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Shortcut for opening a program in new window in the start screen?

Anonymous
2013-02-04T00:16:52+00:00

I'm finding it rather annoying that windows 8 refuses to open a new instance of a desktop application when I click it again in the start screen.   If I want multiple "command prompts" for example, I have to go to start, right click command prompt, click on open in new window.   This is quite inconvenient.   I can't see that there is an option to remove this restriction.  It may make sense for the Metro style apps to open only 1 instance, but it doesn't make sense to impose that restriction on desktop apps.

Can anyone give me a registry hack or a control panel option to fix this annoyance in the start screen?

For now, I added the programs as a separate toolbar in the desktop taskbar, so that I can open multiple instances without using the start screen.  For anyone reading, you can do this by right clicking the taskbar, uncheck lock all taskbars, right click again and click on toolbars -> new toolbar and then drag on new program shortcuts.

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  1. Anonymous
    2013-02-04T05:23:02+00:00

    I'm finding it rather annoying that windows 8 refuses to open a new instance of a desktop application when I click it again in the start screen.   If I want multiple "command prompts" for example, I have to go to start, right click command prompt, click on open in new window.   This is quite inconvenient.   I can't see that there is an option to remove this restriction.  It may make sense for the Metro style apps to open only 1 instance, but it doesn't make sense to impose that restriction on desktop apps.

    Can anyone give me a registry hack or a control panel option to fix this annoyance in the start screen?

    For now, I added the programs as a separate toolbar in the desktop taskbar, so that I can open multiple instances without using the start screen.  For anyone reading, you can do this by right clicking the taskbar, uncheck lock all taskbars, right click again and click on toolbars -> new toolbar and then drag on new program shortcuts.

    Hi

    When you open a Desktop app, an icon for that app will appear on the desktop Taskbar.

    Right click the icon and select the apps name, near the bottom and this will open a new instance of the app.

    Regards

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  1. Anonymous
    2017-05-17T10:57:24+00:00

    In my Windows 8.1 i can use shift-enter when the icon has focus.

    2 people found this answer helpful.
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  2. Anonymous
    2013-12-22T02:42:18+00:00

    I do know of a keyboard shortcut. Click on the icon you want to open a new window of on the task bar. Hold down Ctrl and click N. Every time you click N while holding down Ctrl, it will open another window.

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  3. Anonymous
    2013-04-23T13:52:54+00:00

    Is there a keyboard shortcut for opening a new instance in the start menu?

    I realize I can press the Menu-key and choose it with arrows, but the Menu-key is not very accessible on my keyboard, so I'm looking for another way. 

    Regards,

    Kasper

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  4. Anonymous
    2013-02-04T05:33:58+00:00

    Thank you for that tip! That feature is quite hidden.

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