How can I go back to Windows 8.1 from Windows 10 without Start Menu functioning?

[Windows Central Question]

Installed Windows 10 on Aug. 1. On Aug. 5, began getting "Critical Error: Start Menu and Cortana aren't working." Restarted multiple times with no correction. My laptop is not adequately functional without Start Menu. I would like to revert to Windows 8.1, but all instructions found online refer to Start Menu, which is inoperable, to access Settings. I am not a computer geek, just a quasi-literate user.

 

[sayan676]

You can open the settings page by pressing windows key+i. Alternatively you can go to the action centre (win+a) and open settings from there.

 

[RumoredNow]

Here is a possible fix for borked Start and Cortana... http://forums.windowscentral.com/wi...u-cortana-not-working-fix-here-hopefully.html

Otherwise if you want 8.1 back you should have prepared a restore and preserved your key.