well, I get the error if using cmd /c but not calling the batch file directly

don't use cmd /c and it will work

don't use cmd /c esp since you're using system 1, which you use so you don't have to spawn a program in background through cmd /c "start ..."

See also

In reply to Re: Calling Windows Batch from Perl, double-quote appearing out of nowhere by Anonymous Monk
in thread Calling Windows Batch from Perl, double-quote appearing out of nowhere by rovf

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