Stop users trying to run a program multiple times

[Renfield-64]

Sometimes pupils get a bit clicky happy when trying to start a program such as Google Chrome. Because it doesn't open for them in a split second they click on the icon again, and again, and again, and again until the PC fails to respond any more. When I go to check the processes running there are about 20 instances of Google Chrome or whatever they have been trying to open. Microsoft's Kodu for example doesn't appear to start up for at least 5 seconds, by which time they have tried to open it several more times.

Is there anything that can be done (apart from standing over them) about this? Can Windows check to see if that program has already been started and prevent further instances from being opened?

[chazzy2501]

ok, this is a bit left field but you could remove the shortcuts to the programs and create new shortcuts to scheduled tasks that (run the program) and only allow one instance to run.

 

testing now for phun.

[chazzy2501]

ok I've tested it, it totally works

 

 

I created a desktop shortcut {C:\Windows\System32\schtasks.exe /run /tn "TaskName"}

 

 
   2018-11-15T11:26:27.7075198
   DCC-SCH-4505\4505cw
   open word only once
   \open word
 
 
 
   
     S-1-5-21-4210983284-1767645381-1147546538-3156
     InteractiveToken
     LeastPrivilege
   
 
 
   IgnoreNew
   false
   true
   true
   false
   false
   
     true
     false
   
   true
   true
   false
   false
   false
   true
   false
   PT72H
   7
 
 
   
     C:\Program
     Files\Microsoft Office\root\Office16\WINWORD.EXE
   
 

 

Only thing I've not configured yet is how to run in users context.

[Renfield-64]

Ok,

so if we could maybe get this to run when they log on to a PC it might work?

 

Thanks.

[howartp]

I've got a personal shortcut to the Inventory console that crashes/freezes on me periodically.

 

The shortcut actually runs a batch file that taskkill's the old process (whether or not it's running) then runs the new one.

[chazzy2501]

well, you can setup the tasks trigger to run the program as a user logs in but it would always run on login! but you could use GPOP to delete the existing shortcuts, make new shortcuts to the scheduled tasks, which it can also create.

[Renfield-64]

Yes I wouldn't want the program itself to run when they login as they don't always use it.

[Ozone]

You could use an AutoIT script and just replace the shortcut for Chrome with the shortcut to the AutoIT script in a share. Code would be:

 

If ProcessExists("chrome.exe") == 0 Then

ShellExecute("chrome.exe")

EndIf

[Renfield-64]

Ok thanks will try that.