Run a Shortcut from the Command Prompt Intended For Windows Me Windows 98 Windows 95 Since Shortcuts to applications aren't recognized by DOS, you can't execute them directly. However, there is a way to launch them, either from the prompt, or from a batch file: Type the following: start "c:\directory\Shortcut to Someprog.exe.lnk", where c:\directory is the full path containing the shortcut, and Shortcut to Someprog.exe.lnk is the filename of the shortcut. This article has been recently supported by and featured on this Internet Webhosting Guide Written by: Annoyances.org Last updated: Wednesday, February 7, 2007 Care to discuss this article with other Windows users? Select your operating system here, and click Continue to post your question. - Choose your OS -Windows 7Windows Server 2008Windows VistaWindows Server 2003Windows XPWindows 2000Windows MeWindows 98Windows 95 Previous discussions about this article: (open a message to see applicable responses, if any) [Windows XP] Question about 'Run a Shortcut from the Command Prompt' (ron: Saturday, October 27, 2001) [Windows XP] Question about 'Run a Shortcut from the Command Prompt' (Chris (Hunt): Tuesday, February 4, 2003) [Windows 2000] Question about 'Run a Shortcut from the Command Prompt' (Michael Scheper: Friday, August 13, 2004) [Windows 98] Question about 'Run a Shortcut from the Command Prompt' (Andy: Saturday, December 29, 2007) Return to "Using Windows"