Copyright: Vector Development 1997


 Main Dialog

Now that you have Dunce installed on your system we can begin looking at its features.  When you first run Dunce a splash screen will be displayed (this is a once per version screen so don't worry about it).  After that the main dialog is displayed.  Once again this dialog is only brought up the VERY first time.  This dialog is the control center of Dunce everything is either located in this dialog or can be accessed from this dialog.  There are two methods of bringing this dialog up.  You may run the dunce.exe program (by double clicking on it or selecting it from the Start Menu if you added it) or from the Tray, which we will deal with later.

The Main Dialog is divided into sections with tabs to naviagate between them.  You can click on the tabs to switch between each section or the keyboard shortcut: Ctl+Tab.

At the bottom of the Dialog are the following buttons:

•	Quit:  This unloads Dunce from memory and makes all of its features unusable until it is run again.  Unusual to use unless you're testing a lot like me.

•	OK or Close:  The Normal, just saves what you changed and closes the dialog.

•	Cancel:  Cancels the changes and closes the dialog.

•	Apply:  Saves the settings you have selected without closing the dialog box.

Once you do this you cannot Cancel these settings thus, the Cancel button becomes disabled and the OK button is retitled Close.

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 Uninstalling Dunce

Uninstalling Procedure:

1)   Find the executible files of Dunce (dunce.exe) on your machine.

2)   Double click on the Dunce executible until you see a dialog (1-2 double-clicks).

3)   In the dialog go to the Misc tab.

4)   Uncheck the AutoLoad Dunce on Startup

5)   Click on the Apply Button.

6)   Click on the Quit Button.

7)   Now you can delete the files from your machine safely.

8)   If you have difficulty removing files check if they are Read-only by:

      Clicking on the file and type Alt+Enter

      Unchecking the Read-only checkbox

      Cllicking on the OK button.

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DUN Tab
 "DUN Tab" In Main Dialog

This tab contains the features that specifically relate to Dial-Up Networking Connections.

•	Bypass Connect To Dialog:  This checkbox controls if Dunce presses connect on the Connect To dialog, this is really a necessity but if you don't want Dunce to press the connect button for you it can be turned off.  The edit box right beside it sets the number of seconds Dunce waits after detecting the dialog box before pressing connect for you.

•	Force Redial if line is busy:  This feature will cause Dunce to press okay on the dialog that comes up telling you that the line is busy.  The edit box next to it again corresponds to the amount of time Dunce waits after seeing this box, this can be useful to give modems time to reset.  Note:  This should not be a replacement for the redial feature in the Dial-Up Networking folder, this feature is really for those of you who are using AutoDial so that when you run a program that requires a network socket it starts the connection to your provider.  When dialing in this way Dial-Up Networking will NOT redial that's were Dunce comes in.

•	Force Reconnect if Disconnected:  This feature causes Dunce to respond OK to the Reestablish Connection Dialog.  Again the edit box sets the time Dunce waits before responding after seeing the dialog.  Note:  If you want Dunce to hit Cancel to this dialog open up the ini file and change the ForceReconnect= setting to 2.  Like: ForceReconnect=2.  This may be necessary in some cases where you are using Automated Connections and your ISP drops on you since DUN won't allow another connection until that box is responded to.  Sorry, this doesn't have a user-interface as it got thrown in at the last minute.  You have to quit Dunce and restart it before this takes effect or do a reload of the ini file see below for more info (the Cancel feature that is, the OK feature doesn't require this).  This feature has another hack in it.  Currently if you're bumped off the server, Dunce treats this as a normal disconnect event and will close programs setup to close on disconnect (see the Run Options section for details on this feature).  If you don't want it to close programs when you're bumped off the server but still close them if you normally disconnect then add this to your dunce.ini file in the [DUNCE] section:

CloseProgramsOnReconnect=0  That will prevent programs from closing ONLY when a ReEstablish Connection Dialog shows up.

