pause in batch file not working

Do you want to write:

if exist C:\autoexec.bat ECHO Folder C:\autoexec.bat exists PAUSE 

Note that shell after the if command is expecting a command to execute. If there is no command after de condition it should abort batch with: "The syntax of the command is incorrect."

Edit. Mr.Helpy Got it first.

Note if you want multiple lines use a block

if exist C:\autoexec.bat ( ECHO Folder C:\autoexec.bat exists REM other commands... ) PAUSE 

The answer is in the command. The valid syntax for if command is

IF [NOT] EXIST filename command OR IF [NOT] EXIST filename (command) ELSE (command) 

The word command at the last is very important. What I did was this

@Echo off if exist C:\autoexec.bat goto hi if not exist C:\autoexec.bat goto bye :hi ECHO Folder C:\autoexec.bat exists PAUSE :bye Echo Folder C:\autoexec.bat does not exists pause 

And it worked like a charm

Regards,

See http://ss64.com/nt/if.html

Basic troubleshooting: run from a cmdwindow, not per doubleclick.

Then you see, that

 if exist C:\autoexec.bat 

give you a syntax error, that breaks the execution of your batchfile.

if expects a command to execute (at the same line), but there isn't one. So the echo line is never reached.