How to create an infinite loop in Windows batch file?

Question

This is basically what I want in a batch file. I want to be able to re-run "Do Stuff" whenever I press any key to go past the "Pause".

while(true){
    Do Stuff
    Pause
}

Looks like there are only for loops available and no while loops in batch. How do I create an infinite loop then?

Answer 1

How about using good(?) old goto?

:loop

echo Ooops

goto loop

See also this for a more useful example.

Answer 2

Unlimited loop in one-line command for use in cmd windows:

FOR /L %N IN () DO @echo Oops

Answer 3

A really infinite loop, counting from 1 to 10 with increment of 0.
You need infinite or more increments to reach the 10.

for /L %%n in (1,0,10) do (
  echo do stuff
  rem ** can't be leaved with a goto (hangs)
  rem ** can't be stopped with exit /b (hangs)
  rem ** can be stopped with exit
  rem ** can be stopped with a syntax error
  call :stop
)

:stop
call :__stop 2>nul

:__stop
() creates a syntax error, quits the batch

This could be useful if you need a really infinite loop, as it is much faster than a goto :loop version because a for-loop is cached completely once at startup.

Answer 4

read help GOTO

and try

:again
do it
goto again

Answer 5

Another better way of doing it:

:LOOP
timeout /T 1 /NOBREAK 
::pause or sleep x seconds also valid
call myLabel
if not ErrorLevel 1 goto :LOOP

This way you can take care of errors too

Answer 6

Here is an example of using the loop:

echo off
cls

:begin

set /P M=Input text to encode md5, press ENTER to exit: 
if %M%==%M1% goto end

echo.|set /p ="%M%" | openssl md5

set M1=%M%
Goto begin

This is the simple batch i use when i need to encrypt any message into md5 hash on Windows(openssl required), and the program would loyally repeat itself except given Ctrl+C or empty input.