start |
Runs a program or command.
start [" title "] [/d path ] [/i] [/min] [/max] [/separate shared] [/low /normal /high /realtime /abovenormal /belownormal] [/wait] [/b] [ program ] [ parameters ]
Opens a new command-shell window.
Displays in titlebar.
Indicates startup directory.
Passes the startup environment for cmd to the new window.
Starts window minimized.
Starts window maximized.
Indicates a 16-bit Windows program run in separate memory.
Indicates a 16-bit Windows program run in shared memory.
Runs application using idle priority.
Runs application using normal priority.
Runs application using high priority.
Runs application using real-time priority.
Runs application using above-normal priority class (between normal and high).
Runs application using below-normal priority class (between normal and low).
Starts application and waits for it to end.
When executing a Windows command using start , prevents a new command-interpreter window from being opened to run the command. In this case use Ctrl-Break instead of Ctrl-C to interrupt the application.
Specifies a program or command to run, with optional parameters.
To start a new command-shell window with the title "Testing Connection" and continuously ping host 172.16.11.39 until Ctrl-C is pressed:
start "Testing Connection" ping -t 172.16.11.39
To start Computer Management from the command line:
start mmc %windir%\system32\compmgmt.msc
or simply:
mmc %windir%\system32\compmgmt.msc
Using start to run a Windows command (such as dir , chkdsk , and so on) opens a new command-interpreter ( cmd ) window to execute the command. This window implicitly runs using the /k option, which means that the new window stays open after the command is run. See cmd earlier in this chapter for more info .
When executing a 32-bit GUI application using start , control is returned to the command prompt immediately. When a Windows command or command script is run, however, the command or script must first terminate before control is returned to the command shell.
If command extensions are enabled (as they are by default), you can use start to open a document or file using its associated application. For example, to open readme.doc using Word, you can type:
start readme.doc
cmd