Windows 3.0 Err Msg: Second Instance of Windows

• Microsoft Windows operating system versions 3.0, 3.0a

SUMMARY

If a second instance of Microsoft Windows 3.0 is started from another application (including an MS-DOS virtual session, the MS-DOS Shell, or certain Windows applications), one of the following error messages may be displayed:

   Cannot run second instance of Windows, exit this instance of
   Windows and run from the original version of Windows.

   -or-

   Cannot run a non-Windows application from the second instance
   of Windows; exit this instance of Windows and run your
   application from the original instance.

   -or-

   Insufficient memory to run application; close one or more
   applications to increase available memory and try again.

NOTE: The information in this article applies to Windows 3.0 and 3.0a; it does not apply to later versions of Windows.

MORE INFORMATION

Second Instance of Windows Started from MS-DOS Prompt

A second (or additional) instance of Windows is created if you issue the WIN command from an application running within Windows, including the MS-DOS prompt and MS-DOS batch files. If this happens, the following error may be displayed:

   Cannot run second instance of Windows, exit this instance of
   Windows and run from the original version of Windows.

To end your MS-DOS session and return to Windows, type "EXIT" (without quotation marks) and then press ENTER. To return to Windows without ending your MS-DOS session, press ALT+TAB.

Second Instance of Windows Started from MS-DOS Shell

Although it is not recommended, you can run Windows from the MS-DOS Shell. However, if you attempt to execute an MS-DOS application within Windows and you have the MS-DOS Task Swapper option enabled, the following error message may be displayed:

   Cannot run a non-Windows application from the second instance
   of Windows; exit this instance of Windows and run your
   application from the original.

The following error may be displayed if you try to run Windows in 386 enhanced mode from within the MS-DOS Shell (regardless of the Enable Task Swapper option status):

   Insufficient memory to run application; close one or more
   applications to increase available memory and try again.

Second Instance of Windows Started from an Application

Starting a Windows application such as Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Project, or Microsoft PowerPoint from an MS-DOS batch file inside Windows starts another instance of Windows.

Large Windows applications such as these start an instance of Windows when the application's executable filename is invoked. Smaller Windows applications, such as Notepad, do not start another instance of Windows.

For example, if you type "EXCEL" (without quotation marks) at an MS-DOS command prompt, Microsoft Excel starts as does a new instance of Windows. If you type "NOTEPAD" (without quotation marks) at an MS-DOS command prompt, Notepad does not start unless you type "WIN" before the command (that is, "WIN NOTEPAD").