd first put this in your batch file:

set >C:/Users/roboticus/JUNK
[download]

Then you can see what the various environment variables are. Then check your path, etc.

...roboticus

When your only tool is a hammer, all problems look like your thumb.