title: Execute shortcut links from a batch file and don't wait for application to exit
body: <p>I have several applications that I tend to need open at the same time, and rather than relying solely on the Startup folder to launch them at the same time (and so I can reopen all of them if some were closed at some point throughout the day) I created a folder full of shortcuts in a similar fashion to Linux's runlevel startup links.  So in the folder I have shortcut links similar to:</p>
  
  <ul>
  <li>S00 - Outlook.lnk</li>
  <li>S01 - Notepad++.lnk</li>
  <li>S02 - Chrome.lnk</li>
  <li>S03 - Skype.lnk</li>
  </ul>
  
  <p>I created a batch file that will loop through all the links that match the naming format and launch them.  The contents of that batch file currently is:</p>
  
  <pre><code>@FOR /F "usebackq delims==" %%f IN (`dir /b "S* - *.lnk"`) DO "%%f"
  </code></pre>
  
  <p>It will launch most of the links I try just fine, but some will launch and wait for the process to exit, thus preventing further scripts from opening.  <strong>Is there any way to execute the shortcuts without waiting for processes to exit within the batch file?</strong>  Or is this a lost cause and I should look for a Powershell solution instead?</p>
  
  <p>Things I've tried so far:</p>
  
  <ul>
  <li><p>Changing the contents to</p>
  
  <pre><code>@FOR /F "usebackq delims==" %%f IN (`dir /b "S* - *.lnk"`) DO START /B /I "%%f"
  </code></pre>
  
  <p>It launches the command prompt in a background process, but never actually launches the target of the link.</p></li>
  <li><p>Changing the contents to</p>
  
  <pre><code>@FOR /F "usebackq delims==" %%f IN (`dir /b "S* - *.lnk"`) DO %comspec% /k "%%f"
  </code></pre>
  
  <p>It launches the first link, but waits.</p></li>
  </ul>