How to run several shortcuts (.lnk files) with a script in Windows?
<p>I’m trying to create a script to run all the tools I use working in a particular project (dor instance, gulp, phpstorm, php server, etc.)</p>

<p>I’d like to run shortcuts but not executable files. I can see two possible ways to achieve it in Windows:</p>

<ol>
<li>VbScript</li>
<li>cmd.exe</li>
</ol>

<p>Unfortunately, I’ve failed both:</p>

<p><strong>1)    WshShell fire .lnk file and I can't find an alternative way to do that:</strong></p>

<p>To do so I’m trying to write .cmd file or .vbs
However, I’ve got the problem in each way.</p>

<pre><code>Dim WshShell

Set WshShell = WScript.CreateObject("WScript.Shell")
WshShell.Run "notepad.exe" ' Works alright
WshShell.Run "C:\Users\eugene\Desktop\gulp EngMe.lnk" ' got an Exception: Unknown Exception
</code></pre>

<p><strong>2)    .cmd script waits for closing previously started app:</strong></p>

<pre><code>@rem urls and filesystem shortcuts start alright:
"C:\Users\eugene\Desktop\8000.url"
"C:\Users\eugene\Desktop\project_folder.lnk"

@rem the following two commands are starting sequentially, when the previous one has closed.
"notepad.exe"
@rem shortcut to %windir%\system32\notepad.exe:
"C:\Users\eugene\Desktop\Notepad_.lnk"
</code></pre>

<p>What I'm doing wrong and is there another way to do what I'm trying?</p>