This brilliant bit of freeware creates an alternative interface for Windows 8 that looks and acts exactly like Windows 7. You can set it to boot directly to the Windows 7 interface and if you really feel the urge to annoy yourself then you are able to switch back to the Windows 8 interface. You are able to switch between the two interfaces with no problems.

I've installed on two of our laptops and it works really great.

http://www.iobit.com/iobitstartmenu8.php

I give this software 100000 stars...