Do the following to change the start menu to classic view: 
Press control-escape 
Press escape 
Press SHIFT-F10 
Press 'R' 
Press ALT-M for "Classic Start menu" 
Press ALT-C for Customize 
TAB to the "Advanced Start menu options" List box 
Arrow down to "Use Personalized Menus" 
Press SPACE to uncheck the checkbox. 
TAB to OK and press ENTER 
TAB to OK again and press ENTER 
The steps for the settings listed below assume that Windows XP is set for classic view. 
Do the following to change the folder options to classic view: 
Press control-escape 
Press 'S' for Settings 
Press 'C' for Control Panel 
Press ALT-T for the Tools menu 
Type 'O' for Folder Options 
Press ALT-I for "Use Windows classic folders" 
TAB to OK and press ENTER 
Do the following to change the color scheme to classic view: 
Press CTRL-ESC 
Press 'S' for Settings 
Press 'C' for Control Panel 
Press 'D' for Display and press ENTER 
TAB to the Theme Combo Box 
Press 'W' until you find "Windows Classic" 
TAB to the Themes Tab Control 
Arrow RIGHT to Appearance 
Press ALT-E for Effects 
TAB to the checkbox labeled "Use the following transition effect for menus and tool tips 
Press SPACE to uncheck the checkbox 
TAB to OK and press ENTER 
TAB to OK again and press ENTER 
Do the following to turn off the pop up descriptions for folders and files: 
Press control-escape 
Press 'S' for Settings 
Press 'C' for Control Panel 
Press 'F' for Folder Options, and press ENTER 
Press SHIFT-TAB to focus the General tab control 
Press RIGHT to the View tab 
TAB to the Advanced Settings tree view 
Change your settings to look like this, ,
Advanced settings:
Files and Folders
Automatically search for network folders and printers-ON
Display file size information in folder tips-ON
Display simple folder view in Explorer's Folders list-ON
Display the contents of system folders-OFF
Display the full path in the address bar-ON
Display the full path in the title bar-OFF
Do not cache thumbnails-OFF
Hidden files and folders
Do not show hidden files and folders-OFF
Launch folder windows in a separate process-ON
Managing pairs of Web pages and folders
Show and manage the pair as a single file-ON
Show both parts and manage them individually-OFF
Show both parts but manage as a single file-OFF
Remember each folder's view settings-ON
Restore previous folder windows at logon-ON
Show Control Panel in My Computer-OFF
Show encrypted or compressed NTFS files in color-ON
Show pop-up description for folder and desktop items-OF
TAB to OK and press ENTER 
Do the following to turn off the window animation: 
Press CTRL-ESC 
Press 'S' for Settings 
Press 'C' for Control Panel 
Press 'S' for System, and press ENTER 
Press RIGHT to the Advanced tab 
TAB to the first Settings button, and press SPACE 
Press 'P' to check the Adjust for Best Performance radio button 
TAB to OK and press ENTER 
TAB to OK again and press ENTER