Using the "start" command with parameters passed to the started program

JosephStyons_672 0
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I have a Virtual Machine in Virtual PC 2007.

To start it from the desktop, I have the following command in a batch file:

"c:\program files\Microsoft Virtual PC\Virtual PC.exe" -pc "MY-PC" -launch

But that leaves a dos prompt on the host machine until the virtual machine shuts down, and I exit out of the Virtual PC console. That's annoying.

So I changed my command to use the START command, instead:

start "c:\program files\Microsoft Virtual PC\Virtual PC.exe" -pc MY-PC -launch

But it chokes on the parameters passed into Virtual PC.

START /? indicates that parameters do indeed go in that location. Has anyone used START to launch a program with multiple command-line arguments?

command-prompt windows
12 Answers

START has a peculiarity involving double quotes around the first parameter. If the first parameter has double quotes it uses that as the optional TITLE for the new window.

I believe what you want is:

start "" "c:\program files\Microsoft Virtual PC\Virtual PC.exe" -pc MY-PC -launch

In other words, give it an empty title before the name of the program to fake it out.

Tim_Farley_44250

Instead of a batch file, you can create a shortcut on the desktop.

Set the target to:

"c:\program files\Microsoft Virtual PC\Virtual PC.exe" -pc "MY-PC" -launch

and you're all set. Since you're not starting up a command prompt to launch it, there will be no DOS Box.

Ferruccio_40860

None of these answers worked for me.

Instead, I had to use the Call command:

Call "\\Path To Program\Program.exe" <parameters>

I'm not sure this actually waits for completion... the C++ Redistributable I was installing went fast enough that it didn't matter

user_115999520

have you tried:

start "c:\program files\Microsoft Virtual PC\Virtual PC.exe" "-pc MY-PC -launch"

?

AlbertEin_230200

Put the command inside a batch file, and call that with the parameters.

Also, did you try this yet? (Move end quote to encapsulate parameters)

start "c:\program files\Microsoft Virtual PC\Virtual PC.exe -pc MY-PC -launch"
Mark_Allen_59480
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