MR> There's no mechanism to force PM programs to start in any particular
 MR> state, so [...]

There may not be a mechanism to *force* them, but there is a mechanism to
*ask* them:

        [c:\]start /pm /min PROGRAM.EXE

It's a shame that the "Start minimised" checkbox on the [Session] page of a
program object is greyed out for PM programs, because it does actually have a
use.

( Of course, as power users know, there is a sneaky trick to turn on the
"Start minimised" checkbox even if the program is a PM program. )

 ¯ JdeBP ®

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