change for exec function and safe_mode between win32 command line interface php 4.3.4 -> php 4.3.7 ?

We upgraded from win32 php 4.3.4 to 4.3.7 and my php command line script broke. I am using safe_mode=on. If I use safe_mode=off instead of safe_mode=on it works. Why would my php command line script work with win32 php 4.3.4 with safe_mode=on but not with 4.3.7? For a test I created a file f:\batfiles\batch\today.bat that contains the following line: date /t I can then run the following command to test: php -c F:\batfiles\batch\php.ini -r print_r(exec('f:\batfiles\batch\today.bat')); with win32 php 4.3.7 with safe_mode=on I get nothing with win32 php 4.3.7 with safe_mode=off I get Wed 08/25/2004 with win32 php 4.3.4 with safe_mode=on I get Wed 08/25/2004 with win32 php 4.3.4 with safe_mode=off I get Wed 08/25/2004 In case you are wondering php.ini also contains: safe_mode_exec_dir = f:\batfiles\batch open_basedir = f:\batfiles\batch Any suggestions? Thanks, Daniel