diff --git a/src/Mod/Fem/femsolver/elmer/tasks.py b/src/Mod/Fem/femsolver/elmer/tasks.py
index 6afb35848e..8bdc77d304 100644
--- a/src/Mod/Fem/femsolver/elmer/tasks.py
+++ b/src/Mod/Fem/femsolver/elmer/tasks.py
@@ -121,10 +121,18 @@ class Solve(run.Solve):
                 if os.path.isdir(solvpath):
                     os.environ["ELMER_HOME"] = solvpath
                     os.environ["LD_LIBRARY_PATH"] = "$LD_LIBRARY_PATH:{}/modules".format(solvpath)
-            self._process = subprocess.Popen(
+            # hide the popups on Windows
+            if system() == "Windows":
+                self._process = subprocess.Popen(
                 [binary], cwd=self.directory,
                 stdout=subprocess.PIPE,
-                stderr=subprocess.PIPE)
+                stderr=subprocess.PIPE,
+                startupinfo=femutils.startProgramInfo("hide"))
+            else:
+                self._process = subprocess.Popen(
+                    [binary], cwd=self.directory,
+                    stdout=subprocess.PIPE,
+                    stderr=subprocess.PIPE)
             self.signalAbort.add(self._process.terminate)
             output = self._observeSolver(self._process)
             self._process.communicate()
diff --git a/src/Mod/Fem/femsolver/elmer/writer.py b/src/Mod/Fem/femsolver/elmer/writer.py
index fc4ff881b2..6b3c918a68 100644
--- a/src/Mod/Fem/femsolver/elmer/writer.py
+++ b/src/Mod/Fem/femsolver/elmer/writer.py
@@ -33,6 +33,7 @@ import os
 import os.path
 import subprocess
 import tempfile
+from platform import system
 
 from FreeCAD import Console
 from FreeCAD import Units
@@ -223,7 +224,12 @@ class Writer(object):
                     unvPath,
                     "-scale", "0.001", "0.001", "0.001",
                     "-out", self.directory]
-            subprocess.call(args, stdout=subprocess.DEVNULL)
+            # hide the popups on Windows
+            if system() == "Windows":
+                subprocess.call(args, stdout=subprocess.DEVNULL,
+                    startupinfo=femutils.startProgramInfo("hide"))
+            else:
+                subprocess.call(args, stdout=subprocess.DEVNULL)
 
     def _writeStartinfo(self):
         path = os.path.join(self.directory, _STARTINFO_NAME)
diff --git a/src/Mod/Fem/femsolver/z88/tasks.py b/src/Mod/Fem/femsolver/z88/tasks.py
index 64f103f65f..d2c042292a 100644
--- a/src/Mod/Fem/femsolver/z88/tasks.py
+++ b/src/Mod/Fem/femsolver/z88/tasks.py
@@ -31,6 +31,7 @@ __url__ = "https://www.freecadweb.org"
 import os
 import os.path
 import subprocess
+from platform import system
 
 import FreeCAD
 
@@ -118,23 +119,28 @@ class Solve(run.Solve):
         # TODO: search out for "Vector GS" and "Vector KOI" and print values
         # may be compare with the used ones
         self.pushStatus("Executing solver in test mode...\n")
-        self._process = subprocess.Popen(
-            [binary, "-t", "-" + solver],
-            cwd=self.directory,
-            stdout=subprocess.PIPE,
-            stderr=subprocess.PIPE)
-        self.signalAbort.add(self._process.terminate)
-        self._process.communicate()
-        self.signalAbort.remove(self._process.terminate)
+        Solve.runZ88(self, "-t", binary, solver, "hide")
 
         # run solver real mode
         self.pushStatus("Executing solver in real mode...\n")
-        binary = settings.get_binary("Z88")
-        self._process = subprocess.Popen(
-            [binary, "-c", "-" + solver],
-            cwd=self.directory,
-            stdout=subprocess.PIPE,
-            stderr=subprocess.PIPE)
+        # starting normal because the user must see the z88 window
+        Solve.runZ88(self, "-c", binary, solver, "normal")
+
+    def runZ88(self, command, binary, solver, state):
+        # minimize or hide the popups on Windows
+        if system() == "Windows":
+            self._process = subprocess.Popen(
+                [binary, command, "-" + solver],
+                cwd=self.directory,
+                stdout=subprocess.PIPE,
+                stderr=subprocess.PIPE,
+                startupinfo=femutils.startProgramInfo(state))
+        else:
+            self._process = subprocess.Popen(
+                [binary, command, "-" + solver],
+                 cwd=self.directory,
+                 stdout=subprocess.PIPE,
+                 stderr=subprocess.PIPE)
         self.signalAbort.add(self._process.terminate)
         self._process.communicate()
         self.signalAbort.remove(self._process.terminate)
diff --git a/src/Mod/Fem/femtools/femutils.py b/src/Mod/Fem/femtools/femutils.py
index 435adf33d2..133c7eca1b 100644
--- a/src/Mod/Fem/femtools/femutils.py
+++ b/src/Mod/Fem/femtools/femutils.py
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 # ***************************************************************************
 # *   Copyright (c) 2017 Markus Hovorka <m.hovorka@live.de>                 *
 # *   Copyright (c) 2018 Bernd Hahnebach <bernd@bimstatik.org>              *
+# *   Copyright (c) 2022 Uwe Stöhr <uwestoehr@lyx.org>                      *
 # *                                                                         *
 # *   This file is part of the FreeCAD CAx development system.              *
 # *                                                                         *
@@ -27,14 +28,14 @@ This module contains function for extracting relevant parts of geometry and
 a few unrelated function useful at various places in the Fem module.
 """
 
-
 __title__ = "FEM Utilities"
-__author__ = "Markus Hovorka, Bernd Hahnebach"
+__author__ = 'Markus Hovorka, Bernd Hahnebach, Uwe Stöhr'
 __url__ = "https://www.freecadweb.org"
 
-
 import os
 import sys
+import subprocess
+from platform import system
 
 import FreeCAD
 if FreeCAD.GuiUp:
@@ -387,3 +388,20 @@ def pydecode(bytestring):
         return bytestring
     else:
         return bytestring.decode("utf-8")
+
+
+def startProgramInfo(code):
+    """ starts a program under Windows minimized, hidden or normal """
+    if system() == "Windows":
+        info = subprocess.STARTUPINFO()
+        if code == "hide":
+            SW_HIDE = 0
+            info.wShowWindow = SW_HIDE
+        elif code == "minimize":
+            SW_MINIMIZE = 6
+            info.wShowWindow = SW_MINIMIZE
+        elif code == "normal":
+            SW_DEFAULT = 10
+            info.wShowWindow = SW_DEFAULT
+        info.dwFlags = subprocess.STARTF_USESHOWWINDOW
+        return info