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

Question

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?

JosephStyons · Accepted Answer · 2016-02-22 19:21:43Z

562

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.

edited Feb 22, 2016 at 19:21

JosephStyons

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answered Sep 30, 2008 at 17:25

Tim Farley

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4 Comments

geotheory Over a year ago

Is this deprecated? In Win 7 I get

Start-Process : Cannot validate argument on parameter 'FilePath'. The argument is null or empty. Supply an argument that is not null or empty and then try the command again

Piyush Soni Over a year ago

Who would have imagined. Just the number of upvotes to your answer should be a reason enough for Microsoft to fix this 'peculiarity'.

Adam Plocher Over a year ago

@geotheory I realize this is an old comment, but in PowerShell, start is an alias for Start-Process. In cmd.exe (a bit antiquated, but not deprecated) "start" is different. They both are meant for starting other processes, but start is an old embedded command in cmd.

JinSnow Over a year ago

By chance (about URL launching from task manager) do you know the parameter to open a new tab silently when the browser is opened (without changing the current page)?

Ferruccio · Accepted Answer · 2008-09-30 17:29:31Z

18

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.

answered Sep 30, 2008 at 17:29

Ferruccio

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Comments

player0 · Accepted Answer · 2018-05-28 05:57:17Z

You can use quotes by using the [/D"Path"] use /D only for specifying the path and not the path+program. It appears that all code on the same line that follows goes back to normal meaning you don't need to separate path and file.

    start  /D "C:\Program Files\Internet Explorer\" IEXPLORE.EXE

or:

    start  /D "TITLE" "C:\Program Files\Internet Explorer\" IEXPLORE.EXE

will start IE with default web page.

    start  /D "TITLE" "C:\Program Files\Internet Explorer\" IEXPLORE.EXE www.bing.com

starts with Bing, but does not reset your home page.

/D stands for "directory" and using quotes is OK!

WRONG EXAMPLE:

    start  /D "TITLE" "C:\Program Files\Internet Explorer\IEXPLORE.EXE"

gives:

ERROR "The current directory is invalid."

/D must only be followed by a directory path. Then space and the batchfile or program you wish to start/run

Tested and works under XP but windows Vista/7/8 may need some adjustments to UAC.

-Mrbios

rene · Accepted Answer · 2019-06-04 15:58:23Z

4

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

edited Jun 4, 2019 at 15:58

rene

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answered Jun 4, 2019 at 15:48

JustAnotherMikhail

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Comments

nhahtdh · Accepted Answer · 2012-06-30 14:18:36Z

3

The spaces are DOSs/CMDs Problems so you should go to the Path via:

cd "c:\program files\Microsoft Virtual PC"

and then simply start VPC via:

start Virtual~1.exe -pc MY-PC -launch

~1 means the first exe with "Virtual" at the beginning. So if there is a "Virtual PC.exe" and a "Virtual PC1.exe" the first would be the Virtual~1.exe and the second Virtual~2.exe and so on.

Or use a VNC-Client like VirtualBox.

edited Jun 30, 2012 at 14:18

nhahtdh

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answered Jun 30, 2012 at 14:11

ghostdog21

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2 Comments

Sam Over a year ago

This looks like a reasonable work-around, but it doesn't really address the underlying problem, which is covered by the accepted answer.

phuclv Over a year ago

this won't work if short filenames are not enabled. I always disable 8.3 filenames in my systems

Mack · Accepted Answer · 2016-02-17 13:45:09Z

1

If you want passing parameter and your .exe file in test folder of c: drive

start "parameter" "C:\test\test1.exe" -pc My Name-PC -launch

If you won't want passing parameter and your .exe file in test folder of c: drive

start "" "C:\test\test1.exe" -pc My Name-PC -launch

If you won't want passing parameter and your .exe file in test folder of H: (Any Other)drive

start "" "H:\test\test1.exe" -pc My Name-PC -launch

answered Feb 17, 2016 at 13:45

Mack

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Comments

BitDreamer · Accepted Answer · 2015-05-20 15:59:37Z

The answer in "peculiarity" is correct and directly answers the question. As TimF answered, since the first parameter is in quotes, it is treated as a window title.

Also note that the Virtual PC options are being treated as options to the 'start' command itself, and are not valid for 'start'. This is true for all versions of Windows that have the 'start' command.

This problem with 'start' treating the quoted parameter as a title is even more annoying that just the posted problem. If you run this:

start "some valid command with spaces"

You get a new command prompt window, with the obvious result for a window title. Even more annoying, this new window doesn't inherit customized font, colors or window size, it's just the default for cmd.exe.

Community · Accepted Answer · 2017-05-23 12:03:05Z

0

If you must use double quotation mark at any parameter, you can get error "'c:\somepath' is not recognized a an internal or external command, operable program or batch file". I suggest below solution when using double qoutation mark: https://stackoverflow.com/a/43467194/3835640

edited May 23, 2017 at 12:03

CommunityBot

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answered Apr 18, 2017 at 8:30

Mustafa Kemal

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Comments

phuclv · Accepted Answer · 2020-04-07 13:18:57Z

-1

`/b` parameter

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

edited Apr 7, 2020 at 13:18

phuclv

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answered May 14, 2016 at 17:46

T.Todua

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2 Comments

Azeezah M Over a year ago

What does this parameter do?

aclave1 Over a year ago

@AzeezahM /b means that a new cmd window will not be opened. This doesn't answer op's question though.

JosephStyons · Accepted Answer · 2011-02-09 00:41:32Z

-4

have you tried:

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

?

edited Feb 9, 2011 at 0:41

JosephStyons

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answered Sep 30, 2008 at 17:23

albertein

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Comments

JosephStyons · Accepted Answer · 2011-02-09 00:41:54Z

-4

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"

edited Feb 9, 2011 at 0:41

JosephStyons

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answered Sep 30, 2008 at 17:24

Mark Allen

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Comments

Rafael Pereira · Accepted Answer · 2013-06-17 05:33:58Z

-4

Change The "Virtual PC.exe" to a name without space like "VirtualPC.exe" in the folder. When you write start "path" with "" the CMD starts a new cmd window with the path as the title. Change the name to a name without space,write this on Notepad and after this save like Name.cmd or Name.bat:

CD\
CD Program Files
CD Microsoft Virtual PC
start VirtualPC.exe
timeout 2
exit

This command will redirect the CMD to the folder,start the VirualPC.exe,wait 2 seconds and exit.

answered Jun 17, 2013 at 5:33

Rafael Pereira

1

1 Comment

Michael Beck Over a year ago

What happens if the software gets updated? Suddenly you've got an orphaned virtualpc.exe.

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