Windows Err Msg: You Cannot Run This Application in a Window (86022)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Windows 3.0
  • Microsoft Windows 3.0a
  • Microsoft Windows 3.1
  • Microsoft Windows 3.11
This article was previously published under Q86022

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 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.
Modification Type:MinorLast Reviewed:7/7/2005
Keywords:KB86022
©2004 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.