# WTF???? My computer only lets me keep one browser window open! **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [October 1, 2005, 10:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wtf-my-computer-only-lets-me-keep-one-browser-window-open/324384 "2005-10-01T22:57:56Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spectre_of_pithecanthropus/32/12343_2.png) [@Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spectre_of_Pithecanthropus)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2005, 10:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wtf-my-computer-only-lets-me-keep-one-browser-window-open/324384/1 "2005-10-01T22:57:56Z")
All of a sudden my computer only allows me to keep one browser open. For instance, if I’m here and I click on a link in a thread, I lose my SDMB window and it’s replaced by the place I clicked to. Even stranger, if I open a new IExplorer window, then that replaces my Dope session. It seems I can only have one browser window now. The only unusual thing I’ve done is briefly use wireless Internet access at a UCLA coffeehouse. I had to download an applet to be able to do it. Does anyone know how to cure this problem? ---
**Author:** ![Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spectre_of_pithecanthropus/32/12343_2.png) [@Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spectre_of_Pithecanthropus)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2005, 11:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wtf-my-computer-only-lets-me-keep-one-browser-window-open/324384/2 "2005-10-01T23:07:16Z")
BTW I noticed this behavior while I was at the coffeehouse. Now I’ve deleted the profile I downloaded there, but the behavior persists. ---
**Author:** ![Muad\_Dib](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/35a633/32.png) [@Muad\_Dib](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Muad_Dib)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2005, 11:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wtf-my-computer-only-lets-me-keep-one-browser-window-open/324384/3 "2005-10-01T23:19:58Z")
My father probably programed it to save you bandwidth. ---
**Author:** ![istara](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/e79b87/32.png) [@istara](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/istara)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2005, 11:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wtf-my-computer-only-lets-me-keep-one-browser-window-open/324384/4 "2005-10-01T23:23:56Z")
You might have enabled some sort of “kiosk” mode. They have this at public internet terminals - it is an appalling practice, because it prevents people from being able to surf properly. I am not sure how to disable it in IE, but my recommendation to fix it and enjoy your future browing even more is to switch to FireFox 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spectre_of_pithecanthropus/32/12343_2.png) [@Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spectre_of_Pithecanthropus)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2005, 11:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wtf-my-computer-only-lets-me-keep-one-browser-window-open/324384/5 "2005-10-01T23:39:15Z")
I’m not sure it’s kiosk mode…if that were so shouldn’t the status line be gone? But assuming for the present that I am in kiosk mode, does anyone know how to disable it? ---
**Author:** ![TimeWinder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bcef8e/32.png) [@TimeWinder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TimeWinder)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2005, 12:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wtf-my-computer-only-lets-me-keep-one-browser-window-open/324384/6 "2005-10-02T00:54:08Z")
Go to “Tools-\>Manage Add-Ons” and look for something with a likely name to disable. This doesn’t sound like Kiosk mode – that disables menus and other stuff, as well. ---
**Author:** ![Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spectre_of_pithecanthropus/32/12343_2.png) [@Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spectre_of_Pithecanthropus)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2005, 12:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wtf-my-computer-only-lets-me-keep-one-browser-window-open/324384/7 "2005-10-02T00:55:03Z")
**istara** , I’m not sure I should make that switch to Firefox since this is a company computer and IE is the standard. However, I did find a way around this problem for the short term. By opening ordinary Explorer windows and typing in URLs I can have multiple browsing sessions open. ---
**Author:** ![Daizy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/46a35a/32.png) [@Daizy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Daizy)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2005, 3:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wtf-my-computer-only-lets-me-keep-one-browser-window-open/324384/8 "2005-10-02T03:06:45Z")
Are you able to right click on links and choose to open in a new window?