How To Launch Git Bash from DOS Command Line?

Question

I've got what I'm hoping is a simple question, but I haven't been able to find the answer yet. I would like to launch Git Bash from a DOS batch file. Here is what I tried so far:

1. Launched Git Bash from Win 7 Start button
2. Used CTRL+ALT+DEL to identify the process as "sh.exe"

3. Launched sh.exe from batch file using start command

   start sh.exe
   

However, this does not launch the full Git Bash environment. Git Bash usually has "MINGW32" in the title bar, but sh.exe has a full path to ... Git\bin\sh.exe. It feels to me like there are some overlays or dependencies that I'm not aware of possibly, that also need to be loaded (pulled in? imported?).

This was one of the top results I found through searching the web, but it doesn't make complete sense to me and I'm not sure if it applies exactly to my situation:

Running git from Windows Cmd line: Where are key files?

I'm a beginner in the world of DOS batch scripting.

Answer 1

start "" "%SYSTEMDRIVE%\Program Files (x86)\Git\bin\sh.exe" --login -i

Git bash will get open.

Answer 2

The answer by Endoro has aged and I'm unable to comment;

# if you want to launch from a batch file or the command line:

start "" "%ProgramFiles%\Git\bin\sh.exe" --login

Answer 3

I'm not sure exactly what you mean by "full Git Bash environment", but I get the nice prompt if I do

"C:\Program Files\Git\bin\sh.exe" --login

In PowerShell

& 'C:\Program Files\Git\bin\sh.exe' --login

The --login switch makes the shell execute the login shell startup files.

Answer 4

I prefer to use git-bash.exe instead of sh.exe.

start "" "%ProgramFiles%\Git\git-bash.exe" -c "tail -f /c/Windows/win.ini"

You can stop closing the window when call /usr/bin/bash --login -i in the end;

start "" "%ProgramFiles%\Git\git-bash.exe" -c "echo 1 && echo 2 && /usr/bin/bash --login -i"

Note: I'm not sure this is a good way :)

Answer 5

I used the info above to help create a more permanent solution. The following will create the alias sh that you can use to open Git Bash:

echo @start "" "%PROGRAMFILES%\Git\bin\sh.exe" --login > %systemroot%\sh.bat

Answer 6

If you want to launch from a batch file:

• for x86

  start "" "%SYSTEMDRIVE%\Program Files (x86)\Git\bin\sh.exe" --login
  

• for x64

  start "" "%PROGRAMFILES%\Git\bin\sh.exe" --login