As it happens, I do use Windows and almost exclusively start IDLE via right-clicks on .py files. I've never seen the behavior you describe documented anywhere.

On Aug 15, 2010, at 1:37 PM, Cherniavsky Beni <report@bugs.python.org> wrote:

> 
> Cherniavsky Beni <cben@users.sf.net> added the comment:
> 
> When you run a program using F5 in IDLE,
> it completely restarts the underlying interpreter!
> If you meant a different way of running, please elaborate.
> 
> (Exception: it uses the same interpreter if you're running "idle -n"; this commonly happens on Windows if you rightclick->Edit with IDLE... a .py file - just don't use that.)
> 
> ----------
> nosy: +cben
> 
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> <http://bugs.python.org/issue6321>
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