Found this on the web...
Using regedit...
hkey_current_user\software\microsoft\windows\currentversion\explorer\rpenabled = 0
reboot ... Now you've got a start menu in the traditional desktop.
Start Win8 ... it goes to tiles ... press windows key ... use it like Win7.
I'm still sticking with XP x64 for my programming system and Win7 for the family computer...
And of course XP x86 for the Home Theatre system.
Those silly tiles just make me want to pitch the thing right out the window...