How to get PowerShell to keep a command window open?

Question

When I run a program on PowerShell it opens a new window and before I can see the output, the window closes. How do I make it so PowerShell keeps this window open?

Answer 1

Try doing:

start-process your.exe -NoNewWindow

Add a -Wait too if needed.

Answer 2

The OP seemed satisfied with the answer, but it doesn't keep the new window open after executing the program, which is what he seemed to be asking (and the answer I was looking for). So, after some more research, I came up with:

Start-Process cmd "/c `"your.exe & pause `""

Answer 3

I was solving a similar problem few weeks ago. If you don't want to use & (& '.\program.exe') then you can use start process and read the output by start process (where you read the output explicitly).

Just put this as separate PS1 file - for example (or to macro):

param (
    $name,
    $params
)

$process = New-Object System.Diagnostics.Process
$proInfo = New-Object System.Diagnostics.ProcessStartInfo
$proInfo.CreateNoWindow = $true
$proInfo.RedirectStandardOutput = $true
$proInfo.RedirectStandardError = $true
$proInfo.UseShellExecute = $false
$proInfo.FileName = $name
$proInfo.Arguments = $params
$process.StartInfo = $proInfo

#Register an Action for Error Output Data Received Event
Register-ObjectEvent -InputObject $process -EventName ErrorDataReceived -action {
    foreach ($s in $EventArgs.data) { Write-Host $s -ForegroundColor Red }
} | Out-Null

#Register an Action for Standard Output Data Received Event
Register-ObjectEvent -InputObject $process -EventName OutputDataReceived -action {
    foreach ($s in $EventArgs.data) { Write-Host $s -ForegroundColor Blue }
} | Out-Null

$process.Start() | Out-Null
$process.BeginOutputReadLine()
$process.BeginErrorReadLine()
$process.WaitForExit()

And then call it like:

.\startprocess.ps1 "c:\program.exe" "params"

You can also easily redirect output or implement some kind of timeout in case your application can freeze...

Answer 4

If the program is a batch file (.cmd or .bat extension) being launched with cmd /c foo.cmd command, simply change it to cmd /k foo.cmd and the program executes, but the prompt stays open.

If the program is not a batch file, wrap it in a batch file and add the pause command at the end of it. To wrap the program in a batch file, simply place the command in a text file and give it the .cmd extension. Then execute that instead of the exe.

Answer 5

With Startprocess and in the $arguments scriptblock, you can put a Read-Host

$arguments = {
    "Get-process"
    "Hello"
    Read-Host "Wait for a key to be pressed"
  }
Start-Process powershell -Verb runAs -ArgumentList $arguments

Answer 6

pwsh -noe -c "echo 1"

Answer 7

Just one more option to add the the list. You can add a "&& PAUSE" to the end so it runs this if the first command is successful.

e.g., Start-Process cmd "/c `"reg.exe query hkcu\printers\connections && pause`""