• 0

[PHP] System('wget') problem


Question

I'm trying to download a file through php using wget. I have the wget exe in system32 and I can use it successfully over the command line but when I try to use it through php I get a 'wget' not found error as shown below.

NoJdJ.png

Here's the code:

<?php 
	system('wget http://site.com/stuff.sql -O data/tmp.sql');
?>

I'm very new to php so if it's something simple don't hurt me :p

Am using Windows 7, PHP 5.3 and also IIS though I haven't show it above.

Thanks!

Link to comment
https://www.neowin.net/forum/topic/821596-php-systemwget-problem/
Share on other sites

9 answers to this question

Recommended Posts

  • 0

I'm not using apache however if I use the code:

<?php

	  echo '<pre>';

	  system('cmd /c "dir"', $retval);

	  echo '
	  </pre>
	  <hr />Return value: ' . $retval;

?>

It shows the current directory list on the webpage and works fine =/

I will look through the php.ini file to see where I can declare wget.

  • 0

<?php
if(false === file_exists('wget.exe'))
{
	printf(
		"I cannot find wget.exe, the current working directory is '%s'",
		getcwd()
	);
}
?>

Explorer has global scope, so there can be called regardless of the CWD.

Check your CWD using getCWD().

  • 0

Ah thanks SilverBullet - I've just found that by copying the exe to the root of the C: drive it seems to all work okay.

So now I'm just wondering how do I make it so I can access the wget when it is stored in the System32 directory?

edit: I can also access print the output of the command 'Shutdown.exe -?' which is also only in System32 whereas 'wget' just won't happen :(

Edited by aexphoric
  • 0
  aexphoric said:
Ah thanks SilverBullet - I've just found that by copying the exe to the root of the C: drive it seems to all work okay.

So now I'm just wondering how do I make it so I can access the wget when it is stored in the System32 directory?

edit: I can also access print the output of the command 'Shutdown.exe -?' which is also only in System32 whereas 'wget' just won't happen :(

Certain commands such as explorer, tasman, cmd, shutdown etc are accessible without specifying a path (as SilverBulletUK said). However wget isn't installed by default on Windows computers (I presume you've found a Linux port on the internet somewhere) so you need to specify the full path to the executable. For example instead of just doing system("wget ...."); run system("C:\WINDOWS\System32\wget.exe ....");

  • 0
  Mike said:
if you just want to get a remote file and save it, why not use file_get_contents and file_put_contents?

I didn't know about them, as I said I'm new to php so I'll see what I can find out about them.

  -Alex- said:
Certain commands such as explorer, tasman, cmd, shutdown etc are accessible without specifying a path (as SilverBulletUK said). However wget isn't installed by default on Windows computers (I presume you've found a Linux port on the internet somewhere) so you need to specify the full path to the executable. For example instead of just doing system("wget ...."); run system("C:\WINDOWS\System32\wget.exe ....");

I did try that however it still could not be found, I have no idea why but it just wouldn't happen.

system('C:\Windows\System32\wget.exe http://site.com/stuff.sql -O data/tmp.sql');

Also tried with forward slashes but no luck.

In the end I just copied the binary to the directory php was installed in (c:\program files x86\PHP) and it seems to work without the file path.

However after all that, a new problem came up with deleting the tmp.sql file, can you please look at this code and tell me what's wrong? The folder in the error mentioned below has been given full permissions for IIS_IUSRS.

	if (file_exists('data/tmp.sql')) {
		unlink('data/tmp.sql');
	}

PHP Warning: unlink(data/tmp.sql) [<a href='function.unlink'>function.unlink</a>]: Permission denied in C:\inetpub\wwwroot\Test\Update.php on line 40

Thank you!

This topic is now closed to further replies.
  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    • No registered users viewing this page.
  • Posts

    • Yes and No... Yesterday there was someone on another forum asking what Linux version he should use for his transition from Windows, based on his graphical/video/3d needs. He got 10 different Linux distros and a handful of GUI's as an answer. Linux for the uninformed is just a hot mess regarding distributions. People are used to one Windows version. Or one Mac. Not having to choose from a pile of... what actually? And yes, Linux Mint would be a great replacement as long as you use the PC for the basics. Anything else will quickly result in frustration and searching on various forums. Linux isn't really the easy replacement for Windows. As I hate to say it, transitioning to a Mac is a way better experience. And I'm not entirely unfamiliar with Linux, having extensively dabbled with Mint and lately with Rocky for my Davinci Resolve experiments. It's still a pain... It really is..
    • Welcome on board!
    • iOS 26 leaks reveal AI-powered Messages, animated Music lock screen, and CarPlay redesign by Sagar Naresh Bhavsar A lot of these are reportedly changing this year for Apple. While the "Plus" model is expected to be replaced with the iPhone 17 Air, the iOS software is also expected to undergo a major branding change. Instead of iOS 19, Apple is rumored to introduce iOS 26 at the upcoming WWDC 2025 event on June 9. Not only iOS, but the change is expected across all platforms. Meaning, from this year, it could all be streamlined: iOS 26, iPadOS 26, macOS 26, watchOS 26, and more. However, since Apple Intelligence is still in its early stages, Apple is expected to introduce a slew of new features to apps such as Music, Messages, Notes, and CarPlay. According to 9to5Mac, Apple is preparing some "low-profile enhancements" for everyday apps, based on the information from previously accurate sources. As per the report, the Messages app could get an "Automatic Translation" feature that will make use of AI (artificial intelligence) to translate both incoming and outgoing messages. Plus, the Messages app could also gain a "Polls" feature, letting group chat members vote directly within the app. Apple Music is also expected to get a new full-screen animated lock screen artwork, enhancing the Now Playing widget by bringing a maximized look to the album art on the lock screen. The Notes app could also gain the ability to export notes in Markdown, a long-requested feature that third-party apps have supported for years. Apple recently introduced CarPlay Ultra, with some amazing changes, but that is limited to a few luxury cars at the moment. The standard CarPlay is expected to get a UI overhaul with iOS 26. While details remain under wraps, the new interface is speculated to reflect the sleek, glass-like design of iOS 26. Since these are still rumors, we suggest you take them with a pinch of salt. If you are confused about which iPhones will support iOS 26, you can check out the list of supported phones here.
    • Greetings!
    • Hmm, I'll give it a go
  • Recent Achievements

    • Week One Done
      Leonard grant earned a badge
      Week One Done
    • One Month Later
      portacnb1 earned a badge
      One Month Later
    • Week One Done
      portacnb1 earned a badge
      Week One Done
    • First Post
      m10d earned a badge
      First Post
    • Conversation Starter
      DarkShrunken earned a badge
      Conversation Starter
  • Popular Contributors

    1. 1
      +primortal
      261
    2. 2
      snowy owl
      158
    3. 3
      +FloatingFatMan
      145
    4. 4
      ATLien_0
      140
    5. 5
      Xenon
      131
  • Tell a friend

    Love Neowin? Tell a friend!