Maxmized windows not full screen! Dell xps L502x

This is very strange and I have never met this problem before.

Got a new Dell XPS 15 L502X yesterday. This is what I have done.

1 Started the system, uninstalled some software I don't want, such as nero syncup, skype and its toolbar, bing bar, office 2010, McAfee.

2 Then I restarted the computer

Now it has a strange behaviour.

When the UAC window pops up or I change the theme of Windows, all the maximised windows are not fit to the full screen any more. All, including the desktop icons shift down away from the screen top about a few centimeters. I have attached the screen capture.


Note the empty space above the title bar of IE.

Currently, I notice that when I click on the log off windows button, the screen will be back to normal. Then log in, the screen is still norm. But if UAC pops up, the problem happens. Also the desktop icons will move down and be away from the space above the title bar.

In the remote desktop control, the desktop is normal.

Does anyone have any idea what caused this? I have never had this problem before.

 

It seems I am not alone,
Appearance of small top margin on Windows 7 desktop - Microsoft Answers


Screen Shrink from top - Microsoft Answers

Maximized windows won't fill the desktop - Microsoft Answers

 

i dont know but i noticed your windows font is really blurry compared to mine. maybe play around with display settings like font size

 

The blurry font is caused by the screen capture software, and the image has been enlarged.

 

Hi..

The answer it seems is 'toaster.exe.' which forms part of Dell data safe.

I had same problems with my recently received XPS17.

Uninstalling anything to do with Dell data safe (which holds toaster .exe) removed all further problems and since then all windows /browsers etc have gone to full screen and so far after 3 days..remain there. I have no need for Dell data storage so its not something I require.

It was driving me nuts the screens failing to go full screen height after few mins after win7 loading.


Hope that helps you..it did for me.

Regards.

Let me know if it works for you..Thanks.

 

That worked for me earlier today Scotty, definitely the solution!

 

Hi

Thats good to know.

If Data safe is a 'must keep' then am not sure ..back to dell to provide an answer, but there does seem to be some issue with that application and windows sizes faling to reach full height on some machines. (like mine and yours)

Regards.

 

I had the same problem, never been able to fix it. Called Dell, Tech took over thru remote access, after 1 hour he wasn't able to fix it. So i reinstalled OS and its gone. Even the fan its more quiet now. My only issue is the 'clicking noise' now.

 

Hi, you don't need to uninstall the software, follow the steps below to stop Dell DataSafe local backcup:
Open control panel
Double click on the ‘Administrative Tools’
Double clikc on the ‘Services’
Scroll down and find the ‘SoftThinks Agent Service’, change the startup type to ‘Disabled’, and then click ‘OK’.
Restart your computer, problem solved .

Source: Night Walker: Small top margin on Windows 7 desktop, Dell computer

 

Dell shouldn't fix your problem through a system reinstall/restore. lol

Imo, Dell should fix their garbage backup software instead.

 

Tech didn't told me to reinstall. He wanted to keep working on it other day[i had to go to work] Thru weekend i decided to reinstall OS. So when he called me Monday i told him it's fixed. What bothers me now it's the clicking noise. HDD has been replaced already, so it's something else. Anyone got an idea?

 

This affects Alienware systems as well. DataSafe is branded as AlienRespawn and I've had the same issue. I'll disable the service and see if that helps. I suspect it will.

 

I forgot to come back and post confirmation and give a rep point for this. Disabling SoftThinks Agent Service is the fix. +1 Rep wenbin