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