Process.Start() not starting the .exe file (works when run manually)

Question

I have an .exe file that needs to be run after I create a file. The file is successfully created and I am using the following code to run the .exe file after that:

ProcessStartInfo processInfo = new ProcessStartInfo();
processInfo.FileName = pathToMyExe;
processInfo.ErrorDialog = true;
processInfo.UseShellExecute = false;
processInfo.RedirectStandardOutput = true;
processInfo.RedirectStandardError = true;                        
Process proc = Process.Start(processInfo);

I also tried with a simple Process.Start(pathToMyExe); but the .exe file is not run. When I try pathToMyExe manually on my Windows Explorer the program is correctly run. But not via the program. What I see is the cursor turning to waiting for a few seconds and then back to normal. So there are no Exceptions thrown either. What is blocking the file?

Usually

My psychic powers are telling me you need to set the WorkingDirectory. – Propose

You sure it's not running? You redirected standard output, but you didn't post any code related to handling the redirected output. You therefore won't see any output unless you handle it specially. I'm assuming this is a Console App btw. – Sievert

@Propose you are right. You can post it as the answer. – Usually

Answer 1

You are not setting the working directory path, and unlike when starting the application through Explorer, it isn't set automatically to the location of the executable.

Just do something like this:

processInfo.WorkingDirectory = Path.GetDirectoryName(pathToMyExe);

(assuming the input files, DLLs etc. are in that directory)

Propose

processInfo.WorkingDirectory = AppDomain.CurrentDomain.BaseDirectory; – Inefficacy

Answer 2

Due to different working directory, you have to set your working directory properly to the path that you want your process to start.

A sample demonstration of this can be:

Process process = new Process()
{
    StartInfo = new ProcessStartInfo(path, "{Arguments If Needed}")
    {
        WindowStyle = ProcessWindowStyle.Normal,
        WorkingDirectory = Path.GetDirectoryName(path)
    }
};

process.Start();

Cymene

Answer 3

    private void Print(string pdfFileName)
    {
        string processFilename = Microsoft.Win32.Registry.LocalMachine
    .OpenSubKey("Software")
    .OpenSubKey("Microsoft")
    .OpenSubKey("Windows")
    .OpenSubKey("CurrentVersion")
    .OpenSubKey("App Paths")
    .OpenSubKey("AcroRd32.exe")
    .GetValue(string.Empty).ToString();

        ProcessStartInfo info = new ProcessStartInfo();
        info.Verb = "print";
        info.FileName = processFilename;
        info.Arguments = string.Format("/p /h {0}", pdfFileName);
        info.CreateNoWindow = true;
        info.WindowStyle = ProcessWindowStyle.Hidden;
        ////(It won't be hidden anyway... thanks Adobe!)
        info.UseShellExecute = false;

        Process p = Process.Start(info);
        p.StartInfo.WindowStyle = ProcessWindowStyle.Hidden;

        int counter = 0;
        while (!p.HasExited)
        {
            System.Threading.Thread.Sleep(1000);
            counter += 1;

            if (counter == 5)
            {
                break;
            }
        }

        if (!p.HasExited)
        {
            p.CloseMainWindow();
            p.Kill();
        }
    }

Twoway