•	Minimize Connected Dialog:  When the Connected To dialog telling you that you have been connected to the service comes up Dunce will minimize it after the amount of time specified in the edit box to the right of this check box.  Note:  This feature really doesn't work with OEM Service Release 2 (OSR2) so I have disabled it if you are running OSR2.

•	User Defined:  This checkbox toggles the User Defined Dialog defined in the edit boxes below.  This allows everyone to add their favorite dialog to the items that Dunce handles.  Just like all the other features there is an edit box to the right of the checkbox to determine the timeout after which Dunce handles the dialog.

•	Button Name:  This edit box contains the name of the button that you want Dunce to press when it detects the User Defined Dialog.  If the Button you want pressed contains an underline in the name then you must add an ampersand BEFORE the character that is Underlined.  Example:  The Button is named Help and the H is underlined I would enter &Help in the Button Name Edit Box.

•	Window Title:  This edit box contains the Title of the Window that you want Dunce to watch for and then handle.  Example:  I want Dunce to press OK at the Dialog that comes up prompt me for the Callback Number.  This dialog is Titled "Callback Security" as is displayed at the top in the title bar to the left of the close box (the one with X in it).  So I type Callback Security in the Window Title Edit box and enter OK in the Button Name Edit box.

•	Expand Details:  When the Connected To dialog shows up this makes it so it automatically expands the dialog out to show you what protocol the connection was done under.  There is no edit box on this feature to control how long after seeing the dialog it does this.  However, it uses the same time settings as the Minimize Connected Dialog feature does.  Again, this isn't really necessary with OSR2 but I left it enabled since it works, why you would want to use it is beyond me.

•	Run:  This checkbox toggles if Dunce will Run programs at various times during your connection.  This feature is NOT compatible with MSN connections, Sorry.  To configure it click on the Run Options Button, information on that dialog is found below.

•	Password:  This lets Dunce type in a Password for you in the Connect To Dialog Box.  Obviously the box to the right of this checkbox contains the password that Dunce will enter.  This is useful if you can't use Password Caching built into 95 or if yours is broken (which is the case for many people who have upgraded to Service Pack 1, see the Dunce tips WWW page for more info on this).  Note:  The password is encrypted however the encryption is not secure enough to keep out a fairly well versed hacker or the NSA (National Security Administration, a yucky U.S. invention).  However, with your password being saved you're really relying upon the physical security of the system anyway because they could just walk up and log on as you.  In any case Vector Development will NOT take any responsibilty for the security of this password.  The encryption is there to make you feel a little bit safer but it isn't DES or anything.

•	AutoDial:  When this checkbox is checked Dunce will cause a dialout when a WinSock Application (32-bit only) attempts to access a network resource.  The List Box to this checkbox's right contains the list of connections that are available, select the one you want Dunce to dial when the action described above occurs.  The Setup Button to the far right brings up the Properties for the connection currently listed in the List Box.  Example:  I open up Netscape, Dunce will then cause the connection that is listed in the List Box to start.

NOTE:  This feature is implemented by the URL.DLL.  This file is licensed to Vector Development by Microsoft.  If you do not like the way that the it dials out complain to them not me.  Also be sure that if Dunce prompts you to place this file in your System Directory that you say Yes if you intend to use this feature.  If this file isn't installed in the System Directory when you turn this feature on, Dunce will prompt you again to install it.

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 Installing Dunce

1)  Before you do anything if you've been using a previous copy of Dunce delete the shortcut in the StartUp Items, just trust me on this one okay.  Also make sure that you Quit out of the old version of Dunce, you can do this by Right Clicking on the small icon next to the clock in your taskbar and then clicking on the Quit button.

2)  Now extract Dunce into a directory of its own, probably c:\dunce, with whatever program you use to extract zip files.

3)  Now all you have to do is run the dunce.exe file.

4)  Dunce will prompt you if you want it to install it as a StartUp Item.  Please say Yes to this prompt.  Dunce will only work if it is loaded.  You can load it manually whenever you want it if you want but it is so small that there is little reason for this.  This operation places a value into the Registry.  The readme.txt file details where this value is placed.

