Stored Procedure with xp_cmdshell

I have a simple problem....

I am writing a stored procedure I want to use xp_cmdshell to execute a executable file...

Exec master..xp_cmdshell 'C:\snort.exe', NO_OUTPUT

Nothing happens....how do I write this so it starts that program?

I think it runs in background.

I dont see the process running..

Can you run the exe without any problem from the command prompt?. Does it wait for you to hit any key?. The program may be waiting for user intervention.

try putting that .exe in a batch file in the server and run it.