That's a good one, but it only works for the main IE window, if setting it to open maximized in the properties of the shortcut doesn't work.
Windows opened by hyperlinks need to be resized manually, and then they ought to stick.
This is how it's recommended:
Start IE5, right click any URL and select Open in a New Window.
Go back to the first IE5 window you opened and close it.
Return to the second window and manually drag it to fill the screen.
(Do not use the maximize button)
Close this second window, using the close box.
All windows should now open maximized.
And the trick is NOT to use the maximize button, for that's a temporary setting which will not be remembered.
Now if this really refuses to work, here's a javascript which adds an option 'open maximized' to your context menu, when rightclicking on a hyperlink:
http://members.iinet.net.au/~sandi/MVP/MaxLink.zip
Good luck,