Win32_Examples–start application in hidden window

This one is interesting as I’d tried doing this a while back and failed.  Starting a process with Win32_Process is straightforward but controlling the process – such as starting in a hidden window wasn’t working. This is how you do it:

function start-hiddenproc {
[CmdletBinding()]
param (
[string]$processname = ‘notepad.exe’
)

$startclass = Get-CimClass -ClassName Win32_ProcessStartup
$startinfo = New-CimInstance -CimClass $startclass -Property @{ShowWindow = 0} -ClientOnly

$class = Get-CimClass -ClassName Win32_Process
Invoke-CimMethod -CimClass $class -MethodName Create -Arguments @{Commandline = $processname; ProcessStartupInformation = [CimInstance]$startinfo}
}

The function takes a path to the process executable as a parameter – would be a good place for a validation script parameter to test the path to the executable.

Get the Win32_ProcessStartup class and use it with New-CimInstance to create the start up information. The New-CimInstance parameter –ClientOnly can be aliased to –Local.  I always prefer to use the master parameter name rather than aliases – makes it easier for people to look things up in the documentation.

Get the Win32_Process class and use it with Invoke-CimMethod to invoke the Create method with the arguments passed as shown