Windows 8.1 need help with Windows Updates and Start menu Or fix my old Windows Xp system

My beloved windows Xp has gave up after many years of working well. It stopped working a few days ago after a lightening strike.
I got this Windows 8.1 computer a few month ago  but it seems to have a problem. I stopped using it after could not get start menu to work and when back to my Windows XP system.
First problem is the start menu is not there. I tried installing something and it says it will take control or something and screen goes black. I clicked canceled quickly in order not to get a virus.
Where is the start menu?
Second problem, Windows updates does not want to update because it needs Windows 8.1 update. This computer is already Windows 8.1. There I canceled it since it was mostly a virus. Now updates are not working.
If those can not be fixed, how can i fix my Windows Xp to get it back. It does not turn on, I press button and nothing happens. Is this something easy to fix?

Another user discovers that Windows 8.1 is not at all of what it should be.
There is no Start Menu in Windows 8 or 8.1.  However, you can restore your desktop start menu with a very good freeware application: 
Classic Shell
Windows Update comes with Windows 8.1.  There is nothing special you have to do.
It kind of sounds like you've been a bit too quick to download and run whatever you find on the Internet.  You should always research any software you're considering downloading/installing ahead of time.  Google it.  See what others say
about it.  Ask on forums.  In order to use Windows effectively and safely you need to expand your knowledge and become a more sophisticated user.
If you think your new system has become infected, you might want to consider Refreshing or Resetting it to a clean state, or at least visiting one of the anti-malware forums and getting some advice on cleaning it up.  But beware, a lot
of "blind leading the blind" happens on forums.  Always try to read between the lines, and question what people say.
You could consider leaving XP behind.  Its time has come and gone, and pretty much any newer version of Windows can actually give you better service than XP - once you get it tuned up.
It's possible to make Windows 8.1 more functional than XP and about as functional as Windows 7, but it takes a fair bit of effort in reconfiguration and installation of some well-known 3rd party applications that are good (which, unfortunately, most
on the internet are not).
Good luck to you.
-Noel
Detailed how-to in my eBooks:  
Configure The Windows 7 "To Work" Options
Configure The Windows 8 "To Work" Options

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