Windows Err Msg: You Cannot Run This Application in a Window

• Microsoft Windows versions 3.0, 3.0a, 3.1, 3.11

SYMPTOMS

When attempting to run an MS-DOS-based application in a window or in the background under Microsoft Windows you may receive the following error message:

You cannot run this application in a window or in the background. You can display it in a window, but it will be suspended until you run it full screen. Check the PIF settings to ensure they are correct.

CAUSE

This problem is most commonly caused by one of the following:

• You are loading the Microsoft MS-DOS level mouse driver version 7.04 or later in the AUTOEXEC.BAT (MOUSE.COM) or in the CONFIG.SYS file (MOUSE.SYS).



• Windows has low system resources. Closing one or more applications may free up enough resources to run the program in a window or in the background.

RESOLUTION

If you are loading the Microsoft Mouse driver 7.04 or later modify the command line for the driver:

1. Edit AUTOEXEC.BAT or CONFIG.SYS with a standard ASCII text editor such as Notepad.



2. Add /Y to the end of the mouse line:
   
   c:\windows\mouse.com /y

   -or-

   device=c:\windows\mouse.sys /y

Additional query words: 3.10 err msg

Keywords :
Version : WINDOWS:3.0,3.0a,3.1,3.11
Platform : WINDOWS
Issue type :