Why do things sometimes open half off the screen?

[Tõnis]

Here's a pic:

http://members.cox.net/clearanceaccount ... screen.JPG

It's not always the Windows Media Player that opens, as in the pic, half off the screen. Sometimes it's the Windows Live Messenger. Why?

[rkawakami]

I would guess that if you are using an external monitor or have previously used a larger than "normal" display resolution (i.e., 1600x1200 on a native 1024x768 LCD), that the programs which are designed to remember where they were last closed at, are opening back up right where they should. If neither of those things are true, then I'm out of ideas .

[Tõnis]

I would guess that if you are using an external monitor or have previously used a larger than "normal" display resolution (i.e., 1600x1200 on a native 1024x768 LCD), that the programs which are designed to remember where they were last closed at, are opening back up right where they should.

Thanks, Ray. I haven't messed with the display resolution, so I hope the peculiarity doesn't indicate that some other problem is about to show up for the same and reak havoc on my machine!

Tony

[Tõnis]

Okay, I still don't know, but I have a theory. Not that it should act this way, but this could be happening when I'm using the AIM buddy list "Dock" or snap to grid feature. I've stopped using that feature, and, so far, the peculiarity has stopped. Still not sure, though ...

[GomJabbar]

It appears that there is a virtual desktop that is larger than the actual desktop. I can drag windows halfway off the screen. If I connect a second monitor, I can drag windows from one monitor to the other one.

EDIT: Oops, I am using Windows 7. I see that you are using an earlier version of Windows.

[Tõnis]

It appears that there is a virtual desktop that is larger than the actual desktop. I can drag windows halfway off the screen. If I connect a second monitor, I can drag windows from one monitor to the other one.

EDIT: Oops, I am using Windows 7. I see that you are using an earlier version of Windows.

I can drag the windows almost all the way off the screen, but it's interesting that you can drag from one monitor to the other. I only have one monitor ... the one on the ThinkPad. I just found it a bit unnerving that the programs like WMP were opening half off the screen like that by themselves, when I hadn't moved them there before closing them the previous time around. But okay, hopefully it's just a fluke and not a bad sign of some sort.