When IE is opened indirectly (by another application or as a result
of opening an internet shortcut (*.URL file), it opens in restored
(=not maximised, not minimised, size) mode. The restored window size
is remembered from the size set when you open IE from the Desktop
shortcut. The information is stored in the registry (as detailed below)
If at any stage you fix the problem, DO NOT go on to further stages.
STAGE ONE:
1) In IE Tools, Internet Options, General, Temporary Internet Files
panel, click Delete to clear the browser cache. In History panel,
click Clear history. This removes any cached pages that may be
resizing or corrupting the browser window.
2) Reboot the system. This sets a clean starting point.
3) Open IE from the _DESKTOP_ICON_ now; work offline.
4) If you last used it maximised from this route, it opens
maximised. If so, click the interlinked pair of boxes (next to the X
in the top right corner of its window) to shift to restored size
(where a single box shows next to the X).
5) Now hover the mouse cursor over the window edges (until it forms
the double arrow cursor) and drag the window to the size you want -
filling the screen if you wish.
6) When you're happy, close the window by clicking on the X. IE
should now remember this restored state, and open that way when used
indirectly in future.
Try out the actions that previously opened an unsatisfactory window
size, and see if it's fixed.
If it's not fixed:
STAGE TWO
1) Reboot the machine. This gives a clean starting state.
2) Perform the action that opens the unsatisfactory IE window.
3) Don't maximise the unsatisfactory window
4) Instead, by hovering the cursor over the window edges, drag the
edges to the width/height and position you want.
5) Close the Window by clicking on the X in the corner.
6) Now try the action that opens the unsatisfactory window again,
and see if it has changed.
If this doesn't fix it:
STAGE THREE
The registry key that controls IE window placement is:
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main]
"Window_Placement"
In regedit, locate this key, and delete it.
Repeat STAGE ONE, and only if that doesn't fix it, then STAGE TWO
If this still doesn't fix it:
STAGE FOUR
Open Windows Explorer, Click View, (folder) Options, File Types tab,
then locate the File association for Internet Shortcut. Click Edit
button, in the Actions, click Open, click the Edit button below, now
make sure that Use DDE is NOT checked. Click OK all the way out of
Explorer. If you changed the check box, reboot and, see if that
fixed it.
STAGE FIVE
1) Read my Regedit primer for safe registry editing:
From: "William Allen"
Newsgroups: uk.comp.os.win95
Subject: Easy Regedit Primer (was Re: Windows don't stay the same
size when re-opened)
Date: Thu, 16 Nov 2000 18:58
Message-ID: <
[email protected]>
Take a deep breath and locate key:
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Curre ntVersion\Explorer\Streams]
This contains the window position and sizes for all recently used
windows. It will have many numbered subkeys.
1) If you have and can use a registry tracker utility, you can quickly
locate which numbered subkey holds additional state information
on the IE window. Delete the appropriate numbered key
2) Otherwise delete the whole Streams key (use the Regedit
primer safe undo-mode deletion method).
3) Also delete any newly appeared IE window_placement key as before.
4) Reboot.
This action will have lost all recently-used stored window
locations for all applications.
Repeat the STAGE ONE and, if necessary STAGE TWO instructions.
If this doesn't fix it, your next clean re-install of Windows
will most certainly do so.<G>