5)  If you do not already have a file named URL.DLL in your System Directory Dunce may prompt you if you want to install the URL.DLL file into your System Directory.  If you intend to use the AutoDial feature say yes to this prompt.  The AutoDial feature allows Dunce to dial into your Internet Provider when a WinSock program requests a Network Resource.  Some Users may already have the URL.DLL file since it is included in Microsoft Plus! and Internet Explorer 2.x and 3.x.  If you already have this file Dunce will not prompt nor replace the file.

NOTE ALL ENTERED PASSWORDS FROM PREVIOUS VERSIONS OF DUNCE ARE LOST WHEN

YOU INSTALL THIS VERSION.  THIS IS DUE TO A CHANGE IN THE ENCRYPTION

ROUTINE.

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Automated Connections Tab
 "Automated Connections Tab" In Main Dialog

This is probably the most confusing tab in Dunce.  It allows you to control when Dunce will activate a given connection without you even being there.  Really useful, ehh?

•	Automated Connections:  This toggles Automated Connections being on or off.

•	Connection Name:  This drop-down box lists all of the connections on your system.  You select the connection that you want Dunce to dial into at the specified time below here.

•	Setup:  This button allows you to get to the property sheet of the Connection so that you can change phone numbers etc...

•	Password:  This is the password to use for this connection.  This is a separate password from the one in the main dialog and is stored separately.  If you are using Password Caching you can leave this checkbox unchecked and Dunce will use your cached password.

•	Redial:  This sets the number of times Dunce will attempt to connect for a given Automated Connection.  This has no effect on other connection types.  If this checkbox is unchecked then no redials will occur.  Events that trigger redials include busy signals and no dial tones.

•	Connect at:  This is the time that Dunce will Connect at.  I think this is self-explanatory for the most part.

•	Disconnect at:  This is the time that Dunce will Disconnect at.  This event will only occur if Dunce made the connection.

•	Repeat every:  Repeats this process every x number of hours as the box says.  Example:  Dunce is setup to connect at 8:00 A.M. and disconnect at 8:15 A.M.  If the repeat hour rate is set to 2 hours then Dunce will also connect at 10:00 A.M and disconnect at 10:15 A.M and also at 12:00 P.M. and 12:15 P.M. and so on...

•	Run Items:  This tells Dunce if you want it to run some of the run Items that are checked as Active for Automated Connections.  This toggles all of them on or off.

•	Run Options:  This button brings up the Run Options Dialog.

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Run Options Dialog
 "Run Options" Dialog

This tabbed dialog lets you easily access the 4 run items.  Each item has its own tab and each item has the same settings so we will only cover what each control does once.

•	Item Active:  This checkbox controls if this item is Active for manually or Auto-Dial connections (i.e. connections that you either double clicked on the connection icon to start or ones that a WinSock program started).  This does not control if an item is active for Dunce's Automated Connections.

•	Active for Automated Connections:  This checkbox toggles if this item will be run when Dunce executes an Automated Connection.  See the Automated Connections Dialog for more info on this.

•	Close for Manual Connections:  If this checkbox is checked it means that Dunce will close this program when DUN disconnects from the server.  Note, currently it doesn't close if you get dumped off the server, this is intentional.  Let me know if you don't like it.  This feature will be disabled if your path contains C:\WINDOWS\EXPLORER.EXE.  If it was enabled it might close the Shell on you which isn't much fun.

•	Close for Automated Connections:  Does the same thing as Close for Manual Connections except this only occurs if Dunce Disconnects because it reaches the end of an Automated Connection session.  If you Cancel out of the disconnect and later disconnect, Dunce does NOT close out the program, unless it is setup to also close for Manual Connections.  This feature will be disabled if your path contains C:\WINDOWS\EXPLORER.EXE.  If it was enabled it might close the Shell on you which isn't much fun.

