#684 (devpulse): registry.py is_pid_alive Windows-guards its os.kill(pid,0) — win32 early-returns to OpenProcess+GetExitCodeProcess (os.kill(pid,0)=TerminateProcess on Windows, KILLS the target). #682 checker no longer flags it; 26 registry tests green. git_lock_tool.py:120 deferred to a separate cleanup (pre-existing tool debt: 42 prints/no-meta/architecture fail the gate).

src/aipass/devpulse/apps/handlers/watchdog/registry.py

@@ -173,10 +173,45 @@ def _is_zombie_linux(pid: int) -> bool:
     return False
 
 
+def _pid_alive_windows(pid: int) -> bool:
+    """Windows-safe liveness via OpenProcess + GetExitCodeProcess (mirrors agent.py)."""
+    import ctypes
+    from ctypes import wintypes
+
+    PROCESS_QUERY_LIMITED_INFORMATION = 0x1000
+    STILL_ACTIVE = 259
+
+    kernel32 = ctypes.windll.kernel32  # type: ignore[attr-defined]  # Windows-only
+    kernel32.OpenProcess.argtypes = [wintypes.DWORD, wintypes.BOOL, wintypes.DWORD]
+    kernel32.OpenProcess.restype = wintypes.HANDLE
+    kernel32.GetExitCodeProcess.argtypes = [wintypes.HANDLE, ctypes.POINTER(wintypes.DWORD)]
+    kernel32.GetExitCodeProcess.restype = wintypes.BOOL
+    kernel32.CloseHandle.argtypes = [wintypes.HANDLE]
+    kernel32.CloseHandle.restype = wintypes.BOOL
+
+    handle = kernel32.OpenProcess(PROCESS_QUERY_LIMITED_INFORMATION, False, pid)
+    if not handle:
+        return False
+    try:
+        exit_code = wintypes.DWORD()
+        if not kernel32.GetExitCodeProcess(handle, ctypes.byref(exit_code)):
+            return False
+        return exit_code.value == STILL_ACTIVE
+    finally:
+        kernel32.CloseHandle(handle)
+
+
 def is_pid_alive(pid: int) -> bool:
-    """Return True if the process exists and is not a zombie."""
+    """Return True if the process exists and is not a zombie. Windows-safe."""
     if not isinstance(pid, int) or pid <= 0:
         return False
+    if sys.platform == "win32":
+        # os.kill(pid, 0) TERMINATES the target on Windows — use OpenProcess.
+        try:
+            return _pid_alive_windows(pid)
+        except Exception as exc:
+            logger.info("[watchdog.registry] PID %s Windows check failed (assuming alive): %s", pid, exc)
+            return True
     try:
         os.kill(pid, 0)
     except ProcessLookupError as exc: