OT - Basic Computer Question

[japcas]

Hey guys. I have a question about XP Home that is probably simple to some of you guys but I can't seem to figure it out. When I read on these sites I usually maximize the reading area on my screen by pushing F11. This easily adds 2 inches to my reading area by getting rid of the Explorer toolbar which I do use but I don't need while reading once I get to the site I want to read on.

Now to the problem. I can't get to the taskbar on the bottom of the screen after I hit F11 to maximize the screen size. I can roll the mouse up to the top and the explorer toolbar will roll down and allow me to use it but when I move the mouse down to the bottom of the page to get the taskbar it won't come up. Is there a way to make it roll up so I can access it by moving the mouse down to the bottom? I usually hit F11 and it comes back, do whatever it is I need to do with it and then hit F11 again but this is annoying. Any help would be appreciated.

[Saverio Gaudiano]

Another way to expand the displayed field on your Monitor is to simply hold the "CTRL" key down and rotate the wheel on your Mouse while doing so. The same technique will also contract the display field. Neither operation will affect the tool bars.

[lazlo]

Just maximize the window with the square box tab at the top right of the window, next to the 'X' tab which closes the window. That leaves the tab bar at the bottom on the screen.

For those who are using Windows 7, they have a neat interface when you're resizing the window that if you touch the edge of the screen, it automatically expands to the full screen width or height. So if you resize a window and touch one of the corners, it maximizes the window.

[japcas]

I'm not maximizing it because I can't read the letters. I know how to zoom in to make the wording bigger. I do this so I can see more of the webpage and less of the Explorer toolbar. I have the screen maximized to the full size of the computer screen. I just like to read without seeing the Explorer bar.

[lazlo]

Now to the problem. I can't get to the taskbar on the bottom of the screen after I hit F11 to maximize the screen size.
...
I just like to read without seeing the Explorer bar.

So why doesn't hitting the '[]' tab work for you? That maximizes the screen while leaving the taskbar?

[KillerMike]

You might check this:

• Right click on the taskbar
• select properties
• ensure "Keep taskbar on top of other windows" is checked.

[psomero]

you can right click the taskbar, go to properties, then check the second checkbox which is "auto hide the taskbar"

that'll kinda backwards do what you want to do by hiding the taskbar, but then make it pop up if you hover the mouse to the bottom of the screen. there's no way to have the fullscreen button (F11) in ie or whatever browser you're using do that automatically for you...


edit: nope, i just tried it and it doesn't do that, actually. pretty stupid, isn't it?

[japcas]

Lazlo, the screen is already maximized.

Try this. Hit F11 while viewing a webpage. The explorer toolbar at top rolls up completely out of the way which maximizes the size of the web page so you can see a whole lot more. When you move your mouse up to the top of the page the explorer bar will roll back down and you can do whatever and when you move the mouse back off of it, it will roll back up out of the way.

The problem is the taskbar doesn't do that. The only way I've been able to access it is to hit F11 again which reduces the webpage size again and the taskbar comes back up along with the explorer bar. I wish it would come up like the explorer bar comes down just by rolling my mouse down to it but I can't seem to get that to work.

[lazlo]

Lazlo, the screen is already maximized.

The explorer toolbar at top rolls up completely out of the way which maximizes the size of the web page so you can see a whole lot more.

The problem is the taskbar doesn't do that.

Ah, now I understand. Do what Mike suggests.

By the way, Win 7 does want you want by default: F11 maximizes everything but the taskbar.

[japcas]

edit: nope, i just tried it and it doesn't do that, actually. pretty stupid, isn't it?

Yeah, I tried that too. It is stupid. The top bar will roll right down when you move up to it but I can't get the taskbar to do it to save my life. Maybe it wasn't meant to be.