How to reset default window size IE7 / IE8?? Bug?

I got stumped today on a routine issue and am embarrassed :-o

Turns out there are a zillion posts on this topic and even an aftermarket applet to fixit, howbeit at high cost of background-process, invocation, options to set, yuck.

Click a shortcut link to access some page via IE7 [and/or 8] and the window that pops up is very small relative to the monitor/desktop span. Try to reset it and it does not "take". The usual prescription is ... "click a shortcut, grab a corner and resize the window, press either/or Ctrl or Shift key and while holding, exit the window [differences on HOW to exit]".

In my experiments with two sys's having this issue, the 'fix' does not remedy.

????

 

any clues?

 

Set it to the size you want and Ctrl-Alt-F10

 

open IE and maximize the window by double clicking on the IE title bar area at the top.
click File on the menu at the top and select Exit.
re-open IE.