Run CMD minimized from powershell-CodePudding

I have a script that at some point opens a cmd window

this is the part of the script that does that

$cmd = "C:\WINDOWS\system32\cmd.exe"

 Copy-Item $cmd -Destination $newPath -Force

 Write-Host "$cmd copied as $newPath."

 $null = New-ItemProperty -Path "HKCU:\Environment" -Name $enviromentVariableName -Value $secondaryPath -Force

 Write-Host "Value of $enviromentVariableName changed to $secondaryPath"

 Write-Host "Ejecutando $taskName"

 $null = "schtasks /Run /TN $taskPath /I" | IEX

However I have no idea how (if possible) to open this window minimized

CodePudding user response：

I'm assuming you're looking to minimize the console window that appears when you run your scheduled task on demand with schtasks /Run:

Minimizing such a window does not appear to be possible using the features of scheduled tasks alone.

You have two options:

If it is OK to run the task invisibly:

Configure the task with the Run whether user is logged on or not in the Task Scheduler GUI (taskschd.msc) (instead of Run only when user is logged on)

Caveat:

This requires you to specify the user's password, which is saved with the task, and apparently breaks the task definition the next time the user's password changes.
Configuring the task to run as the SYSTEM account avoids this problem, but may be problematic from a security perspective (the account is highly privilege) - also, on-demand running of the task then requires elevation (running as admin).

If you do need the task's window to be visible, but initially minimized:

This requires you to modify the task's command by wrapping it in a command that explicitly launches the original command in a minimized window.

This wrapper command must itself be a GUI-subsystem application, so that it doesn't itself causes a non-minimized window to appear (at least briefly).

You can create a helper VBScript that you can launch via the GUI version of the Windows Scripting Host, wscript.exe.

If you create helper file runMinimized.vbs as defined below in, say, c:\foo and your original command is, say, bar.exe baz 42 (executable bar.exe with arguments list baz 42), you'd redefine your task action as follows:

Executable (field Program/script: in the Task Scheduler GUI):
- wscript.exe
Arguments (field Add arguments (optional): in the Task Scheduler GUI):
- c:\foo\runMinimized.vbs bar.exe baz 42

runMinimzed.vbs source code:

' Separate the arguments into the executable name
' and a single string containing all arguments.
exe = WScript.Arguments(0)
sep = ""
for i = 1 to WScript.Arguments.Count -1
  ' Enclose arguments in "..." to preserve their original partitioning, if necessary.
  if Instr(WScript.Arguments(i), " ") > 0 then
    args = args & sep & """" & WScript.Arguments(i) & """"
  else
    args = args & sep & WScript.Arguments(i)
  end if
  sep = " "
next

' Execute the command with its window *minimized*, without stealing focus (7)
WScript.CreateObject("Shell.Application").ShellExecute exe, args, "", "open", 7

Note: To alternatively run the window invisibly (hidden), name the script runHidden.vbs instead, and substitute 0 for 7 in the .ShellExecute() call above.

CodePudding user response：

With both SHIFT and CTRL held down, drag and drop whatever it is you want - creating a shortcut. Right click on the shortcut and select properties, go to the "Shortcut" tab, change "Run:" to "Minimized", and press the OK button.

Now use PowerShell to execute the shortcut, and the shortcut will in turn execute your desired item in a minimized state.