Install Classic Shell (http://sourceforge.net/projects/classicshell/) or something similar so you can function without fiddling with the miserable Metro interface. To get back to a normal-looking desktop from anywhere, just press the Windows key.
You will still need to learn to use the "charms" and navigate Metro. Here is a Win8 tutorial that provides a reasonable start: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_E1UxI5I_jo
If your touchpad is like mine, there are no separate left and right click buttons, just markings on the pad itself. The entire pad is touch sensitive. You can still left and right click, but the cursor tends to move unexpectedly while you do so unless you are very careful. If you are a tablet user, you will already know about tapping instead of left/right clicking. If not, the easiest thing is to use a mouse. I like the Microsoft 4000 and 5000 wireless mice.
If you can't locate your BIOS, search for information on UEFI. If you want to boot from CD, you will have to do more than change the boot device series, for example by disabling secure boot or fast boot.
Good luck.
I am a fan of using mouses with laptops. I will look into that classic shell. It might tie up a chunk of system resources
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_E1UxI5I_jo — explains a lot.