So often, without my ccomsent, Windows 8 goes into this weird "mode" or whatever it should be called. How can I disable this nonsense?

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-70KQzofOn6c/VTuuuMisehI/AAAAAAAAUGw/PCCuVLajZlA/s2068-Ut/20150423_151311.jpg

Are you sure you are not using Windows 10 :)

I use Windows 8 and 8.1 since it was released and never experienced what you are seeing. It does however look very close to the new Task view that Windows 10 is using....

It is certainly Windows 8. My laptop came with it, I think I would have noticed if I installed Windows 10! :P

Use Win7 - problem solved .

You 'upgraded' to windows 8.1?

You would have had to do that, there is no way you could have just got a new laptop installed with all that crap on your desktop.

If so, why did you upgrade? Some people (usually with a special registry update) were allowed to get Windows 10 preview as a download through Windows update. If this soul did so and did't know what he was getting into, I feel no pity.

I've had Windows 8/8.1 for a long time and I've never seen this

I suspect it's probably some bloatwa... I mean "tool" pre-installed by Asus .

I have attached a picture showing the Windows version information, so it is certainly not Windows 10.

When you said "Windows 8 goes into this weird "mode"", how does it happen ? is it when you try to switch task ? when Windows start ? or at random ?

If you can "control" it, I would suggest looking in the task manager to see if there are some "unknown"/Asus related task running and try to kill them. You can also take a look in the "Start-up" section of the task manager to see what is automatically started when Windows boot.

That's not a Win8 annoyance, it's a manufacturer's annoyance by putting a bad clone of OSX Exposé.

Can you provide a screenshot of the installed programs from the control panel > programs and features section?

The thing is, I never figured out what triggers it, it has got something to do with where the mouse cursor is placed on the screen or something. Maybe a button combo, but that seems unlikely. I always tend to ignore OEM software, but I guess I need to check out the Asus software.

Edit:

Asus stuff installed on the laptop:

ASUS Instant Connect.
ASUS InstatnOn.
ASUS LifeFrame3.
ASUS Live Update.
ASUS Screen Saver.
ASUS Smart Gesture.
ASUS Splendid Video Enhancement Technology.
ASUS Tutor.
ASUS USB Charger Plus.
ASUS Virtual Camera.
ASUS WebStorage Sync Agent.
ASUSDVD.
ATK Package.
SceneSwitch.

Yeah you are right, definitely looks like it. (Here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T6wJjDeCVvU at 00:51)

Now if only I could figure out how to configure it, it seems it might not be such a bad thing afterall. Atleast now I know what triggers this thing, so it will be easier to avoid. Thank you very much for your help enigmaxg2. Thanks guys :)

You need NONE of that junk except ATK Package. Remove the rest.