I know it's a dumb question, but I can't get windows to always open at "maximum". I've use XP OS on my laptop and Vista on my tower. I've tried unlocking and re locking the toolbar, searching help, and exploring advanced folder setting. I click 'maximum' in the UPPER right hand corner, and of course it stay maximum until I close that window, then right back to wherever it was the first time next time I open it... I've also tried stretching the screens out to 'max' with the cursor -- same thing.
Thanks for someones help... I know you'll laugh, but its really been frustrating for years. Target, there's really no such thing as a dumb question unless it were SOMETHING so simple that a five year old kid could do without assistance. So no laughing for you

Right click on an application's icon and make sure the settings under "Run" is set to maximized, that way the program should open maximized upon start. See following screenshot for a sample:




Also you can try changing MaximizeApps key in the Registry Setting the following:

I am not sure if this would apply the settings to all apps on your computer or just Windows Explorer but I know it does work with Windows Explorer. Make a system restore point before you tinker with the registry if you're worried something may go WRONG, that way if you're not happy the way things go, you can set yourself back to the non-changed state.

Code: [Select]1. Open the registry editor (type regedit into start menu search bar, then press enter)

2. Find this Key: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer

3. Add a new DWORD value named “MaximizeApps”

4. Set the value to 1To make things clearer for the OP on both Vista/XP or Win 7 suggested by 2x3i5x's screenshot, on your My Computer icon on your dekstop, right-click and choose create shortcut first then on the shortcut to My Computer icon, right-click again and choose properties then follow the image provided and click "Apply". By default if you right-click My Computer(original icon) and choose Properties, it will open System Properties and tabs but in the created shortcut icon will give you the option to run windows explorer option to maximized provided you choose the Shortcut to My Computer icon when opening Windows explorer. The two icons will differ upon opening(one is minimized and the other is max). On other Windows programs icons you could directly have this options by right-clicking to choose how it will run/open other than the My computer icon. 2x3i5x and Jason 2074, Thank you for your very clear answers, I understood both. Unfortunately what I'm trying to do is get all windows and folder to open "maximum". In other words, I know how to set the shortcut to launch at max size, but where I crash and burn is when: Say I'm on my internet browser I link to a second window, it comes up 'almost' max, so I try pulling it to max, or hitting the middle button upper right hand corner, and of course it goes to maximum, then if I close that window and reopen it or another one, it goes back to same size it was. Same thing happens when I open a folder like "my documents" I've somehow got it to default at about 3/4 of maximum on my screen. I pull, stretch, or hit the "max" in the upper right. Works fine until I close it, then bingo, the *censored* thing goes right back to the default size next time I open it.

Sorry, I know I've got something locked or CHECKED somewhere in my settings... but I don't know where? Thanks again, Targetimesten There has never been a clearer option or support to make folders, browsers under Win OS as a user interface to control or override this problem. Jason, is there a way to get a folder or window to "STAY" maximum size once you set it??? I"m thinking there must be because when I hit a highlighted URL and it opens a second window in my browser it always defaults to the same (almost full) size on my computer every time? Some tips here might be helpful:

http://superuser.com/questions/51593/how-to-open-windows-explorer-maximized-in-vista


P.First you said you wanted all your windows to open maximized.

Now it seems you only want IE windows to open maximized.


Either way, these settings are not something windows controls. An application decides how it opens it's window. Some programs save window locations,positions, and states, and others don't.

You can force IE6 to save window positions but really if you have multiple windows you ought to switch to a tabbed browser.Quote

if you have multiple windows you ought to switch to a tabbed browser.