You can make W/8.1 like XP/W/7 with the free Classic Shell (http://www.classicshell.net/downloads/), without losing access to the extras W/8 offers. Once installed, R. clk. on the Start buttn and choose Settings and customize it as uyou like.
See a pic. of mine here http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/chat/3109356/posts?page=124#124.
I missed the Quicklaunch bar, so i added it. The location is C:\Users\enterusernamehere\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Quick Launch
Enter your user name where i put enterusernamehere. R. clk. on the Taskbar, point to Toolbars and New... and navigate to or paste the above text in the window.
It is also a good idea to go to C:\Users\enterusernamehere\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\SendTo then go up one level and R clk, on the Send to folder and create a shortcut, then drag it into the Send to folder. Now you can send any shortcut you want to that folder via right click.
Then go to the Quick Launch folder (paste the address into the Run command: Windows key and R), go up a level; create a shortcut and then r. clk >Send to>Send to -shortcut. Now you can add whatever shortcuts you want to it.
And rather than use W/8 libraries, etc, I make my own folders on a different partition or drive.
Also hand commands you can paste into the Run command:
C:\Windows\System32\appwiz.cpl (Uninstall progs)
C:\Windows\System32\rstrui.exe (system restore)
C:\Windows\SysWOW64\wuapp.exe (Windows update)
powercfg.cpl
devmgmt.msc (device mgmt)
eventvwr.msc (event viewer)
services.msc
msconfig
I been using classic shell since you told me about it here.
I just downloaded a update to it tonight.
It’s definitely a big improvement over what windows 8 was doing before.
I hate those tiles and those apps that take over the whole screen