To answer the last question, yes, download Classic Shell from
www.classicshell.net . Will boot up to the desktop and give as close to a normal start menu as it's possible to get
.
As for the region locking, it should be possible from Device Manager.
Press the Windows key on the keyboard and, whilst holding it down, press the PrtScr key. If you haven't got that key then you'll need to do the following from the mickey-mouse Windows 8 startup screen :-
From the Start screen, click the circled down-arrow icon that is in the bottom-left corner of the screen
Scroll to the right until you see the Windows System heading
Click on Control Panel, located under Windows System
Click on the Hardware and Sound link
In the Hardware and Sound window, click Device Manager, located under the Devices and Printers heading
From Device Manager, click the + to the left of DVD/CD-ROM drives, to expand the list
Double-click (or right-click and select Properties) on the drive that appears below
Click the
DVD Region tab
Select
United Kingdom from the list
Click
OK
Close
Device Manager
Hope that works