swbemobjectex class ghost/hidden methods (eg. .Terminate) - excel

Question

Dim objList As WbemScripting.SWbemObjectSet
Set objList = GetObject("winmgmts:").ExecQuery("select * from win32_process where name='iexplore.exe'")
This code returns a collection of SWbemObjectEx objects
relating to all the running processes "iexplore.exe" (as seen in task manager).
I read on the web that I can run the method .Terminate of these objects to kill them.
However, neither the Locals window while in breakmode nor the Object Browser for the "SWbemObjectEx" class, nor the official doc at https://learn.microsoft.com/it-ch/windows/win32/wmisdk/swbemobjectex, show this method .Terminate.
And what surprises me is that it works, although not for all the objects...
Why? and how could I see all these hidden(?) methods for this class?

Answer 1

try this code:
Option Explicit
Sub funTaskTerminate()
Dim objTask As Object
Dim objProcesses As Object
Dim objProcess As Object
' Set the object for Task Manager
Set objTask = GetObject("winmgmts:")
' Set the object for all the processes in query
Set objProcesses = objTask.ExecQuery("select * from win32_process where name='iexplore.exe'")
' Loop for all processes in query
For Each objProcess In objProcesses
' In my test, there were 3 processes, but the first Terminate () killed all the others, therefore,
' in the second Terminate () the process no longer existed,
' which caused an error, so the use of "Resume Next".
'------------------------------------------
On Error Resume Next
Call objProcess.Terminate ' Terminate the process
On Error GoTo 0
Next
Set objTask = Nothing
Set objProcesses = Nothing
Set objproces = Nothing
End Sub

Answer 2

The .Terminate method is part of the Win32_Process class. Put a breakpoint onCall objProcess.Terminateand add a watch onobjProcess. That will show you a.Methods_collection, where second item is.Terminate.
Also note the.Properties_collection to get infos on that process (e.g handle).
This sub prints the collections to the immediate window, just call it inside the loop throughobjProcesses, e.g.
...
For Each objProcess In objProcesses
PrintPropertiesAndMethods objProcess
...
Private Sub PrintPropertiesAndMethods(Process As WbemScripting.SWbemObjectEx)
With Process
Debug.Print vbCrLf & "Properties_ collection:"
Dim Prop As WbemScripting.SWbemProperty
For Each Prop In .Properties_
With Prop
Debug.Print .Name & " " & .Value
End With
Next
Debug.Print vbCrLf & "Methods_ collection:"
Dim Method As WbemScripting.SWbemMethod
For Each Method In .Methods_
With Prop
Debug.Print Method.Name
End With
Next
End With
End Sub
You have to be carefull when terminateiexploror.exeas it has a main process (x64 - C:\Program Files\Internet Explorer), that creates a child process (x86 - C:\Program Files (x86)\Internet Explorer) for each tab (check in task-manager). If you terminate the main process, all childs will terminate too. Too get a second main process for testing, use Run as Admin.