title: php How do I start an external program running - Having trouble with system and exec
body: <p>I'm running in a controlled, xp, intranet only environment and I need to start external processes from a PHP applications. (Backups, Reports etc.)</p>
  
  <p>I can get system or exec to start processes that work silently. Here's a simple example </p>
  
  <pre><code>&lt;?php exec ("echo hello &gt; hello.txt");?&gt; 
  </code></pre>
  
  <p>I can get it to execute a bat file that has no visible output.</p>
  
  <p>I can't get any program that has a screen to run such as a report generator or notepad...</p>
  
  <pre><code>&lt;?php exec ("explorer");?&gt;
  </code></pre>
  
  <p>doesn't do anything. or same for system</p>