Windows 7: Ghost IE8 Window

I couldn't find this particular problem discussed here, so I hope I'm not double posting.

Every once in a while, my browser window loses the toolbar, address bar, everything but the page itself. I cannot close it down. When I go into Task Manager, IE8 is not even showing as running. The only way I can get rid of that window is to shut down.



Has anyone else experienced this?

If you know this already, don't be offended. But, If you hit f11, the problem that you describe is suppose to happen. It gives you additional space for the website. Just a thought are you accidentaly hitting that key. Do you have a touch pad, that may be too sensitive causing the problem?

Thank you! I tested that out, and of course you are correct!

Why wasn't it showing in Task Manager when you were running full screen?

Thats what I said...

Actually, that F11 worked as said.

But the problem is still happening. Every now and then I get a white screen or an IE screen I just visited, that has no way to navigate out of it. Nothing shows in Applications in Task Manager. I've since noticed that in Processes 2 instances of iexplore.exe are running. When I End Task on both of them, the screen goes away.

Also, I removed Internet Explorer from my desktop so that I would be sure I'm not using it anymore. Firefox is my default browser, yet this is still happening. I now get that blank white screen every now and then.

Did you do an upgrade install originally?

Yes, I upgraded from Vista Ultimate to 7 Ultimate.

Although I did do a full system virus scan after the upgrade, I'm going to do one now, just to make sure it's not a virus.

Lots of folks problems are gradually being defined as happening on machines where upgrade installations were performed... which was why I asked... and it might well be you could do a custom installation and reformat the primary hard drive, because that could well cure any doubts about the origins of your operating environment...

For what it's worth, I changed my wallpaper from one of the Windows 7 themes to Windows 7 basic, and the problem has not occurred since.