In Windows, Killing an application through Python

Question

I am trying to kill external running applications like Windows Paint, a .mp3 and similar programs through a python script.

I open the program throughos.startfile. Any ideas how I can close the programs efficiently? I am using a Windows 7 machine. I'd appreciate the help a lot! Thanks!

Seems like the top answer to this question would do what you're looking for: stackoverflow.com/questions/5780425/… — Dan
– Dan, Commented Jul 11, 2011 at 4:34

Dan · Accepted Answer · 2011-07-11 04:46:16Z

3

As of Python 2.7 os.kill works on Windows. You could find the PID using this recipe.

answered Jul 11, 2011 at 4:46

Dan

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1 Comment

Dan Over a year ago

You're welcome. I agree it is more complicated than I expected.

Eryk Sun · Accepted Answer · 2011-07-11 04:33:48Z

0

Popen will let you kill an opened process, but that won't prompt to save files, etc.

p = subprocess.Popen(['notepad', 'tmp.txt'])
#later
p.kill()

answered Jul 11, 2011 at 4:33

Eryk Sun

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2 Comments

dawnoflife Over a year ago

Can I open non .exe files with P.open ?

Dan Over a year ago

I just tried and it doesn't look like it: WindowsError: [Error 193] %1 is not a valid Win32 application

Greg Hewgill · Accepted Answer · 2011-07-11 04:53:25Z

0

When you ask Windows to launch something with os.startfile(), you don't get a handle to the created process. This is because the underlying ShellExecute() function does not return a handle to the created process. I believe this is because not all actions actually result in a process being created at all (for example with in-process COM servers or other esoteria).

answered Jul 11, 2011 at 4:53

Greg Hewgill

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