Windows 7: Batch Files - Start Multiple Programs At Once

12 Apr 2010

I usually also change the Icon for the shortcut so it doesn't look like a .bat file

Excellent Tutorial btw

12 Apr 2010

Actually since System32 is part of the windows search path and START is unneeded when launching a program you could have simpy used...

notepad
calc

that's it... two simple one word lines... are all you really needed.

Don't believe me? Try it.

12 Apr 2010

Quote: Originally Posted by CommonTater

Actually since System32 is part of the windows search path and START is unneeded when launching a program you could have simpy used...

notepad
calc

that's it... two simple one word lines... are all you really needed.

Don't believe me? Try it.

That's true, but it's much better to include the start line in the tutorial because people new to tutorials might think it's not necessary ever. It's much better to include optional commands because when they become necessary, the average user will have them there. Not to mention the fact that it doesn't hurt anything to keep them in there.

13 Apr 2010

Quote: Originally Posted by CommonTater

Actually since System32 is part of the windows search path and START is unneeded when launching a program you could have simpy used...

notepad
calc

that's it... two simple one word lines... are all you really needed.

Don't believe me? Try it.

Interesting I have not tried this.

25 Feb 2013

How do you reference a directory that has spaces in it?

Ex: C:\Program Files (x86)\

26 Feb 2013

Quote: Originally Posted by ROBO731

How do you reference a directory that has spaces in it?

Ex: C:\Program Files (x86)\

put the whole thing in quotes: "C:\Program Files (x86)\"

27 Feb 2013

Oh, right, thanks, but now I'm encountering the same problem I was having even with the quotes. Whenever I try to run it, it says it can't find the exe files. Here's the exact script:

Quote:

@echo off
rem Hamachi
cd "C:\Program Files (x86)\LogMeIn Hamachi"
start hamachi-2.exe
rem Privoxy
cd "C:\Program Files (x86)\Privoxy"
start privoxy.exe
exit

Also, is there a way to run one of these programs with administrator privileges?

27 Feb 2013

Hello Rob,

The batch file looks correct to me.

Are you sure those are the correct folder locations that the .exe files are in?

Could you post screenshots of these folder locations showing the .exe files in them to see what the issue may be?

To "Run as administrator" for an .exe, you could use Option Five or Option Six in the tutorial below to set it to always "Run as administrator".

Run as Administrator

Hope this helps for now,

Shawn

28 Feb 2013

If your command prompt isn't coming up in c:\ when it launches, then the cd c:\"... " won't work. you will need to use "/d" to make this switch to the c:\

(this can happen if you have more than 1 hdd and c: isn't your primary or if you have a home or network drive assigned that shows up instead as the default)

I think option 5 and 6 will still give you a UAC prompt. you could use option 7 if you don't want the prompt. Elevated Program Shortcut without UAC Prompt - Create

and then have the batch file execute the shortcut.

Example: I would create a folder like C:\ASC\ (short for admin short cuts) and then create your shortcuts there.

Quote:

@echo off
cd /d c:\asc
REM Hamachi
start hamachi.lnk
cd c:\asc
REM Privoxy
start privoxy.lnk
exit

Windows 7: Batch Files - Start Multiple Programs At Once

Batch Files - Start Multiple Programs At Once

Batch Files - Start Multiple Programs At Once problems?