Why won't my documents etc use the whole screen

Try my program Adjust Work Area from my page:
Faves Downloads

It's a command line program.
Copy awa.exe to a folder in your Path
In an administrator command prompt enter "awa"
to run it. It should show the "work area" of your main monitor.
If you have the Taskbar at the bottom but the first two numbers are
not 0s then something is changing the work area. When you maximize
a window it checks the work area so that it doesn't cover the Taskbar.

If Taskbar AutoHide is enabled, then none of the above applies. AutoHide
must be disabled. Once you have an idea what's up you can use the program
to set the work area. For example I run at 1280x1024 resolution. The normal
work area to account for the taskbar at the bottom is 0 0 1280 964
(Left Top Right Bottom of screen .. I use a double height Taskbar) but I set it to 0 0 1280 908 so that I can maximize windows without covering RocketDock(which I keep in the lower right corner just above the Taskbar.)

Post back once you find out what the work area is set to.
Also let us know the state of the Taskbar (AutoHide off or on, which edge of the screen it's on etc..)

I've never owned a Laptop but I think the video drivers have some features not on desktop machines. Some funky stuff. Anyway see if you can find out anything about work area but if that's not it I suspect it's a Laptop-only issue. Someone with a Laptop may remember what I'm trying to remember but can't. :)

Schwuar said:

I don't know if this is in the right section so i'm sorry if it isn't. I have recently received a Dell XPS 17 laptop and when I open an internet browser or a document/folder and maximise it I can still see about 1cm of my desktop. I don't know how to explain what is it but the close button (X) and minimise buttons etc arent at the top of the screen, they are 1cm below because the browser etc doesnt fill the screen. When I am playing games it uses the whole screen I was just wondering why it is leaving a gap, it used to fill the whole screen then suddenly started doing this. Could anyone help? :S I am also using Windows 7 Home Premium 64 bit and I am using the correct resolution which is 1600x900

A similar problem was discussed here with a possible solution for you:
Maximised windows not all the way to top of screen (annoying)