How to automatically close cmd window after batch file execution?

Question

I'm running a batch file that has these two lines:

start C:\Users\Yiwei\Downloads\putty.exe -load "MathCS-labMachine1" "C:\Program Files (x86)\Xming\Xming.exe" :0 -clipboard -multiwindow 

This batch file is used to run the Xming application and then the PuTTY app so I can SSH into my university's computer lab.

However, if I run this and Xming is not already open, once I exit from the PuTTY terminal the cmd window remains open. Only if I have already run Xming does the cmd window close when I close the PuTTY terminal. I've tried adding exit to the last line of the batch file, but to no avail.

Answer 1

Modify the batch file to START both programs, instead of STARTing one and CALLing another

start C:\Users\Yiwei\Downloads\putty.exe -load "MathCS-labMachine1" start "" "C:\Program Files (x86)\Xming\Xming.exe" :0 -clipboard -multiwindow 

If you run it like this, no CMD window will stay open after starting the program.

Answer 2

You normally end a batch file with a line that just says exit. If you want to make sure the file has run and the DOS window closes after 2 seconds, you can add the lines:

timeout 2 >nul exit 

But the exit command will not work if your batch file opens another window, because while ever the second window is open the old DOS window will also be displayed.

SOLUTION: For example there's a great little free program called BgInfo which will display all the info about your computer. Assuming it's in a directory called C:\BgInfo, to run it from a batch file with the /popup switch and to close the DOS window while it still runs, use:

start "" "C:\BgInfo\BgInfo.exe" /popup exit