Start program V 1.0 by Larry Kahn (C) 1994 all rights reserved.
 ---------------------------------------------------------------
 
 This program is designed to be used in place of the stock 
 Windows NT start command.  It will start up a process HIDDEN
 that is in an invisible window that you will not see.
 It works for win32 gui and console apps, dos apps and some win16
 applications that are well behaved (i.e. do not ignore the initial
 SHOW WINDOW settings).

 SYNTAX: lkstart [-w] appname [parameters]

 WHERE: appname is the application name to run, and parameters are optional
 -w specified wait or do not return until the application terminates.
 the default is to NOT wait and return immediately after starting the 
 application.
 
 EXAMPLES: 
 lkstart pkzip test.zip *.*
 lkstart -w notepad

 NOTES: 
 DOS commands like redirection '>' or dir will not work as the with the
 regular start command.  Also some apps such as word do not *behave*
 correctly and will not start hidden.
 
 If the command is not found in the path a complete path can be specified.
 If the startup command fails a window will pop-up to display an error message.
 This application only works under NT version 3.5 (Daytona) or later since it 
 starts up each appliation in a separate NTVDM (if win16 or dos apps).
 You will see an intial flash as the console window is created and then hidden.

 If the app opens up other windows on its own they will not be hidden.  
 A console window will pop up and an error message will appear if the app does 
 not start up correctly.  This window will show the command string and the
 error message from GetLastError.  If you have vc++ you can look up 
 this error number in the winerror.h file.

   

 BACKGROUND:
 This program was created because there were complaints of no create 
 and detach command i.e. run in the background like unix (i.e. prog &)


 WARNINGS:

 1. As with the start command redirection i.e. > does not work correctly.
    ie "start type name.c > save." does not work.
 2. If your application creates an error message that is written to stdout,
    stderror or the apps main gui window you will never see it since the
    windows are hidden. In fact if the app outputs an error message and 
    leaves the window up the process will never terminate since the window
    handlers are still running. 
 3. Processes do not appear in the task manager list of NT.  The only way
    to see the process created is to look in qslice or process viewer both
    available in the windows NT resource kit, or the NT sdk.  Also the only
    way to terminate a process created with lkstart is to use the 
    process viewer "kill task" option. 
 4. Dos commands such as dir do not work, only commands that are executables
    such as .com or .exe programs.  Also do not specify the .com or .exe
    as the program will figure this out.
 5. This program only works with NT 3.5 (Daytona) or later as it starts
    each win16 or dos app in a separate NTVDM.

	Good luck

	If anyone wants the source code for other platforms or wishes to
        discuss this program or report problems I can be reached at 
        910-630-0412 or 71534,600, or kahn@drcoffsite.com

	Note: I am not affiliated with microsoft in any way.

	Donations will be accepted at 

        L. Kahn
        6550 Countryside Drive
	Fayetteville, NC 28311