Open programs in Win 3.1 are usually visible on the desktop. If your active program is maximized, it is hard to see minimized open programs. Your best bet is to minimize everything that is running. In this operating system, all minimized programs are on the desktop. NOTE: This is NOT the way the desktop works in Win 95 and Mac. Double - Click on a minimized program to make it the active program. You can also use the control-tab or control - esc keys to look at the programs that are open.