Running multiple instances of a game windowed at once (Or multiple DXWnds?)
Window hooker to run fullscreen programs in window and much more...
Status: Beta
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Hello! I'm trying to find a good way to run multiple instances of a game in window mode at the same time.
Running multiple instances of the game is not a problem, there is nothing stopping you from doing that. But when I try to run more than one instance windowed, through dxwnd, only the first one works.
One workaround would be to run multiple separate instances of dxwnd as well, but when you try to launch a second one it gives the "DXWnd is already running. Exiting." error.
The only way to get around that, that I have found, is to run the second DXWnd instanced with Sandboxie. I don't like that solution as it becomes very clunky and annoying.
Is there any way to allow DXWnd to run multiple games at once, or at least a way to disable the "DXWnd is already running" thing, so I can run multiple DXWnds?
Last edit: Winsane 2016-09-14
Insert the line "multiprocesshook=1" in dxwnd.ini file, in the [window] section (just below the "[window]" line will do), like in the following sample:
After that DxWnd will run as many game instance you like, but be aware that, depending on the game, things may go wrong: the game may prevent multiple instances of itself, the mouse could be intercepted by multiple games contemporarily and so on. Good luck, but if you run into specific problems let me know, maybe I can suggest some trick or make some workaround, if possible.
This is exactly what I was looking for! This will make my life so much easier. Thank you!
I tried it out for a bit and there were no obvious issues with inputs ect as far as I could tell. I will let you know if I run into anything though! Again, thanks a lot!
Im getting the Dxwnd already running message even after rebooting?
Changed the ini file as mentioned above, no difference.
Cant even see the process in task manager.
Last edit: zed 2023-10-31
The message means that there's another instance of the DxWnd.exe process running, detected by a lock to the global semaphore "DxWnd LOCKER".
Trying to figure why this could happen after a clean reboot, I can imagine only this:
1) there's one DxWnd.exe running in background in the icon tray (maybe you clicked on The menu command "File > Move to tray" ?)
2) there's another process that steals the same semaphore name
In the first case you should see A DxWnd process in the task list or in the tray icons
In the second case, it could be some malicious code?
Thanks for replying.
This what I noticed, which I dont understand why
If I click dxwnd.exe to open the program, I dont get the message.
However when I click any of the targets to open a game, that is when I get the message. It seems it is trying to reopen dxwnd, instead of opening the game?
I can open the game if I click the game exe as a seperate independent process after clicking the target in dxwnd first.
Edit
If I check Early Hook I still get the message but the game launches straight away when I click OK
Last edit: zed 2023-11-03
I need to replicate at least in part your problem to understand. Can you post here the following files?
* dxwnd.dll
* DxWnd.exe
* dxwnd.ini
* possibly, the output of a DIR command in the DxWnd folder
as requested
Thanks
Last edit: zed 2023-11-07
At first sight everything seems fine, but maybe the problem could be caused by this flag:
Options > Global settings > Flags > Check running targets
The purpose of this flag is to warn you and forbid the execution of a task if another instance is already running, which is not your case. Try to de-select it and please let me know ...
I apologize, but I filled so much stuff in this program that often I forget some piece of functionality!
I found the prob, I cleared the launch line.
The warning message was ambiguous
Sorry for the trouble
Thanks
Last edit: zed 2023-11-08
After inserting multiprocesshook=1 in the ini file, I am running into a problem where the game launches in double.
For example if I run program "1", another "1" launches after a second.
Do I need to uncheck something?
This should not happen, unless the command is issued twice. You may have problems with the mouse sending double clicks. Try to select the task entry in the DxWnd panel and then run the game by typing the ENTER key. If the problem doesn't show this way, it is almost sure that the culprit is the mouse. You should be able to fix it in the mouse setup options.
The only fix I could find was to make the "multiprocesshook=0".
ENTER would still run it double...
Would you please answer more questions?
1) Is there an option to show a game tab to drag the window to a place I want? I have attached an image to show a game without a tab.
2) keyboards do not register unless I alt+tab to the specific tab. Only clicks work. Is there an option to make the tab that I click the tab that I am working on?
So, the mouse is innocent. I would need to test the game, is there a way to grab a copy?
Set the "Video > Window style" selector to "thick frame" and, if necessary, set the "Video > lock style" flag
I'm not sure I understand the situation. The answer anyway could be one of the flags in the "Input > DirectInput" panel. If I get a copy of the game, I'll test it.
https://www.sgalaxy.com/index.html is the link for the game.
Thank you for your time.
I tried the game (version v1.85, no cinematics because I can't download them) only up to the main menu (I'm not going to register) but the problem of double activation didn't happen. Does the double run happen before the main menu is shown, or should I go further on?
Are you using the latest DxWnd version? I recall that some older versions had some problem with semaphore locking. The last one is in the download area, v2.06.12.
The program SG.exe is the client of a network game, so DxWnd can't grant control of everything, it is also possible that the effect is caused by the server logic, who knows?
I am using DxWind v2.06.12.
You don't need to go further on since the game launches double almost at the same time for me.
I guess it could be the server logic.
Thank you for the answers.