Why can't I start programs in the command line without /d? (Windows 7x64)

Question

I am trying to create a batch script that opens a program. I am doing some testing and I can't figure this out:

If I run CMD.exe and input start /d "C:\wamp" wampmanager.exe the program opens

but

If I run CMD.exe and input start "C:\wamp\wampmanager.exe" I get "the current directory is invalid"

Now when I try to do start runas /profile /user:Administrator "C:\wamp\wampmanager.exe" I get prompted for Administrator's password, but nothing happens when I enter it.

Can someone please tell me how I can run the above command?

Solution

Because the start program's syntax expect the window title as its first quoted argument. (see start /?). You can supply an empty string, however:

start "" "C:\wamp\wampmanager.exe"

or, if you don't need quotes to mask parts of the path, just leave them out altogether:

start C:\wamp\wampmanager.exe