Can u use "rundll32" to make it work ?
I have seen developers use "rundll32" to open IE from java  code.
Here's a link on rundll commands
dev.remotenetworktechnology.com/cmd/rundll32.htm


if (url.getProtocol().equals("file")) {
command = "rundll32 url.dll,FileProtocolHandler
"+Tools.urlGetFile(url);
} else if (url.toString().startsWith("mailto:")) {
command = "rundll32 url.dll,FileProtocolHandler "+url.toString();

Runtime.getRuntime().exec(command);

You can spawn a browser window without using rundll. however, the AP is after a
method of killing a process, which I dont think can be done portably.

I was thinking there should be a way, Taskmanage is able to kill  an
application. if you could find out how it does that, you cld simulate
it. I agree it is not going to be portable, u may have to code
differently for each OS.

java is not the language of choice for this requirement

I have been trying to use the JNI so I can call the Win32 API:
'TerminateProcess'.
But I was having problems getting windows handles through Java.

try this link http://www.rgagnon.com/javadetails/java-0189.html

he seems to know how to use Win32 API