C++, How to determine if a Windows Process is running?

Question

This is concerning Windows XP processes.

I have a process running, let\'s call it Process1. Process1 creates a new process, Process2, and saves its id.

Now,

Answer 1

This is a solution that I've used in the past. Although the example here is in VB.net - I've used this technique with c and c++. It bypasses all the issues with Process IDs & Process handles, and return codes. Windows is very faithful in releasing the mutex no matter how Process2 is terminated. I hope it is helpful to someone...

**PROCESS1 :-**

    Randomize()
    mutexname = "myprocess" & Mid(Format(CDbl(Long.MaxValue) * Rnd(), "00000000000000000000"), 1, 16)
    hnd = CreateMutex(0, False, mutexname)

    ' pass this name to Process2
    File.WriteAllText("mutexname.txt", mutexname)

    
    

    pr = WaitForSingleObject(hnd, 0)
    ReleaseMutex(hnd)

    If pr = WAIT_OBJECT_0 Then

         

    Else

         

    End If
    ...

    CloseHandle(hnd)
    EXIT

    **PROCESS2 :-**

    mutexname = File.ReadAllText("mutexname.txt")
    hnd = OpenMutex(MUTEX_ALL_ACCESS Or SYNCHRONIZE, True, mutexname)
    ...

    ReleaseMutex(hnd)
    CloseHandle(hnd)
    EXIT