After using Remote Desktop (mstsc.exe) to connect to a computer, the host computer often gets confused about how to draw maximized windows.  Since "Auto-hide the taskbar" is not checked, maximized windows should stop at the taskbar... but they don't - they go to the bottom of the screen behind the taskbar.  I see similar problems when I open "Taskbar and Start Menu Properties" - the window is aligned with the bottom of the screen behind the taskbar.

The quickest fix that I've found is to change a setting in "Taskbar and Start Menu Properties", change it back, and click "OK".  Presto chango - the screen redraws and windows now maximize correctly.  Notice how the properties window now aligns correctly and the browser window status bar in the background is visible.