How to execute shell command in python?

Question

Code snippets are as follows:

import os
a= "\\"
path=r"C:"+a+"Windows"+a+"System32"
print "\n path :",path
os.chdir('C:')
os.path.abspath(path)
os.chdir(path)
print os.getcwd()
os.system('PNPUTIL.exe')

Result :

path : C:\Windows\System32
C:\Windows\System32
'PNPUTIL.exe' is not recognized as an internal or external command,
operable program or batch file.

Though the utility is available its not geting identified,wat could be the problem?

• glglgl: Did you mean: path = os.path.abspath(path)?
• SethMMorton: I find it interesting that you are importing os but not using it to construct your path. a='\\' == os.sep, and path=r"C:"+a+"Windows"+a+"System32" == path=os.path.join("C:","Windows", "System32")

Answer 1

This should work

import subprocess
subprocess.call(['C:\\Windows\\System32\\PNPUTIL.exe'])

• glglgl: @AshwiniChaudhary This one should work as well. Just tried it with subprocess.call(['C:\\Windows\\System32\\systeminfo.exe']).
• Kris: @AshwiniChaudhary I'm not a python expert, just do bits of it. I will check and update.
• Ashwini Chaudhary: @Krishnanunni This looks fine, I guess I misread it.(cmd's commands confuse me). +1 anyway
• user2507907: subprocess.call(['C:\Windows\System32\PNPUTIL.exe']) also didn't work,It throws error "Traceback (most recent call last): File "D:\InstallUninstall\new.py", line 8, in <module> subprocess.call(['C:\Windows\System32\PNPUTIL.exe']) File "C:\Python31\lib\subprocess.py", line 428, in call return Popen(*popenargs, **kwargs).wait() File "C:\Python31\lib\subprocess.py", line 658, in init errread, errwrite) File "C:\Python31\lib\subprocess.py", line 868, in _execute_child startupinfo) WindowsError: [Error 2] The system cannot find the file specified"
• Kris: check system32 folder, find the file 'PnPutils.exe'. Try using the case properly as in file name.