If you put your computer into hibernation, the next time you turn it on, you'll get all your windows and programs open just the way they were before the shutdown.
Windows Explorer does not have menu displayed by default like you were used to in previous versions. To activate and keep it permanently visible follow this tutorial.
If you can't copy files that are bigger than 2 or 4 GB, usually HD movies and such, on to your USB key, it's usually due to the file system the USB key is formatted to.
