thomas heller tazezsnctypesorg tim golden schrieb king simonnfhd78 wrote hello developing application amongst things exports files launches associated applications using osstartfile also uses webbrowseropen see uses osstartfile everything works pc pcs office tested however released first version users reported unhandled exceptions seem coming osstartfile examples snipped unless someone comes something authoritative avenues try 1 according httpgroupsgooglecoukgroupmicrosoftpublicplatformsdkshellmsg943b9844d480b029 shellexecute url invokes shell extension handler operate apartment threading mode ie youre using com whether like exactly affects situation im sure couldnt say especially since seem tried route youre specifying com threading model remarks may may useful afaik single threaded com apartment needs run message loop according com rules op guiapplication calls osstartfile main thread problem console application normally message loop looking msdn docs shellexecuteex 1 function allows set additional flags shellexecuteinfo structure pass seems see_mask_flag_ddewait may something worth try 2 see_mask_flag_ddewait flag must specified thread calling shellexecuteex message loop thread process terminate soon shellexecuteex returns conditions calling thread available complete dde conversation important shellexecuteex complete conversation returning control calling application failure complete conversation result unsuccessful launch document 1 httpmsdn2microsoftcomenuslibrarybb762154aspx 2 httpmsdn2microsoftcomenuslibrarybb759784vs85aspx thomas _______________________________________________ pythonwin32 mailing list kpitckaew45pythonorg httpmailpythonorgmailmanlistinfopythonwin32 thu 07 aug 2008 234510 0200 pythonwin32 osstartfile mysteriously failing