... laptop for over a year, and have found this book to be most helpful in switching from WinXP.

How do you mean your C: drive is "missing"? Click the WinV "pebble" in the lower left of the screen and then click All Programs, and the programs and folders will pop into view. You'll have to click a folder to open it; if it's a game or something else, highlight the icon of the program and then right-click, selecting Pin to Start Menu to keep it where you can easily find it.

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