how to run multiple batch files in serial, in windows command line environment

Use call:

call bat1.cmd
call bat2.cmd

By default, when you just run a batch file from another one controll will not pass back to the calling one. That's why you need to use call.

Basically, if you have a batch like this:

@echo off
echo Foo
batch2.cmd
echo Bar

then it will only output

Foo

If you write it like

@echo off
echo Foo
call batch2.cmd
echo Bar

however, it will output

Foo
Bar

because after batch2 terminates, program control is passed back to your original batch file.

This can happen if bat1.bat stops abnormally (other than just running to the end, like calling exit) and you can work around this by using a fresh cmd.exe to run each bat file:

start /b /wait bat1.bat
start /b /wait bat2.bat

You could omit it for the last one if there won't follow commands in you bat file.

Something else to look for:

I had a similar issue where I was calling multiple batch files using the call command but it did not pass back the control to the original .bat file.

I found out that I had an exit command at the end of the batch file which closed the DOS window before going back to the original .bat file and finishing the commands there.

If you want to run batchfiles in sequence you will have to put "start bat1.bat" at the end of each file.