diff --git a/core/updater.py b/core/updater.py
index 31a490b..874b440 100644
--- a/core/updater.py
+++ b/core/updater.py
@@ -292,11 +292,9 @@ del "%~f0"
             with open(vbs_path, "w") as f:
                 f.write(vbs_content)
 
-            # Launch VBS detached — no visible window at all
-            subprocess.Popen(
-                ["wscript", vbs_path],
-                creationflags=subprocess.DETACHED_PROCESS | subprocess.CREATE_NEW_PROCESS_GROUP,
-            )
+            # Launch VBS via os.startfile — most reliable on Windows,
+            # works from frozen exe without PATH issues
+            os.startfile(vbs_path)
             return True
 
         except Exception as e:
diff --git a/releases/ServerManager-v1.8.82-win-x64.exe b/releases/ServerManager-v1.8.82-win-x64.exe
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..1ec0fcd
Binary files /dev/null and b/releases/ServerManager-v1.8.82-win-x64.exe differ
diff --git a/version.py b/version.py
index a82dd6f..95e1845 100755
--- a/version.py
+++ b/version.py
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 """Version info for ServerManager."""
 
-__version__ = "1.8.81"
+__version__ = "1.8.82"
 __app_name__ = "ServerManager"
 __author__ = "aibot777"
 __description__ = "Desktop GUI for managing remote servers"