Top of windows cut off (HELP!)

On my new laptop (Dell XPS 15) when I open a window, the top 3 or 4 millimetres is cut off but I can see my background beneath. Essentially I can see the bottom half of my minimize, exit buttons.

What's the issue? I've unistalled some bloatware, installed some new drivers (which I'm not entirely sure I needed) and installed some of my programs. HELP!

 

Control panel - Display are you set to 100% (you should be)?
Does it look like this?

 

It looks a lot like the jpeg except you can see my desktop background from the part missing. Also, I don't think I can handle 100% on this laptop. My resolution is 1920x1080 (or whatever that high one is) and with a 15" screen that's not very comfortable...

 

update: putting it to 100% doesn't fix the problem. It's as if the window doesnt want to utilize the full screen. The buttons aren't "cut" now though. There's just that annoying 4mm space.

 

Stones09 - does it look like the images posted here and here? If so, please post your specs or, better yet, add a forum signature with your specs. If you have the Sandy Bridge chipset and the Intel HD integrated graphics, you should install the updated drivers from Intel. (A link for the download is on one of the threads above.)

 

Ok here are my specs:

Windows 7 (64-bit) SP1
Dell XPS L502X
Intel Core i3-2310M CPU @ 2.10GHz, 2100 Mhz, 2 Core(s)
BIOS Version/Date : Dell Inc. A05, 04/05/2011
SMBIOS Version 2.6
Installed Physical Memory (RAM) 6.00 GB
Total Physical Memory 5.92 GB
Available Physical Memory 4.36 GB
Total Virtual Memory 11.8 GB
Available Virtual Memory 10.1 GB

The Dell website was NOT easy for me to use to update my drivers. I feel like I downloaded and installed a lot I didn't need, and passed by some one's that I did need. It's frustrating.

Is there harm in either downloading Dell drivers or drivers you don't need (if that's possible)?

Also, the weird thing about the window cut off problem is sometimes it's there sometimes it's not (like this very second). It looks a lot like the second example in the first link above except it doesn't move for gadgets (because I don't have any).

 

It's probably the Dell Data Safe bloatware problem that involves the toaster.exe file. I've read that the problem goes away after removing Data Safe.


* EDIT - Found one of the threads HERE

 

Thanks! +1 Rep. Dell DataSafe is re-branded as AlienRespawn, but it's the same exact software. This explains why doing a clean install fixes the problem.

 

I have a Dell 15R with Windows 7 (64bit) and I had the same problem. Dug around and found the uninstall Dell Datasafe solution here.

In my searching I also found another (cleaner) solution which does not require you to remove the OEM backup software. takes a few clicks then reboot:

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

This is caused by a process called toaster.exe. This process belongs to Dell DataSafe Local Backup. One simple way is to uninstall this software. But it seems that this software is integrated into Dell factory image restore, I am not sure it is safe to uninstall. I checked the startup service shown in the msconfig, and found a familiar name, which is SoftThinks Agent Service.SoftThinks is the software vendor who provides this problematic software. So here is the way to get rid of the process toaster.exe:
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

This worked a treat for me. After all the only way to get Datasafe back is a full reinstallation, which is not fun haha.

If you want to retain Datasafe (which is another debate of its own) this is the Fix for you.