Update: this works as well:

           using System.Diagnostics;

           System.Diagnostics.Process p = new Process();
           p.StartInfo.FileName = "cmd.exe";
           p.Start();

Right now I am using this to run another program from an app in .net:

       private void button5_Click(object sender, EventArgs e)

        {

           System.Diagnostics.ProcessStartInfo info = new System.Diagnostics.ProcessStartInfo("cmd.exe"); // just an example

           info.UseShellExecute = true;

           info.Verb = "open";

           System.Diagnostics.Process.Start(info);

        }

is there a better way?