Q86022: Windows Err Msg: You Cannot Run This Application in a Window

Article: Q86022
Product(s): Microsoft Windows 95.x Retail Product
Version(s): WINDOWS:3.0,3.0a,3.1,3.11
Operating System(s): 
Keyword(s): 
Last Modified: 01-NOV-1999

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The information in this article applies to:

- 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" (without the quotation marks) to the end of the mouse line:

  c:\windows\mouse.com /y

  -or-

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

If Windows is low on system resources, close one or more applications.

Additional query words: 3.10 err msg

======================================================================
Keywords          :  
Technology        : kbWin3xSearch kbZNotKeyword3 kbWin300 kbWin300a kbWin310 kbWin311
Version           : WINDOWS:3.0,3.0a,3.1,3.11

=============================================================================