•	Allow Multiple Instances of Program:  If this checkbox is checked even if a copy of the program is already running Dunce will start another copy.  This can be annoying if you get disconnected from the net and Dunce reconnects you and then runs another copy of Netscape for instance.  This box is really an override box so you probably will leave it unchecked.  Some programs such as Internet Mail and News from Microsoft require this checkbox to be enbled.

•	Application:  This Edit Box contains the name and full path to the executable that will be run for this item.  If you use a path name that has a space in it (Long File Name) then you must enclose that path in quotes.  This is because Dunce uses the first space it sees as the beginning of command line parameters that some programs use.  For instance if you wanted to have a program with a command line parameter that used a long file name also you would type:  "c:\Connect Time Monitor\ccm30.exe" 1   where the 1 is the command line parameter.

•	Browse:  This button brings up a dialog box that will let you select the application that you want to run.  In some cases (rare) you may find that it won't come up.  If you're having this difficulty delete the contents of the Application box and then try.

•	Default Directory:  This Edit Box defaults to the directory that the application is in and changes itself to such if you change the application.  However, you can change this if you want a program to look for files initially in a different directory.  This is especially useful to start different copies of programs like Pegasus so that they use different .ini files.

•	Run When Dialog Appears:  This group of Radio Buttons allows you to tell Dunce when to run the program.  Each radio box corresponds to the name of a dialog that Dial-Up Networking Displays as it connects you.  If you're unsure about what to set this to set it to Connected To.

•	Run Styles:  This group of Radio Buttons allows you to tell Dunce how to run the program.  I think the names of the buttons are obvious other than Normal which means what would happen if you just double-clicked and didn't have any special properties setup for that application.  Some applications do not function with the Minimized or Maximized features.  Dunce is following standard Windows procedures for starting these programs with this window style.  If it doesn't work complain to the author of that program.

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MSN Tab
 "MSN Tab" in Main Dialog

This tab controls the two features of Dunce that relate to the Microsoft Network.  Unlike previous versions of Dunce you no longer have to enter the path of the Guide.exe file.

•	MSN:  This checkbox toggles MSN features.

•	Delay Sign In Dialog:  This tells Dunce to click Connect after it sees the Sign In Dialog.  It waits the number of seconds specified in the edit box to the right.

•	Quick Shutdown:  This tells Dunce that when Microsoft Network asks if you're sure you want to disconnect to say Yes.  Dunce does this immediately.  There is no delay.

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Misc Tab
 "Misc Tab" in Main Dialog

This tab has miscellaneous settings that control the way Dunce behaves.

•	AutoLoad Dunce on Startup:  This lets you toggle if Dunce is installed as a program to load when Windows95 starts up in the registry.  More than likely you will always leave this checked.  Note:  There is no corresponding .ini setting to this feature.  Dunce looks to see if its path matches the one in the Registry.  For those wondering how this works it places a Value titled Dunce in the following Registry Key:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run

If you want to make this so it only runs for a specific user delete this key and place the key in the following place:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run

If you do this this Checkbox will no longer show as checked.

•	Tray Item:  This enables a tray item.  You ask what is a tray item?  A tray item is a small icon that sits on the lower right hand corner of your taskbar (for most people) next to the clock.  The tray item has three uses.  First of all it tells you Dunce is running.  Second, it gives you an easy way to turn Dunce off.  Just left click on the icon and it will toggle Dunce's features off and on.  Third, you can access a menu with several options on it.  I think these options are self explanitory.  Cool, ehh?

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About Tab
 "About Tab" in Main Dialog

This tab contains my email address and various web sites that contain useful information for you.  You can copy these out by selecting them and then typing Ctrl+C.

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 Technical Support

If you have any questions concerning Dunce, please feel free to contact us.  We'll try to help you out as best as we can.  Before you email us, please make sure you've looked over the help file and our "tips / answers to common questions" section.

Please email us at vecdev@vecdev.com.

In your email please be sure to include your question and the contents of your dunce.ini file located in the directory you installed Dunce to.

Please allow two-three days for a response.

