Calling a non-existent executable from a batch script: don't show message box
A solution I hadn't initially considered before I posted this question is to check the file exists before calling start, as follows:
if exist example.exe (
start example.exe
) else (
echo Error: 'example.exe' does not exist 1>&2
)
Strictly speaking, not a direct answer to my question as I originally stated it, but nonetheless serves my purposes fine.