Internet Explorer - Opening URL links shortcuts maximized

You may be able to open IE maximized but a shortcut on a desktop or folder opens in a smaller window, despite various attempts to modify the program, it's settings or registry entries.

Here's the issue, IE has a concept of a first window and a second window, and you must size each, particularly the second windows...as that's the one shortcuts use.

Open a webpage, then from it right click a link and open "In a New Window"..as that will be the second page.  Size it the way you want (usually the best way is drag the corners to fill the screen).  Now go back to the first window and close it.  Then close the second window.

Now, as IE is closed, double click a shortcut on the desktop (or wherever) and viola IE should be maximized.

In some cases, the tricks of holding down a shift or control when closing a window will have had to be used during the setup described above, but overall this technique always works for me (and most recently didn't require shift or control).