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fcbd.bat on Every Boot? What It Is and Whether to Remove It (Far Cry 3: Blood Dragon)

Far Cry 3: Blood Dragon players report an fcbd.bat command window at Windows startup. Here is what the reported script does and how to check it before removing it.
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A command window or Registry Editor prompt that appears at Windows startup, linked to a file called fcbd.bat, is reported by several Far Cry 3: Blood Dragon players. The file appears to be a small installer or registry-repair script, not a required part of the game’s launch. Whether it runs on every boot depends on where it sits on your PC, and the safe move is to read it before you delete anything.

What fcbd.bat is reported to do

Players describe a script that checks for a Ubisoft registry value that the game uses, and imports a game settings file if that value is missing. A community post on Steam shows a short batch script that does the following: it sets a path variable pointing to the game’s support installer folder, reads the ExecutableName value under HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareubisoftFar Cry 3 Blood Dragon, and, when that value is absent, runs regedit.exe /S on an add_regs.reg file in the same installer location. In plain terms, the script looks for a registry entry and quietly restores it if it is gone.

That behavior fits an installer or repair helper. It does not prove what your copy of the file does, because the exact contents can differ from one install to another. The Steam example is one user’s posted code, not an explanation published by Ubisoft.

What the reports establish

  • A startup flash was observed in 2016. An AnandTech Forums user reported a command window flashing at startup after installing the game, and said they saw fcbd.bat run. This is one person’s account. It does not show that every installation runs the file on every boot.
  • The file has been found in the common Startup folder. Steam and Microsoft Q&A users report finding the batch file there. The shortcut they use is shell:common startup, typed into the Run dialog.
  • Forum advice is to inspect first, then remove. Users in the Steam thread (started December 28, 2016) suggested deleting the file if it is unwanted. That advice is community guidance, not a Ubisoft instruction, and it does not guarantee that removal is harmless on every setup.
  • A Microsoft Q&A result from November 29, 2023 shows the same pattern. We could only see a search-result snippet, not the full thread, so treat it as weaker corroboration.

How to check the file before acting

  1. Press Win + R, type shell:common startup, and press Enter. This opens the Startup folder that applies to all users on the PC.
  2. Look for fcbd.bat. If it is not there, also open shell:startup (the folder for your own user account), since some reports describe the file in a per-user location.
  3. Right-click fcbd.bat and choose Edit or open it in Notepad. Read it as plain text. Do not double-click it, because that runs the script.
  4. Check whether the script refers to a game folder. Compare that path with the folder where Blood Dragon is installed. If the path points to a folder that no longer exists, a leftover installer script becomes more likely, though that is still an inference.
  5. Only after reading it, decide whether to keep it, move it out of Startup, or delete it. Moving it to a backup folder first is the safer choice, because you can restore it if something breaks.

Which path fits your situation

What you find What it suggests Reasonable action
The script points to your current Blood Dragon folder and the prompt appears on every boot The script is probably a registry-repair helper tied to your installed copy Leave it in place if you want the game’s registry entries restored, or move it out of Startup to stop the prompt and keep a backup
The script points to a folder that no longer exists A leftover from an old or removed install is plausible Move it out of Startup, restart, and confirm the game still launches before deleting the backup
The file contents are unfamiliar, or differ from the reported registry-import logic Cannot be verified from forum descriptions Do not run it. Move it out of Startup and seek current Ubisoft support if the game misbehaves

If the prompt continues or the game stops working

  • If the prompt still appears after you move the file out of Startup, check whether another shortcut or program is starting the same script. Look in Task Scheduler and the Startup folder for the other user.
  • If Blood Dragon stops launching after you remove the script, restore the file from your backup folder and then contact Ubisoft support with your Windows version and the file’s contents.
  • Do not use an unknown tool to delete registry entries to solve this. Reported fixes are limited to reading and removing the startup file.

What official sources say, and what they do not

Ubisoft’s Far Cry 3 Blood Dragon v1.00 PC readme, dated May 2013, states: “This game requires a one-time online activation via Uplay PC.” It adds: “Launching the game after this one-time application is possible in online and offline mode.” That readme describes the activation process at the time of release. It does not mention fcbd.bat, and it does not describe how the game is launched or activated on current Ubisoft platforms, so it cannot confirm the script’s purpose today.

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What is not established

  • No official Ubisoft statement explains fcbd.bat, and no named Ubisoft representative has addressed it.
  • No source shows that every installation runs the script at boot, or that deleting it is safe in every setup.
  • No current source confirms the game’s present-day registry requirements.

Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.

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