How can I delete files on a PDA using CMD/Batch file

Question

A customer's users are using PDAs (HP iPAQ, different models) with a CRM-Tool on it.

If the application and database need to be reinstalled there are some files in different folders on the PDA which need to be deleted first.

Usually I need to pick and delete them by hand, which costs too much time.

Is there a way to access the PDAs file system through a batch file on the PC it's connected to?

I ask this question because the PDA has no device letter such as C:\

We run Windows XP here.

EDIT: I'm not allowed to install any 3rd party applications on the iPAQ. It has to be accessed from within my PC through some kind of batch or script.

Answer 1

I'm not aware of anything that runs via the PC but you could look at something like MortScript (http://www.sto-helit.de/index.php?module=page&entry=ms_overview&action=view) which is used for writing scripts to run on the PDA.

You're likely to find it can do a whole bunch of other stuff you might find useful.

Personally I wouldn't use it for production stuff but for support tasks like this it could be pretty well suited.

EDIT: Another option might be something like this: http://www.mochasoft.dk/freeware/ftpd.htm - a Freeware FTP server for Windows Mobile. Again though, it requires something to be installed on the PDA.

Answer 2

If the device can be connected to the PC as a USB Mass Storage, then it will have a drive letter and you will be able to manage its file system from batch files.

Otherwise, the only solution that comes to my mind is to write a custom tool that will use the Remote API functions (such as CeDeleteFile) to remotely delete files and folders on the device.

Edit: Or you could try AutoIt - it's a freeware tool that can automate GUI actions on applications, so you should be able to create a script that will open the device in Explorer, navigate its file system and delete the files.