diff --git a/Lib/webbrowser.py b/Lib/webbrowser.py
index 9fd1615..0d5f44f 100644
--- a/Lib/webbrowser.py
+++ b/Lib/webbrowser.py
@@ -165,7 +165,10 @@
         cmdline = [self.name] + [arg.replace("%s", url)
                                  for arg in self.args]
         try:
-            p = subprocess.Popen(cmdline, close_fds=True)
+            if sys.platform[:3] == 'win':
+                p = subprocess.Popen(cmdline)
+            else:
+                p = subprocess.Popen(cmdline, close_fds=True)
             return not p.wait()
         except OSError:
             return False
@@ -178,11 +181,14 @@
     def open(self, url, new=0, autoraise=1):
         cmdline = [self.name] + [arg.replace("%s", url)
                                  for arg in self.args]
-        setsid = getattr(os, 'setsid', None)
-        if not setsid:
-            setsid = getattr(os, 'setpgrp', None)
         try:
-            p = subprocess.Popen(cmdline, close_fds=True, preexec_fn=setsid)
+            if sys.platform[:3] == 'win':
+                p = subprocess.Popen(cmdline)
+            else:
+                setsid = getattr(os, 'setsid', None)
+                if not setsid:
+                    setsid = getattr(os, 'setpgrp', None)
+                p = subprocess.Popen(cmdline, close_fds=True, preexec_fn=setsid)
             return (p.poll() is None)
         except OSError:
             return False
@@ -441,7 +447,7 @@
 
         # if successful, register it
         if retncode is None and commd:
-            register("gnome", None, BackgroundBrowser(commd))
+            register("gnome", None, BackgroundBrowser(commd.split()))
 
     # First, the Mozilla/Netscape browsers
     for browser in ("mozilla-firefox", "firefox",