diff --git a/start-aivideo.bat b/start-aivideo.bat
index d64b87c..4a29a00 100644
--- a/start-aivideo.bat
+++ b/start-aivideo.bat
@@ -5,15 +5,22 @@ set "ROOT=%~dp0"
 cd /d "%ROOT%"
 
 echo [1/6] Checking Docker...
-where docker >nul 2>nul
-if errorlevel 1 (
-  echo Docker Desktop was not found in PATH.
+set "DOCKER_EXE="
+set "DOCKER_DESKTOP_EXE="
+call :resolve_docker
+
+if not defined DOCKER_EXE (
+  echo Docker CLI was not found.
+  echo Install Docker Desktop, or add docker.exe to PATH, then rerun this script.
   pause
   exit /b 1
 )
 
+call :ensure_docker_ready
+if errorlevel 1 exit /b 1
+
 echo [2/6] Starting mysql, redis and minio...
-docker compose up -d mysql redis minio
+call "%DOCKER_EXE%" compose up -d mysql redis minio
 if errorlevel 1 (
   echo Failed to start docker services.
   pause
@@ -84,3 +91,73 @@ echo API:       http://localhost:8000
 echo.
 echo Two windows have been opened for backend and frontend.
 pause
+goto :eof
+
+:resolve_docker
+for /f "delims=" %%I in ('where docker 2^>nul') do (
+  if not defined DOCKER_EXE set "DOCKER_EXE=%%~fI"
+)
+
+if defined DOCKER_EXE goto resolve_desktop
+
+for %%I in (
+  "%ProgramFiles%\Docker\Docker\resources\bin\docker.exe"
+  "%ProgramFiles%\Docker\Docker\resources\bin\com.docker.cli.exe"
+  "%ProgramW6432%\Docker\Docker\resources\bin\docker.exe"
+  "%ProgramW6432%\Docker\Docker\resources\bin\com.docker.cli.exe"
+  "%LocalAppData%\Programs\Docker\Docker\resources\bin\docker.exe"
+  "%LocalAppData%\Programs\Docker\Docker\resources\bin\com.docker.cli.exe"
+) do (
+  if exist "%%~fI" (
+    set "DOCKER_EXE=%%~fI"
+    goto resolve_desktop
+  )
+)
+
+:resolve_desktop
+for %%I in (
+  "%ProgramFiles%\Docker\Docker\Docker Desktop.exe"
+  "%ProgramW6432%\Docker\Docker\Docker Desktop.exe"
+  "%LocalAppData%\Programs\Docker\Docker\Docker Desktop.exe"
+) do (
+  if exist "%%~fI" (
+    set "DOCKER_DESKTOP_EXE=%%~fI"
+    goto :eof
+  )
+)
+
+goto :eof
+
+:ensure_docker_ready
+call "%DOCKER_EXE%" info >nul 2>nul
+if not errorlevel 1 exit /b 0
+
+if defined DOCKER_DESKTOP_EXE (
+  echo Docker Desktop is installed but not ready. Starting it now...
+  start "" "%DOCKER_DESKTOP_EXE%"
+  call :wait_for_docker 60
+  if not errorlevel 1 exit /b 0
+
+  echo Docker Desktop did not become ready in time.
+  echo Wait for Docker Desktop to finish starting, then rerun this script.
+  pause
+  exit /b 1
+)
+
+echo Docker CLI was found, but the Docker engine is not ready.
+echo Start Docker Desktop or Docker Engine, then rerun this script.
+pause
+exit /b 1
+
+:wait_for_docker
+set "DOCKER_WAIT_REMAINING=%~1"
+if not defined DOCKER_WAIT_REMAINING set "DOCKER_WAIT_REMAINING=60"
+
+:wait_for_docker_loop
+call "%DOCKER_EXE%" info >nul 2>nul
+if not errorlevel 1 exit /b 0
+if %DOCKER_WAIT_REMAINING% LEQ 0 exit /b 1
+
+timeout /t 2 /nobreak >nul
+set /a DOCKER_WAIT_REMAINING-=2
+goto wait_for_docker_loop