# Internet explorer Question

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/internet-explorer-question/167487>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [April 9, 2003, 3:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/internet-explorer-question/167487 "2003-04-09T03:40:43Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 2

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**Author:** ![prisoner6655321](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/5f8ce5/32.png) [@prisoner6655321](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/prisoner6655321)\
**Post date:** [April 11, 2003, 11:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/internet-explorer-question/167487/21 "2003-04-11T23:26:25Z")

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Nope you ALL are wrong, well sorta. You almost have it, but you are missing one easy fix.

If it’s messed up, there is sometimes absolutely NO way to have Internet Explorer MAXIMIZE when you start it up. But you can get it to fill the screen with that stupid little border all the way around (thank Bully Gates for that one), and that’s probably good enough. Here’s what you need to do.

1. Start a new IE session.
2. Minimize all of your open windows except  
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;that IE window. You don’t really have to  
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;close them, but you might decide to do  
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;this when you only have IE open.
3. Right click on a blank space on your task  
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;bar and select either “Tile Windows  
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Horizontally” or “Tile Windows Vertically.”
4. The window will now fill the screen but  
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;you will notice that it isn’t really  
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;maximized because you can maximize it  
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;further by pressing that maximize button.  
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Don’t press the maximize button though.  
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Just close IE.
5. Now open up IE. It fills the screen  
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;doesn’t it?

Let’s hear it for **Prisoner6655321**!

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**Author:** ![Ms.Reckon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/8c91f0/32.png) [@Ms.Reckon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ms.Reckon)\
**Post date:** [April 26, 2003, 9:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/internet-explorer-question/167487/22 "2003-04-26T21:02:50Z")

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\*\* prisoner6655321 \*\* - Your method failed for me. You get a maximum size box, but it’s not “locked” to that size, so it’s not the same as Max-ed. If it’s not Max-ed, then touching the scroll bar wrong changes the window size instead, and may bring up the window underneath.

An actual solution was posted on this thread [http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?threadid=179999](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?threadid=179999)

> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by Mr. Blue Sky \*  
> \*\*I had the same problem. I found [this freeware](http://www.southbaypc.com/AutoSizer/) and it works just fine. \*\*

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