up vote 3 down vote favorite
share [g+] share [fb]

There is a bug within Windows that has annoyed me for years. Well, I assume it's a bug. Rarely (within the frequency of once a year or so) I'll open an application (doesn't matter) that implements dialogs. When I open a dialog, it opens off the edge of the screen. In other words, you see the dialog window on your task bar but you can't see the window.

I right-click on the task bar item and I select "move". I get the "move" cursor but, since the window is open outside the screen's viewing area, I can't move it. The only way to view the dialog is to select the "Maximize" option. This is an okay solution, however, if the dialog is one that does not allow for maximization you're screwed.

Maybe this is a bug with the particular application that executes the dialog. (The one annoying me today is SQL Server Management Studio.)

My question is, has anyone else seen this bug and is there a way to "move" these hidden windows so that I can use them?

link|improve this question
100% accept rate
feedback

1 Answer

up vote 3 down vote accepted

Once you click move (as you already described doing), use your arrow keys until you can see it. Then hit enter once it is where you want it. When you close the window, hold the SHIFT key down as that is often (not always) a way that forces the location to save.

link|improve this answer
2  
I have modal dialogs where there is no Move entry in the task bar item's menu. In that case hitting Alt-hyphen works for me. – Ulrich Gerhardt Jul 25 '11 at 13:24
Ah, always so simple. Thank you. Just out of curiosity, are you familiar with this annoyance? I forgot to mention that I've typically seen this on my dev PC, which has two monitors. I would assume that there is a bug caching the dialog location, when associated with dual-screens. – RLH Jul 25 '11 at 13:25
@Ulrich Gerhardt That is good to know. – KCotreau Jul 25 '11 at 13:25
1  
Aaargh: It's Alt- Space, not hyphen. – Ulrich Gerhardt Jul 25 '11 at 13:32
2  
I don't know if I would call it a bug, but they clearly do not have any limitation on where the window can be saved to. I have encountered this before, as you have, and this has always worked for me. – KCotreau Jul 25 '11 at 13:33
show 1 more comment
feedback

Your Answer

 
or
required, but never shown
discard

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged or ask your own question.