Free start menu
http://www.classicshell.net/
Can change the start button graphic and such. I install it for all my windows 8 clients that can't browse around with the new style start wall.
Win8 is hard to downgrade at times. Sometimes there is a secure boot enabled to prevent legacy boot processes.
Try and find your COA for windows 8 now too! Its in-bedded into the bios... ;(