huge connection window

[Dan]

when I try to connect to the internet, the internet connection window comes up full screen-not just the small window that I'm used to. there is no apparent way to minimise this window. I haven't installed any new softwere lately....just wondering what might have brought this about and most importantly: how do I get the window back to normal size? it only happens when I try to connect by launching IE.....(no viruses, running spybot and adaware)

[GaryRouth]

Are you on a dialup, DSL, or cable? Seems if it's an ISP dialer, that window might have a setting in either a registry key or an old-fashioned .ini file. Which ISP?

[. . . you're not talking about the webpages themselves, right? - but an ISP dialer box? (that later disappears once connected?) ]
. . . Gary

[Dan]

Hi Gary and thanks for the reply...
I'm on dialup....and yes, I'm talking about the dialer box that disappears once I get connected. When I connect by using the shortcut on desktop it's a normal sized box (but looks different) and when I connect by launching Outlook Express it's the same box, but stays normal sized.
I don't have the vaguest clue what caused this bizarre change.....

[GaryRouth]

I suppose you could poke around in the Program Folder for your ISP's software, in case it has a file with such settings in it. [Could poke around in the dialer, too - if it has a "configuration", "options", "preferences" sort of thing]. Or what the heck - call 'em up. I'm a little curious to hear what they say. [other than "Isn't that interesting, Sir" ]

. . . Gary

[Dan]

Gary-
I have no special software from my isp...this is all a windows issue....

[Dan]

ok, here's what fixed the problem...
I tried repairing IE through add/remove programs, got a message that I had to reinstall in order to repair.
after reinstalling, everything is back to "normal" whatever that is......

[GaryRouth]

Seems like it'd be a Registry setting that's setup when the version installs. I'll guess that the reason it couldn't repair is that you hadn't kept the old installer file around (it's optional). It's the one IE6setup. Or something like that

I wonder what changed it . . . could have been darn near anything - perhaps one of the Security Updates [there have been so many patches lately, maybe this is a side effect]

Maybe it was all those bright fall colors in the New England hillsides
. . . Gary

[still a bit hot and brown in So. Calif.]

[Dan]

I think that we all ignore one important thing to consider when unexplained problems occur. These machines emulate intelligence, how could they possibly NOT develope some sort of "personality"...?!? While it's easy to explain everything in logical terms, this is the one part of our own minds that is definitely not logical....perhaps at times that personality just acts up....
and yeah, the colours here are unbelievable...my favourite time of the year: 66 degrees all day, 48 at night....just a few logs on the fire all day long and three or four for the night .although come February when it's minus 15 it would be nice to take a little trip to S.Cal, just to thaw out for a bit!!