The bottom line: Deserved or not, Microsoft had dug itself a cool, deep, dark hole with Windows Vista.
Returns to or resumes Windows, ask you to log in, and then goes back to where it was before hibernation.
XP Virtual Desktop Manager make it a good choice for that OS, but Virtual Dimension's easy customization and inclusion of the desktop names in its preview window give it an edge on XP systems.
Mission Control which allows users to organize windows and programs into multiple desktop workspaces.
Makes windows 8 feel like an improved OS rather than making you feel like you would do anything to get 7 (and I tried).
If nothing else, remember that the Windows key toggles between the start screen and whatever the last app was you were using (which can include the desktop, since the desktop is treated like an app in Windows 8).
If you're not sure if your current computer can run Windows 7, you can download and run the Windows 7 Upgrade Advisor from Microsoft.
Windows 7 is the seventh major release of Microsoft's flagship desktop operating system, released in October 2009 as the next step beyond Windows Vista.
Loaded with options: From the general Windows theme to the Start menu icon, Classic Shell gives you the ability to modify and tweak your user interface.
Watch music videos, play music, and view music related art in the full screen mode via your Media Center.
The next time you launch a Windows 8 app, it'll appear on the desktop like any other Windows program.
To get the most out of your Windows 8 PC, you should log in with your Microsoft account, which lets you easily download apps from the Windows Store and share your PC settings with other Windows 8 computers you might own.
Experts and people or companies who hope to use Windows 7 for business situations will appreciate the new XP Mode.
The lower left takes you back to the start screen from the desktop or the last app if you're already there.
This is a high resolution Windows Theme which will fit very well into nearly all desktop and laptop screens with Windows.
Go to control panel, click on security center, go to automatic updates then change your preferences to notify me but don't automatically download or install them, which you should do anyways since you don't want all the downloads.
Characters much too small, covers icons and desktop when in desktop mode, even hides taskbar, you have to press Win key to get it back.
Windows XP that have not been upgraded to Windows Vista or 7, XP Mode creates a virtual environment within Windows 7 that should assuage any fears of upgrading without backward compatibility.
I've been using Windows 8 on both my desktop and the Surface RT tablet for over a week now, and I've learned a lot in that time.
Once you're in safe mode then roll your system back to a period before the update download and installation.
SP3, the online kindle app for both IE and Chrome, as well as the windows downloaded program kindle reader.
Software driver after i installed a new Win7 and made a system backup and problem solved, I downloaded this FREE software from a some kind of blog I remember it's address.
If you're simultaneously using desktop programs and apps, you'll have to toggle between your desktop and Start screen to use them.
Another option is Windows Store, there are at least 2 apps available for download that work quite well.
As I've previously mentioned, I was prepared to find that the competing modern and desktop interfaces in Windows 8 would be a schizophrenic and annoying experience.
Thanks all for the many seemingly workable responses, but, in some cases, at least mine, you cannot access safe mode, cannot repair and cannot do any of the usual escapes.
Do note that some users have claimed to have limited success running the Windows 7 beta with less than 1GB of RAM, but that's not recommended.
But one way to get around the problem would be to boot into safe mode, then go to the security center in the control panel and turn off windows automatic updates.
Windows 10 to one of the Windows 7 PCs using the download from Microsoft to a flash drive and was able to uninstall it.
It sounds good to do all the usual things but whatever update 3 was, it would nor repair, allow safe mode boot or start anything in a normal mode.
Homeplugs arrangements at home may interfere with the download, or that Amazon's servers are overloaded.
But one thing that Microsoft has definitely dropped the ball on is hoping you figure out how to get back your start screen from desktop mode.