How to execute another exe from a C++ program in Windows - c++

Question

I want my C++ program to execute another .exe, in Windows. How would I do this? I am using Visual C++ 2010.
Here is my code
#include "stdafx.h"
#include <iostream>
using namespace std;
int _tmain(int argc, _TCHAR* argv[])
{
unsigned int input;
cout << "Enter 1 to execute program." << endl;
cin >> input;
if(input == 1) /*execute program here*/;
return 0;
}

Answer 1

This is a solution I found when looking for an answer previously.
It stated that you should always avoid using system() because:
It is resource heavy
It defeats security -- you don't know you it's a valid command or does the same thing on every system, you could even start up programs you didn't intend to start up. The danger is that when you directly execute a program, it gets the same privileges as your program -- meaning that if, for example, you are running as system administrator then the malicious program you just inadvertently executed is also running as system administrator.
Anti virus programs hate it, your program could get flagged as a virus.
Instead CreateProcess() can be used. Createprocess() is used to just start up an .exe and creating a new process for it. The application will run independent from the calling application.
#include <Windows.h>
void startup(LPCSTR lpApplicationName)
{
// additional information
STARTUPINFOA si;
PROCESS_INFORMATION pi;
// set the size of the structures
ZeroMemory(&si, sizeof(si));
si.cb = sizeof(si);
ZeroMemory(&pi, sizeof(pi));
// start the program up
CreateProcessA
(
lpApplicationName, // the path
argv[1], // Command line
NULL, // Process handle not inheritable
NULL, // Thread handle not inheritable
FALSE, // Set handle inheritance to FALSE
CREATE_NEW_CONSOLE, // Opens file in a separate console
NULL, // Use parent's environment block
NULL, // Use parent's starting directory
&si, // Pointer to STARTUPINFO structure
&pi // Pointer to PROCESS_INFORMATION structure
);
// Close process and thread handles.
CloseHandle(pi.hProcess);
CloseHandle(pi.hThread);
}

Answer 2

you can use the system function
int result = system("C:\\Program Files\\Program.exe");

Answer 3

Use the CreateProcess() Function.
See http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/windows/desktop/ms682425%28v=vs.85%29.aspx for details

Answer 4

You can make a call using system
system("./some_command")

Answer 5

I believe this answer should work with different programs, I tested it with Chrome.
// open program.cpp : Defines the entry point for the console application.
//
#include "stdafx.h"
#include "string"
using namespace std;
int _tmain(int argc, _TCHAR* argv[])
{
string command = "start chrome https://www.google.com/";
system(command.c_str());
return 0;
}