There are two ways to prevent the DOS box.

1) USE the /N to prevent the DOS box using the RUN command
or
2) Use Ed Rauh's FAQ #7774 "Launch App and wait w/o RUN or DOS box "

>We have written an VFP 5.0 application that will automatically check a specified location for a program update, copy the update, and then launch it automatically. We use the RUN command inside the VFP app to launch both VFP and FoxPro 2.6 applications. It runs fine unless the workstation has Windows NT on it. When the application runs, it copies the update, then a black DOS window appears, then the entire application shuts down.