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(126410) - In Microsoft Windows 95/98 or Windows Me, you can start a Windows-based or MS-DOS-based program from the command prompt in an MS-DOS window. To do so, type the program's executable filename, or use the START command at the MS-DOS command prompt. For...

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Microsoft Knowledge Base Article

This article contents is Microsoft Copyrighted material.
©2005-©2007 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved. Terms of Use | Trademarks
Article ID: 126410 - Last Review: January 19, 2007 - Revision: 1.3

How to Start a Program From a Command Prompt in Windows

View products that this article applies to.
System TipThis article applies to a different version of Windows than the one you are using. Content in this article may not be relevant to you. Visit the Windows Vista Solution Center
This article was previously published under Q126410

SUMMARY

In Microsoft Windows 95/98 or Windows Me, you can start a Windows-based or MS-DOS-based program from the command prompt in an MS-DOS window. To do so, type the program's executable filename, or use the START command at the MS-DOS command prompt.

For example, to start ScanDisk for Windows, type "scandskw" (without quotation marks) or "start scandskw" (without quotation marks) at the MS- DOS command prompt.

NOTE: You may use Start.exe to activate a shortcut as well as a program. For example, this may be useful when running an MS-DOS-based program from within a batch file that has specific requirements configurable in the shortcut's properties.

MORE INFORMATION

If you type only the programs's executable filename, Windows 95/98 or Windows Me searches the current folder, and then the folders on the path statement for the executable file. If the file is not found, you receive the following error message:
bad command or filename

If you use the START command, Windows 95/98 Windows Me searches the current folder, the folders on the path statement, and the registry. If the file is not found, you receive the following error message:
Cannot find file '<filename>' (or one of its components). Check to ensure the path and filename are correct and that all required libraries are available.

The START command is used at an MS-DOS prompt to start an MS-DOS-based or Windows-based program. The program is started as a separate task that can be run in the foreground or background. You can use the START command if you want to keep your current MS-DOS settings, while you run another MS- DOS-based program in the background.

You can use the START command to open files if its extension is a registered file type in Windows. For Example, if you type "start Readme.txt," Notepad is started and the Readme.txt file is displayed.

More information about the START command, type the following command at the MS-DOS prompt:
start /?

The following is a sample of the output when you do so:
Runs a Windows program or an MS-DOS program.

START [options] program [arg...]
START [options] document.ext

/m[inimized] Run the new program minimized (in the background).
/max[imized] Run the new program maximized (in the foreground).
/r[estored] Run the new program restored (in the foreground).

[default]

/w[ait] Does not return until the other program exits.
APPLIES TO
  • Microsoft Windows Millennium Edition
  • Microsoft Windows 98 Second Edition
  • Microsoft Windows 98 Standard Edition
  • Microsoft Windows 95
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