# IE Shortcut in XP to launch new instance?
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ie-shortcut-in-xp-to-launch-new-instance/255608
**Category:** Factual Questions
**Created:** [July 17, 2004, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ie-shortcut-in-xp-to-launch-new-instance/255608 "2004-07-17T18:42:32Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@CheapBastid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CheapBastid)
#### Post date: [July 17, 2004, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ie-shortcut-in-xp-to-launch-new-instance/255608/1 "2004-07-17T18:42:32Z")
I’m a LazyBastid as well as a CheapBastid and I found it enormously useful to create a keyboard shortcut to allow me to open a new instance of IE (6) on my machine. In W2K it worked like a charm, but in XP it doesn’t.
If one instance of IE that has been opened with the shortcut is running, hitting the shortcut combo (\*\*ctrl+shift+x \*\* is the one I use) doesn’t open a new instance. I’ve Googled™ on it, and searched through all the settings and I can’t seem to find anything that indicates how I force IE in XP to open a new instance when I hit the keyboard shortcut combo. If I click the shortcut it opens up a new instance fine.
Stumped! Anyone have a suggestion/solution?
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### Author:  [@Polycarp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Polycarp)
#### Post date: [July 17, 2004, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ie-shortcut-in-xp-to-launch-new-instance/255608/2 "2004-07-17T18:47:43Z")
I don’t know XP at all, but in Windows 98 and Windows 2000 Professional, adding MSIE to one’s toolbar allows you to click on the “e” icon and open a new instance, without having to go through keyboard shortcuts at all. Will this work for XP?
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### Author:  [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)
#### Post date: [July 17, 2004, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ie-shortcut-in-xp-to-launch-new-instance/255608/3 "2004-07-17T18:49:27Z")
> [@CheapBastid](#):
>
> Stumped! Anyone have a suggestion/solution?
Why create a new shortcut with a hotkey combo, when IE already has one? Hit CTRL-N, and IE will open a new instance containing a copy of the page in the previous instance. Or am I misunderstanding what you are trying to do?
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### Author:  [@CheapBastid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CheapBastid)
#### Post date: [July 17, 2004, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ie-shortcut-in-xp-to-launch-new-instance/255608/4 "2004-07-17T18:52:54Z")
> [@Polycarp](#):
>
> I don’t know XP at all, but in Windows 98 and Windows 2000 Professional, adding MSIE to one’s toolbar allows you to click on the “e” icon and open a new instance, without having to go through keyboard shortcuts at all. Will this work for XP?
I’m not sure how that would work, but I’m a Keyboard Shortcut kinda guy. Having to move the mouse over to a spot on the screen takes longer than clicking my habitual **ctrl+shift+x** combo.
Thanks for the suggestion though!
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### Author:  [@CheapBastid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CheapBastid)
#### Post date: [July 17, 2004, 6:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ie-shortcut-in-xp-to-launch-new-instance/255608/5 "2004-07-17T18:57:03Z")
> [@Q.E.D.](#):
>
> Why create a new shortcut with a hotkey combo, when IE already has one? Hit CTRL-N, and IE will open a new instance containing a copy of the page in the previous instance. Or am I misunderstanding what you are trying to do?
Hmmm, that works, but it can take a bit longer to load, as it is trying to open a new instance of the current page. I’d set the shortcut with a **-nohome** for quick loading.
I just loved having my easy combo.
☹
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### Author:  [@erislover](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/erislover)
#### Post date: [July 17, 2004, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ie-shortcut-in-xp-to-launch-new-instance/255608/6 "2004-07-17T18:58:13Z")
At work I use IE quite often. Ctrl+LeftClick opens a link in a new window, and Ctrl+n opens a copy of the existing page.
Normally, though, I press Win+r to open the “Run” dialog, and type _iexplore [www.SiteIWantToVisit.com](http://www.SiteIWantToVisit.com)_, followed by enter.
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### Author:  [@Johnny\_Bravo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_Bravo)
#### Post date: [July 17, 2004, 7:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ie-shortcut-in-xp-to-launch-new-instance/255608/7 "2004-07-17T19:01:01Z")
Download Firefox and then install one of the mousegesture programs. You’ll wonder how you ever got by without them.
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### Author:  [@CheapBastid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CheapBastid)
#### Post date: [July 17, 2004, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ie-shortcut-in-xp-to-launch-new-instance/255608/8 "2004-07-17T19:03:40Z")
> [@erislover](#):
>
> At work I use IE quite often. Ctrl+LeftClick opens a link in a new window, and Ctrl+n opens a copy of the existing page.
>
> Normally, though, I press Win+r to open the “Run” dialog, and type _iexplore [www.SiteIWantToVisit.com](http://www.SiteIWantToVisit.com)_, followed by enter.
Another thing is **shift+click** will open a link in a new window as well.
I do love how there are many ways to accoplish getting to sites, but I’ve found my method to be quickest. My usual scenario is that I have several instances of IE open with topics or sites of interest, and then a new idea pops into my head, or I want to search on something and I want to open a quick window to pursue a new topic of interest.
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### Author:  [@erislover](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/erislover)
#### Post date: [July 17, 2004, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ie-shortcut-in-xp-to-launch-new-instance/255608/9 "2004-07-17T19:03:52Z")
by the way, I’m a huge keyboard guy, I hate using the mouse if I don’t have to. One thing that has helped me is setting up keyboard shortcuts for shortcuts in the start menu or on the desktop. For example, go through your start menu and find the IE shortcut. Rick-click for properties. Under shortcut key, press a combination (I like Ctrl+Alt+E). Apply. This will go to your home page, though. If you want to change _that_ behavior, just append “about:blank” to the **Target** string (outside the quotes, and it doesn’t need any quotes). That will have the exact behavior you’re looking for _unless_ any particular program you’re using has a Ctrl+Alt+E shortcut itself.
