OFF97: Two Instances of Same Program in Switch-to List

• Microsoft Excel 97 for Windows
• Microsoft Word 97 for Windows
• Microsoft Office 97 for Windows
• Microsoft Windows 95

SYMPTOMS

When you switch between Microsoft Office programs by pressing ALT+TAB, two instances of a program may appear in the switching window. However, when you view the task list, only one instance of the program appears.

CAUSE

This problem occurs when all of the following conditions are true:

• You start an Office 97 program and start Microsoft Office Assistant.

  -and-

• You display a dialog box (for example, the Format Cells dialog box) and start balloons for Office Assistant by pressing F1.

  -and-

• You switch to another program such as Notepad, and then switch back to the Office program.

  -and-

• You press F1 to reactivate the balloon for Office Assistant

RESOLUTION

Only once instance of the Office program is running. Choosing either icon in the switching window activates the same instance of the program.

Pressing ALT+TAB again displays the one instance that is running. Additionally, pressing CTRL+ALT+DELETE to display the task list displays only one instance of the Office program.

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in the Microsoft products listed at the beginning of this article. We are researching this problem and will post new information here in the Microsoft Knowledge Base as it becomes available.