Is there a Windows XP utility that would allow me to maximize a window to the
left or right half of the screen? I have a 24" flat panel monitor, and
I'd like to place 2 windows side-by-side without having to manually
position them.

Hello Brianleonard-ga,

I found a website that explains the easiest way to do this...

1. Hold the CTRL key and click each taskbar button corresponding to
the windows that you want to manipulate.
- The selected taskbar buttons will be depressed
2. Right-click on one of the selected taskbar buttons which will open
a pop-up window
3. Select whenever action you wish -- title, cascade, or close. 
http://www.tech-recipes.com/windows_tips188.html

Also, check out page 12 of this PDF file
http://www.nwmissouri.edu/compserv/clientcomputing/Windows_XP/WinXPPro03Basics1.pdf

://www.google.com/search?hl=en&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&q=tiling%20windows%20in%20XP&btnG=Google+Search

I hope this helps.
Nenna-GA
Google Answers Researcher

This may be helpful:

http://www.jsifaq.com/SUBS/tip9000/rh9047.htm

Here's an answer for you
There are two ways to do this:
1. Create the two windows, say a notepad and word windows.
2. Press Ctrl Alt Del to open task manager
3. Hold Ctrl and select the two or more windows that you need to position 
4. Right click on any of the higlighted windows and click "tile vertically"
5. Close task manager

Another way:
1. Open both the windows
2. Hold down Ctrl and click on the two windows in the taskbar, thus selecting both
3. Right click on any one and click "tile certically"

That's it.

P.S. This feature(tiling cascading etc) is as old as windows itself
In the old days, when I was 8, I remember you could go to program
manager (windows 3.1) and click window, then cascade, that arranged
the windows in a pretty fashion.
So much for XP usability

In addition to the techniques mentioned above, you might also want to
consider using the Restore button, instead of the Maximize button.  To
try this, do the following:

1.  Click the Maximize button.
2.  You will now see that the Maximize button has been replaced with
the Restore button (the button now has two "windows" on it, instead of
one).  Now you can move the window until the top left corner is
positioned where you would like it.
3.  Now drag the bottom right corner until the window has the desired
height and width.
4.  Now close the application.

The next time you open the application, it will appear in a window
with the desired height and width.  You can then toggle between
Maximize and Restore as desired.

I will continue to look for registry edits or utilities to do what you
are looking for... unless you decide to detach this monitor from your
computer and use it to full effect as a TV display.

brianleonard,
I have found a utility that does what you want (and a lot more).  It
is called "Wonderful Icon" and basically allows you to assign hotkeys
to a variety of functions.  It appears that you can also "Duplicate"
existing commands, to build your own.  However, the basic feature you
want it already built in.

You can download it here:
http://www.thewonderfulicon.com/


After it is installed and running, you can get the feature you want
(automatically sizing two windows to each take half the screen) by
following these steps in the program's "Configure" option:
1.  Select the "Hotkeys" tab.
2.  Select "Main Windows" from the drop down list.  (You could also
experiment with "Document Windows" but, "Main Windows" should handle
it all.)
3.  Enable a Hotkey for "Vertically Tile Windows."

Now, whenever you have two windows and you want them to each take half
the screen, just use whichever hotkey combination you assigned.

Also note, there is another option you may want to play with.  You can
try duplicating the "Move/Size Window to Coordinates" option and
create one hotkey that moves an ideally sized window to the left and a
hotkey that moves an ideally sized window to the right.

I hope that helps.

I still think thewonderfulicon is a good way to go, and likely an easy
way to go.  However, I came across some other items that may be of
interest.

First, if you use an nVidia video card, you may find a "Display
Gridlines" feature that allows you to define sections of your monitor
where you can maximize windows independently.  nVidia calls the
sections "sub-monitors" and they work like multiple monitors on a
single display.  (In the nView Desktop Manager, you may find it under
"User Interface | General").  I believe it also allows you to assign
applications to open to a specific sub-monitor by default.

If that's not an option and the wonderfulicon isn't working for you,
another approach might be to use Ultramon.  Ultramon is a utility
designed to work with multiple monitors.  While you do not have
multiple monitors, you can use some custom scripts for the features
you seek.  As far as I can tell, this is providing the same function
as thewonderfulicon.  However, I mention it here, in case you are
looking to try something else.

You can download Ultramon and the custom scripts here:
http://www.realtimesoft.com/multimon/forum/messages.asp?Topic=2741&tmpl=UltraMon