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 Tips / Answers to Common Questions

I'm receiving an error message about resources not loading how do I fix this?

When I startup I get the Main Settings Dialog everytime, isn't this only supposed to happen the very first time I run Dunce?

How can I make Dunce start Internet Mail or Internet News by Microsoft?

How do I make Dunce play a sound on connection?

I want to run more than 4 programs how do I do it?

Why won't isn't Allow Multiple Instances or the Close Program Options working?

Is there a better way to redial?

I want my connection to automatically close when there is not activity, can Dunce do this?

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 Dunce Gold

Dunce Gold is very much like the original Dunce product in basic features. However, Dunce Gold has expanded functionality for power users. Likely candidates for wanting Dunce Gold are users of multiple Dial-Up Networking Profiles or people who want more advanced scheduling. We think you'll find the features that are found in the Dunce Gold product far more flexible than the original Dunce product.

•	Basic features of Dunce freeware.

•	Bypasses the Connect To Dialog.

•	Separate Settings for each Connection Profile.

•	Unlimited Run Options.

•	Unlimited Automated Connections with Advanced Scheduling.

•	Pinging of the Server to keep you online.

•	A disconnect on inactivity that actually works as opposed to MS's.

•	Logging of Connections

Please visit our site at:

http://www.vecdev.com/duncegold.html

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 Vector Development

Vector Development is committed to creating shareware solutions for you!  Due to a split in the company we no longer make Macintosh products all current Macintosh products are now supported and maintained by Yin Yan Productions:  http://www.cjnetworks.com/~machack/yinyan.html

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 Websites

Vector Development Website

http://www.vecdev.com/

Dunce Home Page

http://www.vecdev.com/dunce.html

Dunce Tips Page

http://www.vecdev.com/duncetips.html

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Tip: Runaapp
 Runaapp.exe Problems

Check your RNAAPP.EXE File for the version number by locating the RNAAPP.EXE File in the following directory:

C:\windows\system

Click on the file and hit Alt+Enter and then select the Version Tab...

Once you have the verison number take one of the following actions based off of that number:

Version # 4.00.950

Action:  Delete your RNAAPP.EXE and reinstall Dial-Up Networking.  Your file is corrupt.

Version # 4.00.1???

Action:  This is OSR2, once again you should try reinstalling as described in 4.00.950 if you have problems with this file.

Version # 4.10.????

Action:  This file is not a valid file.  If you received an error message add this setting to your dunce.ini file under the [DUNCE] section:  1040=0

By the way I would suggest you get either the correct file or toss the copy of Nashville you have this is NOT Nashville, this is a bunch of OPK chopped up and put and is not stable, i.e. the binaries were not meant to run together.

Version# 4.70.????

Action:  This is the Nashville file, those of you with this file should no longer be experiencing problems... So if your getting an error try the same as 4.00.950.

If your version number doesn't match any of the above or if none of those fixes work for you try the 1040 setting as described in the 4.10.???? fix. You can set this to 0 or 1. If you are not experiencing any problems after you first run Dunce DO NOT add this flag. This flag overrides my version detection algorithm, if you add it to the file whatsoever and your not having problems more than likely it is going to break what was working. In short if it's working don't try to fix it.

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 Dunce Overview

Dunce (or Dial-Up Networking Connection Enhancement) allows for much easier dial-up networking than Win95 currently provides. The program will automatically press "connect" for you on the "Connect To" dialog box, redial your Internet Provider indefinitely (even from within another application), and auto-reconnect if you get unexpectedly dropped.  Furthermore it can optionally run applications when you are connected and force connections at a given time.  Supports MSN and international versions of Windows. Dunce will also type in your password in the Connect To Dialog.

