# WinXP: how to set the size a window opens?

**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/winxp-how-to-set-the-size-a-window-opens/193330
**Category:** Factual Questions
**Created:** [August 6, 2003, 2:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/winxp-how-to-set-the-size-a-window-opens/193330 "2003-08-06T14:40:15Z")
**Posts on this page:** 7
**Page:** 1

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### Author: ![StarvingButStrong](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/starvingbutstrong/32/335_2.png) [@StarvingButStrong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StarvingButStrong)
#### Post date: [August 6, 2003, 2:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/winxp-how-to-set-the-size-a-window-opens/193330/1 "2003-08-06T14:40:15Z")

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For some weeks now my Windows Explorer (the file program, not IE) opens as a tall but uselessly skinny window. First thing each session I have to yank it wider before I can see and use it. I leave it at that size the whole time, especially when I close the program.

Next time I start the program, it’s back to the skinny window. How do I get WindowsXP Home Edition to take note of my preference and start opening the window in the wider size?

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### Author: ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)
#### Post date: [August 6, 2003, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/winxp-how-to-set-the-size-a-window-opens/193330/2 "2003-08-06T15:37:22Z")

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Bet you’re clicking the little “X” in the corner aren’t you? Don’t. Make the window the size you want, then use File \> Close to shut IE down. The next time you launch it, the window will be the size your set it for.

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### Author: ![StarvingButStrong](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/starvingbutstrong/32/335_2.png) [@StarvingButStrong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StarvingButStrong)
#### Post date: [August 6, 2003, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/winxp-how-to-set-the-size-a-window-opens/193330/3 "2003-08-06T19:54:58Z")

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Okay…\<click, pause, click\> \<click, pause\> Wahoo! Nice big fat window!  
Thank you tons, QED!

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### Author: ![whatami](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/85f322/32.png) [@whatami](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/whatami)
#### Post date: [August 6, 2003, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/winxp-how-to-set-the-size-a-window-opens/193330/4 "2003-08-06T20:35:30Z")

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> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by Q.E.D. \*  
> \*\*Bet you’re clicking the little “X” in the corner aren’t you? Don’t. Make the window the size you want, then use File \> Close to shut IE down. The next time you launch it, the window will be the size your set it for. \*\*

Thanks! I’ve been wondering this for fricking weeks and haven’t had the motivation to actually look it up.  
🙂

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### Author: ![Jake4](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/bc8723/32.png) [@Jake4](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jake4)
#### Post date: [August 6, 2003, 11:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/winxp-how-to-set-the-size-a-window-opens/193330/5 "2003-08-06T23:42:15Z")

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This is ridiculous. What possible reason could there be for having two different mechanisms for closing a window? Why doesn’t Windows take the same action when choosing File/Close as when clicking the X?

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### Author: ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)
#### Post date: [August 6, 2003, 11:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/winxp-how-to-set-the-size-a-window-opens/193330/6 "2003-08-06T23:49:35Z")

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I suspect the devil is in the details here. In Windows programming, the Close method is built in to the “X” box–that is, the programmer has no access to it, unless he specifically overrides it and calls his own code. The File \> Close menu however is explicitly coded by the programmer. The “X” button simply requests the program to close, and destroys the instance of the application and frees up any resources it was using.

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### Author: ![Bongmaster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Bongmaster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bongmaster)
#### Post date: [August 7, 2003, 3:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/winxp-how-to-set-the-size-a-window-opens/193330/7 "2003-08-07T15:16:14Z")

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Outstanding, this one has bugged me for a while. How do you do it QED, I see your name everwhere!