Make GIMP 2.8 open in a maximised window (plus "Edit with GIMP" problems")

I'd like to know how I can make GIMP 2.8 (the latest stable release) open in a maximised window. Every time I open it I have to click on the maximise button so that I can see the complete window and frankly it's getting annoying.

I'm using the new Single-Window Mode, which probably helps. I've tried the method of choosing "Maximized" in the Properties of a shortcut, but that just maximises the splash screen, and the actual window is still un-maximised.

I'm using Windows 7 Ultimate 64-bit. If anybody could help this would be awesome, I use GIMP very often.

By the way, I'd also like to know if anybody knows how I can open most common image files with the "Edit with GIMP" option in the right-click menu. I made some .reg files that would do this with GIMP 2.6, but even after editing the .reg files and using them, if I click the option it will ask me to choose a program to open with. Except for with .gif files, those open properly.

According to the person who actually compiles GIMP on Windows, the problem is related to the GTK+ toolkit. And this makes sense, because GIMP isn't the only linux port to suffer from this annoying problem.

Updating to GIMP 2.8.4 (or higher) will resolve the issue in Single-Window Mode.

Otherwise, you will have to find a third-party program that can automatically maximize windows for you. I am not aware of any free ones but Actual Window Manager will do the job. If it's a bit too pricey, you may be able to get the same functionality from some of their cheaper programs such as Actual Window Guard or Actual Window Minimizer.

In regards to your second question, you can use the following registry script to add the 'Edit with GIMP' option to system image types assuming you have GIMP 2.8 installed to the default directory:

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\SystemFileAssociations\image\shell\Edit with GIMP]

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\SystemFileAssociations\image\shell\Edit with GIMP\command]
@="\"C:\\Program Files\\GIMP 2\\bin\\gimp-2.8.exe\" \"%1\""

To maximize GIMP once it has loaded, you can use AutoHotkey as demonstrated in my answer here: http://superuser.com/a/430863/100787. From there, you can download my Maximize executable or compile the script yourself which can then be called from the command line, shortcut, or batch script.

Example:

Maximize "GNU Image Manipulation Program" "%ProgramFiles%\GIMP 2\bin\gimp-2.8.exe"

Updating does not resolve this issue. I have Gimp 2.8.8 and the same thing happens. I have to maximize it every time I open it. And after saving and closing a pic, but still leaving the program open. You have to re-maximize the window again.