start

start

---

Runs a program or command.

Syntax

 start ["   title   "] [/d   path   ] [/i] [/min] [/max] [/separate  shared] [/low  /normal  /high  /realtime  /abovenormal  /belownormal]  [/wait] [/b] [   program   ] [   parameters   ] 

Options

None

Opens a new command-shell window.

"title"

Displays in titlebar.

/d path

Indicates startup directory.

/i

Passes the startup environment for cmd to the new window.

/min

Starts window minimized.

/max

Starts window maximized.

/separate

Indicates a 16-bit Windows program run in separate memory.

/shared

Indicates a 16-bit Windows program run in shared memory.

/low

Runs application using idle priority.

/normal

Runs application using normal priority.

/high

Runs application using high priority.

/realtime

Runs application using real-time priority.

/abovenormal

Runs application using above-normal priority class (between normal and high).

/belownormal

Runs application using below-normal priority class (between normal and low).

/wait

Starts application and waits for it to end.

/b

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.

program [parameters]

Specifies a program or command to run, with optional parameters.

Examples

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  

Notes

• 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  

See Also

cmd