This is actually a Windows question, not a C/C++ question. The function you want is WinExec(). You'll find it in the Microsoft compiler documentation, but not in a standard C book, because it only works with Windows.
The spawn* functions do work, and so does system(). You may prefer them if the program you're trying to run is a DOS or console program, or if you need the extra functionality of spawn*. WinExec() is easier and wasn't designed for Unix. (On Windows 95 or NT you would use CreateProcess(), which can duplicate any of the spawn* functions.)
-Erin