On 2025-03-09  11:39, Eli Zaretskii wrote:

>> If yes, then I find it confusing to read that Emacs could not
>> *start* the server in the resulting warning.
> 
> So you want to have an alternative message about stopping only?  That
> could be a good idea, yes.

Exactly.  The attached patch a) stops the server in a silent way from
function `server-unload-function' and b) extends function `server-start'
to issue the following messages if an external server is running:

M-x server-start RET

  [message unchanged compared to master]

  ⛔ Warning (server): Unable to start the Emacs server.
  There is an existing Emacs server, named "server"
  To start the server in this Emacs process, stop the existing server or call M-x server-force-delete to forcibly disconnect it.

C-u M-x server-start RET

  ⛔ Warning (server): Unable to stop an external Emacs server.
  There is an existing Emacs server, named "server"
  Stop it either in its Emacs session or call M-x server-force-delete to forcibly disconnect it.

Please let me know what you think.

Thanks