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Stop multiple instances launching from Windows 8 start menu

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  • Last reply by daneyulb

daneyulb
daneyulb
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There's a new operating system called Windows 8. It has a new Start menu with a new interface (Metro, or "Modern" it's called)

When you launch most normal Windows applications they don't launch a new instance (unless of course you hold down Shift when clicking).

When you launch Firefox from Win 8's Start--it ALWAYS launches a new instance.

This is bad, because there's no way to tell, from Windows Start, if it is already running (other than jumping back to the Desktop).

So, is there any About: voodoo, or other trick to prevent Firefox from launching a 2nd instance if it's already running when it's Win 8 START icon is clicked?

There's a new operating system called Windows 8. It has a new Start menu with a new interface (Metro, or "Modern" it's called) When you launch most normal Windows applications they don't launch a new instance (unless of course you hold down Shift when clicking). When you launch Firefox from Win 8's Start--it ALWAYS launches a new instance. This is bad, because there's no way to tell, from Windows Start, if it is already running (other than jumping back to the Desktop). So, is there any About: voodoo, or other trick to prevent Firefox from launching a 2nd instance if it's already running when it's Win 8 START icon is clicked?

All Replies (1)

daneyulb
daneyulb Question owner
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For anyone else that sees this problem--reinstalling firefox fixes it--because--the shortcut Metro then uses is here:

C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs

If Metro uses the old shortcut, in your users something folder (don't remember just where) it always opens another instance. Very strange--both shortcuts point to the same firefox, and neither have any additional arguments. Somehow Windows seems to know to launch the new shortcut differently, I'm assuming based on its location. Interestingly, double-clicking either of them in Explorer launches a new firefox instance each time.