BlueStacks

Starting an instance

"C:\Program Files\BlueStacks_nxt\HD-Player.exe" --instance Pie64

"C:\Program Files\BlueStacks_nxt\HD-Player.exe" --instance yourInstanceName

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I ran the command and it opened (or if it was running, brought it to the foreground) the first instance defined in multi-instance manager.

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Yes you can. If you look at the shortcuts on your desktop they are specified like this

"C:\Program Files\BlueStacks_nxt\HD-Player.exe" --instance Nougat32_1

To get the mapped name go to the config file here

C:\ProgramData\BlueStacks_nxt\bluestacks.conf

and look for

bst.instance.Nougat32_9.display_name="instance_name"

Now you can specify the instance you need with the name you gave it in the instance manager. I am scripting it with bat and needed this information too!

Another Way to start an instance

There is a way. I forgot exactly how I did it before, but in Win 7, my computer had a "My Apps" folder for the apps I downloaded for the BlueStack somewhere (maybe MyDocuments? MyComputer? Favorites? Not really sure), and all I did was double click on the app to execute the app. Now? I'm not entirely sure. Trying to figure out myself on Win 8.

Edit: I found a way

C:\ProgramData\BlueStacks\UserData\Library\My Apps

This address contains the apps you should be able to open up from your desktop, and will open up in BlueStacks. links to the apps

C:\ProgramData\BlueStacks\UserData\Library\My Apps[file name].lnk

for example

C:\ProgramData\BlueStacks\UserData\Library\My Apps\FlappyBird.lnk