Start up position of programs in Windows 7

When you launch a new program, typically it opens in the middle of the screen and covers the full screen in a maximized window state. If you resize the program window and re position in your screen, Windows will remember the settings and open it in the last used size and position next time.

If you have a large number of applications in your computer where you customized the location and size and like all of them to go back to a default state, you have few options:

1. Open each program and re position them manually. You may simply maximize the window and close the program so that it will open it in maximized state next time. When it is in maximized state, location and size does not matter

2. Edit the registry. Windows stores the location/size settings in the registry. You may edit the registry and change the values for all the programs. If you are not an expert in dealing with Windows settings, do not bother going this route. Altering values in the registry can cause serious issues including corrupting your Windows operating system. It is a good idea to backup your registry before you make any regustry changes manually.

To make the registry changes, do the following:

- Open registry. You can do this by going to Start >> Search option in Windows and type "regedt32". Select regedt32.exe in the search results.

- Expand HKEY_CURRENT_USER on the tree view in the left bar

- Expand "Software"

- Locate the entry for the program manufacturer name and expand it. Sometimes, the program may use the product name itself as the manufacturer name.

- Click on the product name

- Look at the following keys on the right side:

WINDOW_LEFT
WINDOW_TOP

WINDOW_HEIGHT
WINDOW_WIDTH

WINDOW_MAX

The first 2 entries define the top left corner position of the program window to open it when launched next.

The next 2 entries define the height and width of the program window when it is open in the normal size.

The last entry (WINDOW_MAX) defines whether the window has to be opened in maximized state or not. Value 1 indicates the program window will be opened in the maximized state.

If you may carefully edit the above entries for the desired results and open the program windows in your preferred settings.

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