Well, I'm completely baffled [Confused]

A URL of "http://" requires a HTTP server, but you say all this is local. If there is an HTTP server then the script (when run) can pick up the rest of the line after the "?" from environment variables - the environment variable names are different depending on the HTTP server used.

Try issuing
code:
SHELL "%COMSPEC% /C set"
from your script and see what is set.

Howard, did you try that redirect? AFAIK it should fail, as the entire line including the parameters will be interpreted as being part of the file name.