I don't run Windows 8 but I do know that a
dual boot setup will solve every single software issue that Microsoft's newest offering introduces. Legacy support is an outdated concept these days I suppose. Do a Google search for "Windows 8 dual boot" and you can solve all of your comparability issues the old fashioned way, by taking charge of your system.
As an aside, I use Windows 7 Ultimate and take full advantage of the ability to install multiple operating systems on virtual machines. A sweet add on with the Ultimate version that allows me to play DOS based games from the early nineties! Life is good.