Windows maximizing problem

Topic

New Reply

I’m having a major problem with windows not maximizing properly in many of my programs (very likely all programs but I don’t want to try any others) I’m running in Win98 SE.

The problem is that the MINIMIZE and MAXIMIZE and RESTROE buttons are not working properly. This has occurred in MS-Excel (from Office XP) and AutoCAD. I have both AutoCAD LT 97 and LT 2002 (for Win XP compatability) on my computer and the problem occurs in both versions.

What I consider “proper” layout is for the window MINIMIZE and MAXIMIZE buttons to be located at the upper right of the screen, just below the program MINIMIZE and MAXIMIZE buttons. Then your working window is filling the screen to the max. size.

What I’m getting is the active window title bar with the MINIMIZE and MAXIMIZE buttons in the work space. If I click on MINIMIZE that works properly. However, if I hit RESTORE or MAXIMIZE, the window only fills the workspace as stated above. Also, it can be draggeg around instead of being fully locked at max. size. Double clicking the title bar works the same as clicking the MAXIMIZE or RESTORE button. So, my windows are never fully getting maximized.

The program ICON button at the top left of the title bar will resolve this problem in Excel by clicking on RESTORE or MAXIMIZE in the pop-up menu. However, that is not the case in AutoCAD where those menu options work erroneously just like the buttons on the top right of the window title bar.

I’ve uninstalled and reinstalled AutoCAD and that did not fix the problem. I reinstalled Windows and that also did not fix the problem. I also installed the most recent Windows 98 updates.

I have one other program I’ve seen this problem in. It’s an industrial machine tool path program for CNC routers called Enroute. There the windows open fully maximized if I OPEN a file, but not fully maximized if I IMPORT a file. Go figure.

I first found this problem in Excel and thought it was an Excel issue. Once I got it fixed there as described above I found I also had it in the other mentioned programs. We spent a good deal of time trying to figure it out on the Woody’s Excel forum and I just simply stumbled on the resolution in the end by trying the menu pop-up RESTORE option at the top left of the window. The general feeling was that the icon buttons at the top right of the window and the program icon button pop-up menu at the top left of the window should do the exact same things. They don’t on my machine in Excel, and do in the other programs.

I’ve searched the Microsoft knowledge base to no avail.

Has anyone ever heard of such a problem?

Thanks,
BH Davis

Reply | Quote

Replies

I’m wondering if you have something running in the background that is interfering with the window drawing. Perhaps updating your video drivers? And have you tried re-running Windows setup on top of your existing installation to see if it helps?

Reply | Quote

Mark,

Thanks for the input. I started in SAFE MODE and the problem went away. So, it appears you are right in that it is something loading at startup.

I’ll start the trial and error process of finding out which item is causing the problem (msconfig).

Thanks for planting the idea .

BH Davis

Reply | Quote

PROBLEM SOLVED….

Thank you for you help. Turned out the root of the problem was in the video card driver. I had reinstalled it but that did not do the trick. I had to use the Nvidia CD to do a complete UNINSTALL before doing the reinstall. That solved the problem.

Thank you again,
BH Davis

Reply | Quote