Weird-- shrunken control panel

I recently started having an odd issue and can't remember doing anything that would've caused it. But lately, every time I attempt to go in the control panel, the window opens up completely "compressed" (with all of the corners dragged in, making it just a tiny square). I haven't found this to occur when opening anything other than the control panel.

Any ideas?

Can you enlarge it, using the normal clicking at the top, right?
If yes, try enlarging it by dragging each side of the screen to full length, then enlarge fully by clicking the top of the screen.
also
Go to the search by the start button, type windows explorer. When you see the name windows explorer, right click, go to properties, then shortcut. Then make sure is says maximum windows size

Yes I can enlarge it, it's just annoying that I'm having to drag out the corners every time. I don't actually want it to open at max size, taking up the entire screen, as I do want to be able to see other things I have open at the same time.

When I follow the steps you mentioned for Windows Explorer, it says "normal size". Windows Explorer opens normally, though. I tried it for Control Panel and it also says normal size.

I changed it to maximum size in the control panel shortcut properties, and this actually appears to have fixed the issue. It's opening as it should. Very strange! Any idea why everything else would open normally when set to "normal size", other than control panel?

Thanks for your help!

I cannot answer your question as to why one window does not open normally, but the others do. All I can say is that opening Windows in the correct size is a very common and began when Windows was invented. Here is a very old thread with the same problem
Always open IE 8 in a size of your choice. - Windows 7 Help Forums
Due to its age the questions have to do with IE 8. I bring it to you attention just to show the problem is not one that only you are having. In any case I think that we have solved your problem and that is great news. Take care
Rich