[RoughDobermann]

No, I haven't reloaded drivers or changed screen res. Let me clarify: this is an intermittent thing, sometimes the programs open maximized and sometimes they don't. I found some really goofy instructions on annoyances.org (grab bottom left corner of screen, stretch to desired size, close window while holding ALT-SHIFT, etc.) but none of them have worked for me.

[Duke of Milan]

This is a "problem" with xp and it really annoys me! The solution is you MUST use the resizing arrows to manually "maximize" the window; close it; now whenever you open an IE window they will be whatever size you closed the "maximum" window. WARNING: if you, for whatever reason, close an IE window at a reduced/different size THAT size will then be the new default for any IE windows afterwards.