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Ezra7_10

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Minimized Window won't Maximize

I open a program. I minimize it. It appears in the taskbar below. Then I click on the icon in the taskbar to maximize the program again and it doesn't respond. The only way I can get to the program, in order to work in the program again, is to rightclick on an empty space on the taskbar; then click on Task Manager, which opens. Then I double click on the program listed in the Task Manager and it will then maximize. But it will not mazimize from clicking on the program icon in the taskbar. What can I do for it to work the way it use to: click on icon in Task Manager and then it automatically maximizes again.
Thanks for your help.
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rindi
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You might have changed the setup of your mouse. Do you have any 3rd party mousesoftware installed, like logitech's mouseware? If so, check that mouse tool to adjust your settings. If there is no 3rd party mouse software installed, open your control panel and select the mouse from there. Check if your button configuration is set to normal (switch primary and secondary buttons should be off).
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Ezra7_10

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It is a logitech mouse, but no special mousesoftware is installed. In the control panel, the normal configuration is set. The mouse buttons work normal in all cases. When I click on a icon, to open a program, I use the left button. It is only when the program is minimized, that clicking on the icon doesn't work.
I get this problem on my laptop which moves between docking stations with different monitor setups.  What works for me is cascading windows, with the ones I want to see maximised.  This dose not work for all dialogues, and use <alt><space> to open the control box, press m for move and then use the arrow keys to see if I can move the errant dialogue onscreen.
I don't get an errant dialogue. It is just that when I click on the icon in the taskbar to maximize the program, nothing happens.
Something happens, just not on the screen in front of you.  Right click the taskbar and cascade windows.  Is it there now?
Cascade windows is not an option...it is greyed out. I thought perhaps I needed to open another program, so I did; minimized it. Cascade was still not an option.
Now take that other program and drag it off the screen.  You still have the cascade option.  With only the hidden app dose the cascade option come back after you selected it by clicking on it's title?  I would also recommend running Windows update and also updating your video driver.  Is the hidden app in your <alt><tab> list?
Apparently I am not being clear. The application is not hidden. It just won't maximize by my clicking the icon in my taskbar. When I open the program and then minimize it, it IS listed below on the taskbar as an application that is opened. It just won't maximize to the full screen. It stays on the taskbar, until I right click on the taskbar, click task manager, then double click on the program listed as running. Then it maximizes. The problem is that for some reason it will not maximize by clicking on it, in the taskbar.

Anyway, I did what you suggested. I first opened Word and then minimized it. It is on the taskbar, but I am unable to make it become maximized again, by clicking on it. I then opened Windows Explorer. I dragged it off the screen and I did have the option of cascading, which I then did. The only thing that happened was that Windows Explorer filled the screen, but Word stayed minimized. I then minimized Explorer (thus both Word & Explorer are minimized) and I do not have the option to cascade....and when I have only one application open and minimized, the app is listed in the <alt><tab> list. When I had both applications open, and did the <alt><tab>, it maximized one of the applications, instead of giving me the list. When I minimized it again, and then did <alt><tab> again, then it maximized the other program.
Clicking on an application on the taskbar dose not maximise an application.  It "Restore"s it to it's "Normal" position.

What I am assuming is happening is the application is remembering it's position on screen, but is using the wrong one, so that when you restore it it is maximised (actually not maximised but the size and position called "normal") but off the screen.  If it is minimised it is not one of the windows that's cascaded.  In order to be able to cascade the minimised application, first click on it's taskbar entry then cascade.  When you close a window in the new cascaded size it should remember that size and position thus fixing it's offscreen position.

From Windows 3.1, before the taskbar, you can see the icons of open programs by holding down <alt> and clicking <tab>.  To keep the list onscreen and cycle between the selections keep <alt> held down and press and release <tab>  This still works?
I thought this was going to work....but....I closed all the windows. I then reopen Word; right clicked on its taskbar entry, and cascaded it. Then I closed the program and reopened. It reopened in the same size as wehn cascaded; then minimized. Same problem. It won't maximize.

And yes, the <alt><tab> cycling still works.
At least <alt><tab> is quicker than going via task manager.  

Have you installed the latest patches and updated you're video driver?  Start, Run, dxdiag and tell us what video card and version you have.
I went back to check something, as you said you had the same problem with multiple monitors. I checked the display monitor properties and it says that I have multiple monitors on ATI Mobiity 128 AGP 2X (IBM). But I only have one display. It is a laptop. This could be the problem after all. How do I reset it to the original settings, where I have just one monitor?
You have the LCD display and a seperate 15 pin connector for an external monitor.  This won't change.  However you can use one display or the other, or both (at the same resolutioin) using a hot key <fn> something (normally a key with two screens stensiled onto ot) to toggle, or you can go to display in the control panel, and look at the last tab where there's an extend this desktop checkbox when the 2nd screen is selected.  Uncheck this box.  Run Windowsupdate and install the last microsoft tested ati driver.  What version of directx are you running as this may need to be updated.
Before I got this email, I just changed one setting and it is fixed! In my Display Properities, in Advanced Tab, I switched it from Highest (32 bit) to Medium (16 bit). And that was the problem. All works now!
Thanks away for your suggestions.
So the cause was a corrupt bitcache.  You should be able to change back to 32bit.
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Joseph O'Loughlin
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I have no problem with this, as it was your comment about monitors that made me check something. So, thanks for your help.