Then, when it opens, Alt+D goes to the address bar and you are all set!
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### Author:  [@erislover](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/erislover)
#### Post date: [July 17, 2004, 7:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ie-shortcut-in-xp-to-launch-new-instance/255608/10 "2004-07-17T19:05:14Z")
> [@CheapBastid](#):
>
> Another thing is **shift+click** will open a link in a new window as well.
That is exactly what I meant. whoops!
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### Author:  [@erislover](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/erislover)
#### Post date: [July 17, 2004, 7:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ie-shortcut-in-xp-to-launch-new-instance/255608/11 "2004-07-17T19:06:45Z")
Ohhh, so the OP’s problem is that you have created a keyboard shortcut as I described, but it won’t open _additional_ instances? sorry for the multiple posts here…
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### Author:  [@CheapBastid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CheapBastid)
#### Post date: [July 17, 2004, 7:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ie-shortcut-in-xp-to-launch-new-instance/255608/12 "2004-07-17T19:07:58Z")
> [@erislover](#):
>
> by the way, I’m a huge keyboard guy, I hate using the mouse if I don’t have to. One thing that has helped me is setting up keyboard shortcuts for shortcuts in the start menu or on the desktop. For example, go through your start menu and find the IE shortcut. Rick-click for properties. Under shortcut key, press a combination (I like Ctrl+Alt+E). Apply. This will go to your home page, though. If you want to change _that_ behavior, just append “about:blank” to the **Target** string (outside the quotes, and it doesn’t need any quotes). That will have the exact behavior you’re looking for _unless_ any particular program you’re using has a Ctrl+Alt+E shortcut itself.
>
> Then, when it opens, Alt+D goes to the address bar and you are all set!
That is exactly the situation I have (except I use -nohome).
The problem is that in XP it won’t open a new instance if one is already open.
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### Author:  [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)
#### Post date: [July 17, 2004, 7:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ie-shortcut-in-xp-to-launch-new-instance/255608/13 "2004-07-17T19:10:10Z")
> [@CheapBastid](#):
>
> The problem is that in XP it won’t open a new instance if one is already open.
Do you have a popup blocker running?
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### Author:  [@CheapBastid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CheapBastid)
#### Post date: [July 17, 2004, 7:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ie-shortcut-in-xp-to-launch-new-instance/255608/14 "2004-07-17T19:10:50Z")
> [@Q.E.D.](#):
>
> Do you have a popup blocker running?
Nope, but good troubleshooting question!
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### Author:  [@erislover](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/erislover)
#### Post date: [July 17, 2004, 7:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ie-shortcut-in-xp-to-launch-new-instance/255608/15 "2004-07-17T19:16:15Z")
Go to a different page with a launched window. If you use the shortcut, does it hijack the browser back to the default page?
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### Author:  [@CheapBastid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CheapBastid)
#### Post date: [July 17, 2004, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ie-shortcut-in-xp-to-launch-new-instance/255608/16 "2004-07-17T19:17:34Z")
> [@erislover](#):
>
> Go to a different page with a launched window. If you use the shortcut, does it hijack the browser back to the default page?
Nope, nothing happens. I think this is because I have it set to -nohome. I’ll try removing that switch and see what happens.
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### Author:  [@CheapBastid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CheapBastid)
#### Post date: [July 17, 2004, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ie-shortcut-in-xp-to-launch-new-instance/255608/17 "2004-07-17T19:27:29Z")
> [@CheapBastid](#):
>
> Nope, nothing happens. I think this is because I have it set to -nohome. I’ll try removing that switch and see what happens.
Well, nothing still happens. It doesn’t seem to affect the current open window at all when I hit the keyboard combo. As another piece of info I have the shortcut in the startbar (quicklaunch).
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### Author:  [@erislover](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/erislover)
#### Post date: [July 17, 2004, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ie-shortcut-in-xp-to-launch-new-instance/255608/18 "2004-07-17T19:29:44Z")
I’m on W2K and I can’t get that shortcut to work at all from quicklaunch. Heh.
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### Author:  [@factorial](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/factorial)
#### Post date: [July 17, 2004, 8:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ie-shortcut-in-xp-to-launch-new-instance/255608/19 "2004-07-17T20:02:41Z")
Well, in terms of a desktop shortcut that works for me, I found doing
Target: “C:\Program Files\Internet Explorer\iexplore.exe” “[http://www.straightdope.com](http://www.straightdope.com)”
allowed me to have each shortcut open in a new window. I assigned the shortcut Ctrl + Shift + X and it would open each in a new window.
Given this, I changed the target to: “C:\Program Files\Internet Explorer\iexplore.exe” “-nohome” and the shortcut attempted to open “http://-nohome”. Clearly this would not be acceptable as it tries to resolve the domain name.
Then I changed the target to: “C:\Program Files\Internet Explorer\iexplore.exe” -nohome
It works with this target, allowing you to open as many -nohome windows as you want!
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### Author:  [@factorial](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/factorial)
#### Post date: [July 17, 2004, 8:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ie-shortcut-in-xp-to-launch-new-instance/255608/20 "2004-07-17T20:05:52Z")
Oh, and if I have the cursor in an edit area with the Ctrl + Shift + X shortcut, there’s major lag before the IE window opens. Changing to Ctrl + Alt + X seems to have alleviated this problem. I do not know why this might be.
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