# Why is my clicking on SDMB threads keep spawing new windows? **URL:** \ **Category:** About This Message Board\ **Created:** [March 1, 2003, 4:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-my-clicking-on-sdmb-threads-keep-spawing-new-windows/158396 "2003-03-01T16:00:51Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2003, 4:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-my-clicking-on-sdmb-threads-keep-spawing-new-windows/158396/1 "2003-03-01T16:00:51Z")
It never did this before today. It always left the old link and opened up a new link in the same window. Now everytime I click on a SDMB thread link a new IE window is spawned ---
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2003, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-my-clicking-on-sdmb-threads-keep-spawing-new-windows/158396/2 "2003-03-01T16:03:13Z")
This is more a nuts and bolts OS technical issue than a MB rules and regs related question so I’m trying it here. If a mod determines it belongs in ATMB please move it. ---
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2003, 4:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-my-clicking-on-sdmb-threads-keep-spawing-new-windows/158396/3 "2003-03-01T16:05:55Z")
What the… the instant (literally) after I posted this it’s no longer doing it. Never mind (unless it starts up again). ---
**Author:** ![Revtim](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/revtim/32/1042_2.png) [@Revtim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revtim)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2003, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-my-clicking-on-sdmb-threads-keep-spawing-new-windows/158396/4 "2003-03-01T16:06:50Z")
Did you try rebooting? ---
**Author:** ![Davebear](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/bcef8e/32.png) [@Davebear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Davebear)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2003, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-my-clicking-on-sdmb-threads-keep-spawing-new-windows/158396/5 "2003-03-01T16:12:50Z")
Did you just upgrade IE? Or, did your machine automatically upgrade it, for you? That’s how links have always behaved, for me. (Personally, I prefer it, but it’s definitely a personnal preference kind of thing.) If it were Windows Explorer, I’d say a setting had gotten changed, because I know this is user-configurable for Windows Explorer. I don’t know of a similar setting for Internet Explorer. Sorry I can’t be of more help. ---
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2003, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-my-clicking-on-sdmb-threads-keep-spawing-new-windows/158396/6 "2003-03-01T16:15:25Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Revtim \* > \*\*Did you try rebooting? \*\* No, I closed down all the IE groups and then cracked up the SDMB again and it kept doing it (until just now) . I tried this several times and when I clicked on a SDMB link it would keep spawning SDMB pages inside these new little pop up sized windows that I would then have to expand. I had 8 SDMB pages open in a minute or so up just by clicking on a few threads. Seems to have abated for now (crosses fingers and makes the the geek protection hex sign across chest) ---
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2003, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-my-clicking-on-sdmb-threads-keep-spawing-new-windows/158396/7 "2003-03-01T16:18:03Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Davebear \* > \*\*Did you just upgrade IE? Or, did your machine automatically upgrade it, for you? That’s how links have always behaved, for me. (Personally, I prefer it, but it’s definitely a personnal preference kind of thing.) If it were Windows Explorer, I’d say a setting had gotten changed, because I know this is user-configurable for Windows Explorer. I don’t know of a similar setting for Internet Explorer. Sorry I can’t be of more help. \*\* I’m running XP and have the MS auto updater activated and there’s always some set of IE or OS patches or updates it applies practically every day. I had forgotten about that. Thanks for the heads up. ---
**Author:** ![Number](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/number/32/242_2.png) [@Number](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Number)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2003, 4:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-my-clicking-on-sdmb-threads-keep-spawing-new-windows/158396/8 "2003-03-01T16:23:28Z")
Perhaps one of your Shift keys was stuck down. Shift-clicking a link will cause it to open in a new window. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Kentzel-Griffin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ccd318/32.png) [@John\_Kentzel-Griffin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Kentzel-Griffin)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2003, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-my-clicking-on-sdmb-threads-keep-spawing-new-windows/158396/9 "2003-03-01T16:24:47Z")
I’ll move this to ATMB. Maybe someone there can answer your question. If you still have a question. **DrMatrix** - GQ Moderator ---
**Author:** ![Scruloose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e68b1a/32.png) [@Scruloose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scruloose)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2003, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-my-clicking-on-sdmb-threads-keep-spawing-new-windows/158396/10 "2003-03-01T16:26:48Z")
Ah yes, the old “Stuck Shift Key” problem. That sneaky little gem has caused me quite a bit of grief and many, many re-boots in the past. :smack: ---
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2003, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-my-clicking-on-sdmb-threads-keep-spawing-new-windows/158396/11 "2003-03-01T16:27:16Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Number \* > \*\*Perhaps one of your Shift keys was stuck down. Shift-clicking a link will cause it to open in a new window. \*\* Per your tip I just tried holding the shift key down and clicking on a link and it did the little multi-window spawn thing just like before. I’m betting your analysis of what happened is correct as these wireless keyboard keys will get flaky occasionally. Thanks!