How can I get a list of processes running across multiple virtual desktops?

Question

I am working on Window 7 and I have multiple desktops by using the Sysinternals Desktops utility. I just want to list all the processes running across all the desktops.

Process[] processlist = Process.GetProcesses();
foreach (Process p in processlist)
{
    listBox1.Items.Add(p.ProcessName + " " + p.Id + " " + p.MainWindowTitle); 
}

With this code I am able to get all the processes running on the current desktop, but I am not able to get the processes running inside different desktops.

Only Desktops is showing as a single process.

How can I get the child processes inside multiple desktops?

possible duplicate http://stackoverflow.com/questions/599663/retrieve-a-complete-processes-list-using-c-sharp — Liam, Jun 26 '13 at 13:32
@Liam - if you follow the link, you'll see that Desktops Utility creates virtual machines. The topic is a little more complicated than what is covered in the "duplicate" question. — JDB, Jun 26 '13 at 13:35
@Liam I believe it is not a duplicate since the other question does not relate to virtual desktop(s) at all. — Alvin Wong, Jun 26 '13 at 13:49
@Cyborgx37 Where do you find the word "machine" in that link? lol — Alvin Wong, Jun 26 '13 at 13:51
@AlvinWong - Dang it... you're right. I'm not really in my element here... signing off. ;) — JDB, Jun 26 '13 at 13:54
When you run the code with a virtual desktop, what output do you get? — Paul Turner, Jun 26 '13 at 15:15
@Cyborgx37 Hi which function you are telling that is `Process.GetProcessesByName("remoteMachineName Or remoteMachine IP")` [Go to ProcessesByName](http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/system.diagnostics.process.getprocessesbyname.aspx) but that function is for accessing the processes on remote machine. — SK., Jun 27 '13 at 12:30
@SimpalChaudhary - I read the linked article and misunderstood, thinking that the Desktop utility created actual virtual machines. If that were true, it would have a name and be accessible as a remote machine, but it's not true so that is irrelevant. — JDB, Jun 27 '13 at 12:45
@Cyborgx37 - its ok bro... now i got it. Actually Desktop utility creates virtual desktop only on local machine. Thanks Bro — SK., Jun 27 '13 at 12:54

score 2 · Accepted Answer · edited Jun 27 '13 at 13:04

Yup i got it.. after doing RnD.

I am using user32.dll and some of these methods.

If you also want to achieve some thing use these functions.

[DllImport("user32.dll", EntryPoint = "EnumDesktopWindows", ExactSpelling = false, CharSet = CharSet.Auto, SetLastError = true)]
private static extern bool EnumDesktopWindows(IntPtr hDesktop, EnumDelegate lpEnumCallbackFunction, IntPtr lParam);

[DllImport("user32.dll", EntryPoint = "GetWindowText", ExactSpelling = false, CharSet = CharSet.Auto, SetLastError = true)]
private static extern int _GetWindowText(IntPtr hWnd, StringBuilder lpWindowText, int nMaxCount);

[DllImport("user32.dll")]
[return: MarshalAs(UnmanagedType.Bool)]
static extern bool IsWindowVisible(IntPtr hWnd);

[DllImport("user32.dll")]
private static extern bool EnumDesktops(IntPtr hwinsta, EnumDesktopProc lpEnumFunc, IntPtr lParam);

[DllImport("user32.dll", SetLastError = true)]
private static extern IntPtr SetActiveWindow(IntPtr hWnd);

[DllImport("user32.dll", SetLastError = false)]
private static extern IntPtr GetDesktopWindow();


[DllImport("user32.dll")]
private static extern IntPtr GetProcessWindowStation();

[DllImport("user32.dll")]
private static extern IntPtr OpenDesktop(string lpszDesktop, uint dwFlags, bool fInherit, uint dwDesiredAccess);

[DllImport("user32.dll")]
private static extern bool SwitchDesktop(IntPtr hDesktop);

By using these methods I am able to list down all the running processes on all the virtual desktop.

Thanks for posting an answer. It might help future visitors if you demonstrated how you used these functions to accomplish your goal, but +1 for answering your own question. — JDB, Jun 27 '13 at 13:07

How can I get a list of processes running across multiple virtual desktops?

1 Answers1