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Tip: Main Setting Dialog
 Problems With Main Settings Dialog

Solution #1

You forgot to delete the shortcut in the Startup Folder, to correct it:

1.  Go to the Start Menu and select Run...

2.  In the box type (yes, the quotes are required): "c:\windows\Start Menu\Programs\StartUp"

3.  Click on the Dunce Icon and hit the Delete Key.

4.  Say yes, you do want to send the file to the Recycle Bin

Solution #2 (Dunce's mistake, this is only a 2.3 problem)

Dunce didn't virginize your ini file, to correct it either delete the dunce.ini file or follow these steps:

1.  Open your dunce.ini file (in the same directory as your dunce.exe file).

2.  Find any lines that begin like this: Splash??=0 where ?? stands for a number, e.g. Splash20=0 or Splash13=0

3.  Delete those lines but leave in the line that is Splash23=0

4.  Save the file.

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Tip: Internet Mail and News
 Internet Mail and News

To start Internet Mail use the following command line, the quotes are necessary:

"C:\WINDOWS\EXPLORER.EXE" /root,C:\WINDOWS\Internet Mail.{89292102-4755-11cf-9DC2-00AA006C2B84}

To start Internet News use the following command line, the quotes are necessary:

"C:\WINDOWS\EXPLORER.EXE" /root,C:\WINDOWS\Internet News.{89292103-4755-11cf-9DC2-00AA006C2B84}

In both cases be sure to check the Allow Multiple Instances Checkbox for each one of these programs' properties. Otherwise Dunce will not run the program because it will already find EXPLORER.EXE running.  Also note Close Program Features DO NOT work with these applications and Dunce will disable those checkboxes

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Tip: Playing Sound on Connection
 Playing Sound on Connect

Use this as your command line in one of the Run Items:

"C:\WINDOWS\sndrec32.exe" /play /close c:\wav\terminat.wav

Where c:\wav\terminat.wav is the sound you want to play.

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Tip: More Than Four Programs
 Running More Than Four Programs

Create a batch file then for each program you want in a given batch file add a line that follows the following syntax:

START [options] program [arg...]

START [options] document.ext

/m[inimized] Run the new program minimized (in the background).

/max[imized] Run the new program maximized (in the foreground).

/r[estored] Run the new program restored (in the foreground). [default]

/w[ait] Does not return until the other program exits.

You'll have to make a batch file for each one of the times when you want programs to run. I.E. you can't put a program that you want to run when your Connected with a program you want to run when the Connect To Dialog comes up in the same program. For more information on when programs are run read the dunce.txt file that came with Dunce.

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Tip: Better Way to Redial
 Better Way to Redial

Dunce was not intended to redial all the time for you. It was meant to kick in and force redials when the normal Dial-Up Networking wouldn't do it. Dial-Up Networking internally supports redials for up to 100 times on manually started connections (i.e. this does not apply to AutoDial connections). To enable this feature:

1.  Open up the Dial-Up Networking Folder.

2.  Go to the Connections Menu and Select Settings.

3.  Check the Redial CheckBox and set the number of retries.

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Tip: Disconnect on Inactivity
 Disconnect on Inactivity

Dunce cannot, but the feature is already built into Dial-Up Networking. Here is how you enable it:

1.  Open up the Dial-Up Networking Folder.

2.  Click on the connection icon that you want to enable this for.

3.  Type Alt+Enter or Right Click on the icon and select Properties.

4.  In the Dialog that comes up Click on the Configure Button.

5.  In the Dialog that comes up Click on the Connection Tab.

6.  Check the checkbox labeled Disconnect a Call if Idle for more than.

7.  Fill in the idle timeout value.

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 Custom Programs

Vector Development has done a variety of custom work for various individuals and businesses. For information about Vector Development developing a custom solution for you, send us an email at vecdev@vecdev.com.

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Tip: Allow Multiple Instances
 Allow Mutiple Instances

There can be several reasons for this. First of all you must use the normal path to the program not a shortcut. I.E. the application cannot be specified as

c:\windows\desktop\nestscape.lnk it must be specified as c:\netscape\program\netscape.exe.

Some programs such as MS Internet News and Mail do not work with these features... Any program that has c:\windows\explorer.exe as part of its path falls under this.

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HelpScribble

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