Solved! Save state of PC.

[jerryglen]

Is there a way to store my work environment along with all the files (and preferably where they were on the screen) so that I can easily open say, 'WorkCustomer-1' and everything that was open is retrieved and I can pick up where I left off. Ideally there would be no limit to the number of projects that are saved. I am not looking for 'Hibernate' as that only stores one state. I have also considered Virtual environments but that is rather resource intensive since it packages the OS with the environment which is not necessary for the requested functionality.

I have several projects going in parallel and it would be great to switch between them rather than having a zillion unorganized apps running at one time.

 

[Etrius vanRandr]

I have several projects going in parallel and it would be great to switch between them rather than having a zillion unorganized apps running at one time.

Ideally a virtual machine can do this, but you are correct that this is too resource intensive.

Windows 10 and 11 have workspaces that are saved during hibernation - virtual displays.

How to Use Multiple Desktops on One Screen in Windows 11

The virtual desktop feature in Windows 11 helps you organize and work on different things on one screen.

www.cnet.com

 

[USAFRet]

2 options:

1. Hibernation
2. Simply don't turn it off. An idling system doesn't use a lot of resources or power.

With either option, or something else altogether, a good backup routine is critical.

 

[Etrius vanRandr]

2 options:

1. Hibernation
2. Simply don't turn it off. An idling system doesn't use a lot of resources or power.

With either option, or something else altogether, a good backup routine is critical.

I don't think you're quite understanding what the op is asking.

They typically have a lot of windows open which gets cluttered. They want to save a certain State and order of the programs and windows and then being able to switch between them at a moment's notice.

this in fact is the entire purpose of the multi desktop feature I mentioned in my first reply to this thread. In addition these multiple Desktop Windows can be saved with hibernation achieving exactly what the op wants.

in addition to all of this multi-monitor setup is a great solution to having too many windows open on a single screen. I personally have four screens hooked up to my desktop which really helps since I do a lot of work with multiple programs open at once such as blender, outfit studio, gamebryo creation kit, multiple Explorer windows, a music player, Photoshop, Paint.net, GIMP, and Chrome all at once.

 

[USAFRet]

Sure then. Multiple Desktops.
If that actually works without glitching...lol

Of course, this needs a sufficiently powerful system to hold all those things at the same time.

 

[Etrius vanRandr]

Sure then. Multiple Desktops.

If you're using win10 press Win+Tab and click "new desktop". It's pretty well done and I don't think it will glitch. Ubuntu has had this feature since 2010.

 

[USAFRet]

If you're using win10 press Win+Tab and click "new desktop". It's pretty well done and I don't think it will glitch. Ubuntu has had this feature since 2010.

I tried it last night on my WIn 11 box.
Seems to work well, for the short test I did.

 

[Etrius vanRandr]

I tried it last night on my WIn 11 box.

I have 4 monitors and I keep a program on each one so there isn't much need for the feature, but it exists for people who don't have that luxury.

 

[jerryglen]

Ideally a virtual machine can do this, but you are correct that this is too resource intensive.

Windows 10 and 11 have workspaces that are saved during hibernation - virtual displays.

How to Use Multiple Desktops on One Screen in Windows 11

The virtual desktop feature in Windows 11 helps you organize and work on different things on one screen.

www.cnet.com

Thank you . This looks promising. It doesn't share certain apps such as Excel across desktops, (Excel does not allow multiple instances), Word, FF, Chrome, Notepad (pretty much anything other than Excel) are fine.

Another note. For everyone that keeps defaulting to replying with 'Use Hibernate', please note that this is not what we are talking about

 

[USAFRet]

Thank you . This looks promising. It doesn't share certain apps such as Excel across desktops, (Excel does not allow multiple instances), Word, FF, Chrome, Notepad (pretty much anything other than Excel) are fine.

Another note. For everyone that keeps defaulting to replying with 'Use Hibernate', please note that this is not what we are talking about

Excel absolutely allows Multiple workbooks open.
Or at least, v2019 does.

3 different Excel workbooks, on 3 different monitors.

 

[jerryglen]

I stand corrected. Excel 2007 did not create a new instance if you opened a new file from the ribbon 'File|Open'. That is you could not view different spreadsheets simultaneously. Apparently, they fixed this in 2019. I just discovered that you can open up multiple instances (2007) by right clicking on the icon in the taskbar.

You are correct. Excel 2019 will create multiple instances using either 'File|Open' or 'right click on Task bar'. Unfortunately, for some reason Excel 2019 does not allow you to use it in more than one virtual desktop. Opening a new instance will switch you to the desktop that already has it open.

Strangely Excel 2007 will allow use in more than one virtual desktops.