diff --git a/cmd/cmd.go b/cmd/cmd.go
index ad4be7f9..b9047529 100644
--- a/cmd/cmd.go
+++ b/cmd/cmd.go
@@ -1236,11 +1236,11 @@ func checkServerHeartbeat(cmd *cobra.Command, _ []string) error {
 		return err
 	}
 	if err := client.Heartbeat(cmd.Context()); err != nil {
-		if !strings.Contains(err.Error(), " refused") {
+		if !(strings.Contains(err.Error(), " refused") || strings.Contains(err.Error(), "could not connect")) {
 			return err
 		}
 		if err := startApp(cmd.Context(), client); err != nil {
-			return errors.New("could not connect to ollama app, is it running?")
+			return fmt.Errorf("ollama server not responding - %w", err)
 		}
 	}
 	return nil
diff --git a/cmd/start_windows.go b/cmd/start_windows.go
index 5bca2433..bcc51057 100644
--- a/cmd/start_windows.go
+++ b/cmd/start_windows.go
@@ -4,17 +4,27 @@ import (
 	"context"
 	"errors"
 	"fmt"
+	"log/slog"
 	"os"
 	"os/exec"
+	"path"
 	"path/filepath"
 	"strings"
 	"syscall"
+	"unsafe"
 
 	"github.com/ollama/ollama/api"
+	"golang.org/x/sys/windows"
+)
+
+const (
+	Installer = "OllamaSetup.exe"
 )
 
 func startApp(ctx context.Context, client *api.Client) error {
-	// log.Printf("XXX Attempting to find and start ollama app")
+	if len(isProcRunning(Installer)) > 0 {
+		return fmt.Errorf("upgrade in progress...")
+	}
 	AppName := "ollama app.exe"
 	exe, err := os.Executable()
 	if err != nil {
@@ -56,3 +66,41 @@ func startApp(ctx context.Context, client *api.Client) error {
 	}
 	return waitForServer(ctx, client)
 }
+
+func isProcRunning(procName string) []uint32 {
+	pids := make([]uint32, 2048)
+	var ret uint32
+	if err := windows.EnumProcesses(pids, &ret); err != nil || ret == 0 {
+		slog.Debug("failed to check for running installers", "error", err)
+		return nil
+	}
+	pids = pids[:ret]
+	var matches []uint32
+	for _, pid := range pids {
+		if pid == 0 {
+			continue
+		}
+		hProcess, err := windows.OpenProcess(windows.PROCESS_QUERY_INFORMATION|windows.PROCESS_VM_READ, false, pid)
+		if err != nil {
+			continue
+		}
+		defer windows.CloseHandle(hProcess)
+		var module windows.Handle
+		var cbNeeded uint32
+		cb := (uint32)(unsafe.Sizeof(module))
+		if err := windows.EnumProcessModules(hProcess, &module, cb, &cbNeeded); err != nil {
+			continue
+		}
+		var sz uint32 = 1024 * 8
+		moduleName := make([]uint16, sz)
+		cb = uint32(len(moduleName)) * (uint32)(unsafe.Sizeof(uint16(0)))
+		if err := windows.GetModuleBaseName(hProcess, module, &moduleName[0], cb); err != nil && err != syscall.ERROR_INSUFFICIENT_BUFFER {
+			continue
+		}
+		exeFile := path.Base(strings.ToLower(syscall.UTF16ToString(moduleName)))
+		if strings.EqualFold(exeFile, procName) {
+			matches = append(matches, pid)
+		}
+	}
+	return matches
+}