Open and close application using c++ on windows - c++

Question

I want to make a program that opens a windows explorer window, waits for 5 seconds, and then closes the window. I've tried the following:
#include "stdafx.h"
#include <windows.h>
#include <string>
#include <sstream>
#include <iostream>
using namespace std;
void _tmain( int argc, TCHAR *argv[] ) {
STARTUPINFO si;
PROCESS_INFORMATION pi;
ZeroMemory( &si, sizeof(si) );
si.cb = sizeof(si);
ZeroMemory( &pi, sizeof(pi) );
if( argc != 2 ) {
cout << "Usage: " << argv[0] << "<path>";
return;
}
// Build the command string.
wstring app = L"explorer.exe ";
wstring str_command = app + argv[1];
wchar_t* command = const_cast<wchar_t*>( str_command.c_str() );
// Open the window.
if( !CreateProcess( NULL, // No module name (use command line)
command, // Command line
NULL, // Process handle not inheritable
NULL, // Thread handle not inheritable
FALSE, // Set handle inheritance to FALSE
0, // No creation flags
NULL, // Use parent's environment block
NULL, // Use parent's starting directory
&si, // Pointer to STARTUPINFO structure
&pi ) // Pointer to PROCESS_INFORMATION structure
) {
cout << "CreateProcess failed: " << GetLastError();
return;
}
cout << "Opened window!" << endl;
// Wait for it.
Sleep(5000);
cout << "Done waiting. Closing... ";
// Close explorer.
HANDLE explorer = OpenProcess(PROCESS_TERMINATE, false, pi.dwProcessId);
if( !explorer ) {
cout << "OpenProcess failed: " << GetLastError();
return;
}
if( !TerminateProcess( explorer, 0 ) ) {
cout << "TerminateProcess failed: " << GetLastError();
return;
}
// Close process and thread handles.
CloseHandle( explorer );
CloseHandle( pi.hProcess );
CloseHandle( pi.hThread );
cout << "Done.";
}
I get it to open well enough, but I can't get it to close. TerminateProcess fails with error code 5. I've also tried posting a WM_CLOSE message to the window. I get a success value out of that, but the window stays open.
Please help!

Answer 1

I found this thread:
Close all browser windows?
It says:
Use the InternetExplorer object to open each window and invoke the Quit method when done. This has the added benefit of closing only the windows you opened (so that windows opened by the user or other applications are unaffected).
https://msdn.microsoft.com/library/aa752127.aspx
I know that this does not help much (missing snippets), but at least something.