You will be surprised to know that win 8.1 can run and look exactly like win 7 and work much better.
Classic Shell is the answer you can boot right to desktop Password and set up your desktop just like XP Visa or win 7 easily turn off all the meto crap you'll have Win 7 on steroids with out issues. and it free
Also for software and other programs often you can install them in compatibility mode. I had this very problem with one of my workstations The Asus AI Group of programs would not install. I walked it back all the way to XP compatibility and the program did work in windows eight.
To do this right click on the *.exe install file and choose compatibility mode Usually walking it back to win 7 will be enough to allow it to install.
G752VY-DH72 Win 10 Pro
512 GB M.2 Samsung 960 Pro
1 TB Samsung 850 pro 2.5 format
980m GTX 4 GB
32GB DDR 4 Standard RAM
Z97 PRO WiFi I7 4790K
Windows 10 Pro
Z97 -A
Windows 10 Pro