I would like to be able to shut my PC down and then start up the next day with the same programs and files open on my desktop--just like if I had a REAL desk with all the hard-copy documents neatly laid out ready for me to jump right into work the next day.

Makes sense to me. For example, I typically run Word, Chrome, and Outlook every day, so why I am loading them manually like a sucker?

Although you can't quite "snapshot" your desktop, Stephen, Windows actually makes it pretty easy to auto-load both programs and documents. But keep in mind there's a reason most people don't take advantage of it: the more stuff you load during startup, the longer it takes your machine to, well, start up. Indeed, many users go out of their way to reduce the number of programs that run during the boot process, precisely so that Windows starts faster.

But if you prize convenience over speed (personally, I like using Windows' lengthy boot to, say, straighten my desk or go refill my coffee cup), here's how to make programs and/or documents start when Windows does.

(By the way, readers, obviously you can use Windows' hibernate option to restore your workspace exactly as you left it, but Stephen reported that this was causing problems on his system.)