Following... But I have a question.... Do you have a different Windows operating system now? If you right-click on the background, select Personalize. Then look at the "Background" Field's choices and please indicate if that field is set to either "Picture", "Solid color" or "Slideshow".

Thank you, Luis for responding.

I got rid of the pictures. Not sure what I did but they are gone as are the sounds, etc.

I'm using Win 11 and trying to find my way around it. I really would prefer the older layout and names for tools.

I really don't understand why change things so drastically when the older layout worked well and easier to navigate. 'If it ain't broke, .....'

Thank you again,

Jane

I've seen some recommend "ClassicShellSetup" program, but haven't used it myself. I've got Windows 10 looking reasonably like Win7 and rejected the "option" that it often shows to change the desktop look after rebooting from major updates.

Since I use many computers maintained by other people, I find it best to get used to the current default layout, even if I don't like it as much.

Yeah, no sense being upset if the PC's setup is what it is.

Not that it matters but Classic Shell is now called Open Shell. I've been putting it on all our PCs since the UI changed in Win 8. Mostly for my wife's ease of use, to keep a consistent and familiar layout she's comfortable with. I'm accustomed to it too and I appreciate that it negates the little tweak here, little tweak there changes that come as the default setups with each new version.

How do you get Classic or Open?

This week I was looking for Add/Remove and couldn't find it. Not under settings. I wanted to uninstall a program and could not find it even doing a search.

I eventually found it by opening the program I wanted to uninstall.

I hate what they've done. Yes I'm old but I've been using Windows for a long time. I hate this version!

Jane

New operating systems require generally function better and provide better security than what they replace. I'm sure some people would still prefer typing in commands rather than clicking on icons, but there is no point in resisting change. If you want to use a computer, accept that you occasionally have to put some time into learning new things.

I want to add my recommendation to those of the others who like Open Shell. Every so often, perhaps after an update (but I haven't been paying attention to when), I find that the Open Shell start button with its picture of a shell and the rest of the first screen shot has reverted to the rectangular live buttons favored by Microsoft, but a reboot or other finagling gets Open Shell back. To me, it's worth the trouble to keep Open Shell. My husband uses Open Shell, too. Kudzu9's comment is true, that we have to learn new things from time to time. I don't resent that time at all. What I don't want to bother to learn or get used to is any changes that I hate, like the kind of desktop we can avoid by using Open Shell. When I can reverse such changes without incurring any danger to my PC, why not do it?

I am old, too, Jane!

Love computers; hate cell phones, but use one...grudgingly.

Operatings system changes are mostly as you describe, kudzu. There's usually little or nothing in the changes to affect actual capabilities or use.

I've never understood why any general user concerns themselves with OS matters. They presumably are made smaller/quicker/more secure with new versions, but sometimes more so than others. The only changes relevant to use are those affecting the user interface. Which, with tools like OpenShell, can stay the same if desired.

People don't pay attention to the formulas or additives to motor oil, it's just oil that does what oil needs to do and you don't need to know how, what or why. The same should be true of operating systems - aside from the user interface, they're just operating systems, they do what they need to do, and there's no need to know how, what or why.