[SOLVED] Disable Control Panel from opening multiple instances?

[tecnos]

Hi Guys,

I’ve enabled the Control Panel icon on the desktop but for some reason you can open more than one instance.

On Windows 7 if you clicked the Control Panel icon more than once on the desktop it would bring focus back to the first window and not open a second or third or so on…

Anyone know if there is a setting or Reg hack to sort this?

Cheers,
Chris

 

[hotaru.hino]

I don't know if this works on Windows 7 since I tried this in 10, but if you open another instance of File Explorer and type in "Control Panel" in the address bar, it'll take you there.

 

[gardenman]

I don't think he was asking how to open Control Panel, but how to prevent multiple instances of it.

Basically I don't think that you can limit it to a single instance running at once (without some type of special script). There is an app that will auto close 2nd instances, but it doesn't prevent them from being opened. They'll likely flash on screen when the 2nd one is opened before being quickly closed out.

I have not tested this application out and cannot vouch for it.
https://www.dcmembers.com/skrommel/download/singleinstance/

Quote:

SingleInstance doesn’t disable an app’s ability to run multiple instances. That isn’t possible without modifying the app itself.

Source: https://www.addictivetips.com/windows-tips/disable-multiple-instances-of-an-app-on-windows-10/

 

[Ralston18]

Seconding @gardenman

And here is another link:

https://rosettacode.org/wiki/Determine_if_only_one_instance_is_running

Scroll down to the Powershell section.

This "part":

if (Get-Process -Name "notepad" -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue)
{
Write-Warning -Message "notepad is already running."
}
else
{
Start-Process -FilePath C:\Windows\notepad.exe
}

Since it is running a warning message is output.

You will need to have the script launched at startup and continually running in the background.

Comment:

I think the applicable file name is control.exe versus the above example that is using notepad.exe.

 

[hotaru.hino]

I don't think he was asking how to open Control Panel, but how to prevent multiple instances of it.

I blame having a dyslexic moment xP