Disable the pin thing? Just unpin everything from the taskbar. Right-click each icon and click "Unpin this program from the taskbar". You can also add back the Quick Launch toolbar by right-clicking the taskbar, pointing to Toolbars, choosing New Toolbar..., and finding c:\Users\Username\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Quick Launch (replacing Username with your user name). Then right-click the taskbar and uncheck "Lock the taskbar" if it is checked. Then right-click the Quick Launch toolbar and uncheck "Show Text" and "Show Title". Then relock the taskbar if desired.
I'm not sure what you mean by the "icon viewing" thing but you can make taskbar icons appear the same as in Windows Vista by right-clicking an empty area of the taskbar, clicking Properties, checking "Use small icons" and setting "Taskbar buttons:" to "Combine when taskbar is full" or "Never combine".
Reghakr, he didn't ask about the classic Start menu.