Make Windows 8 look/feel like Windows 7

I'm unfamiliar with Windows 8, never owned it.

Visiting my grandparents and they can't use their laptop with Windows 8 because it's so difficult to navigate.

I'm finding some things like Start8 and Classic Shell but don't know the best freeware to use.

Can I get Windows 8 looking and feeling like Windows 7 or Windows 10 with a start menu and all?

Thanks
 
Solution
With 8.1, they pulled back a lot of the Metro interface. You can cause it to boot directly to the desktop, just like it was with Win 7.


Is this Win 8, or has it been upgraded to 8.1?

With 8.1, you can make it look a whole lot like Win 7, with no extra software needed.
 
Hmm I suppose it's Windows 8

I already tried installing the latest updates and that crashed into an endless loop of BSOD. I wound up restoring it to default settings, factory restore was the only option as a simple restore point backup would BSOD also.

I'm leary of even trying to update it again. :/
 


If it is still actually Win 8 and not 8.1, AND if it is crashing trying to update...it might be due for a whole reinstall.
Even if it just reinstalls to Win 8, then it should, in theory, be able to Update to 8.1.

Win 8.1 is a significant change from Win 8.
 
It didn't come with Windows install disks. It's a gateway laptop they bought it on QVC. I did the full restore. I'm not sure how Gateway is, but with HP I would have to have the HP Windows install disks that cost $40 from HP. A normal Windows install won't work with the machine's Windows product key. But I don't know how Gateway works.

*Is the full restore not the same thing? It might update now.
 


Right.
The included Factory Reset will bring it back to as it came from the store (or QVC, as the case may be).
From there, it should eventually do all the upgrades, incl going to 8.1.
 


Okay thanks. [strike]Is the Windows 8.1 pretty straight forward? Is it actual windows settings that can make it look more like Windows 7? or third party software? [/strike]

*I found a guide - http://www.windowscentral.com/make-windows-81-more-windows-7

"With 8.1, you can make it look a whole lot like Win 7, with no extra software needed."