batch file to mask input with * without an external file

Question

i need batch file to mask the input with * without external file and i need the code to be fast to write letters

FOR EXAMPLE:

     @echo off
     set char=*
     set /p variable=Enter your password:
     set char=%variable%
     echo %char%
     pause

Answer 1

Here is a way to do it using Powershell in a batch file

@echo off
set "psCommand=powershell -Command "$pword = read-host 'Enter Password' -AsSecureString ; ^
    $BSTR=[System.Runtime.InteropServices.Marshal]::SecureStringToBSTR($pword); ^
        [System.Runtime.InteropServices.Marshal]::PtrToStringAuto($BSTR)""
for /f "usebackq delims=" %%p in (`%psCommand%`) do set password=%%p
echo %password%

Powershell is installed by default on all newer OS's so it's a good compromise. If you have to support XP machines, you can do something similar with VBScript.