Looking for ways to undo 3.1 update

Are there ways of easily backing out the 3.1 update?

Only by simply not updating. But be aware that this could increase the risk of your site(s) being hacked as you will also not receive the benefit of any current or future security patches.

Can I simply overwrite the 3.1 files, or will this mess up the database and break the site?

You can’t run 3.0.5 files with a 3.1 database.

As @esmi suggests, if you were to roll back the files to a previous state (3.0.5) you would also need to roll back the database to a backup of the same state

but as is wisely also stated, upgrades are vital

If you are having problems…work through them.

Theme problems, fix them, or contact the theme author
Same goes for plugins really, contact the dev, or find a replacement

Other general problems, ask questions. All problems are fixable

My problem (posted under installation) is with the post editing mechanism, not with themes or plug-ins. The embedded video button has been removed. I need it back. Auto embedding does not seem to work with QuickTime videos. I have a deadline (tomorrow) to train the client on how to use this. It needs to be working tomorrow. I am brand new to this. I don’t have php programming experience.

Well, I still have that button on all my installs. So it wasn’t removed.

You either have a conflict or an install problem it would seem

General troubleshooting

–test on twentyten theme
–test with all plugins inactive

that’s always the first place to start

Actually, you don’t have the embedded video button. It has been removed and that functionality is no longer there. The new functionality may work for pulling video from video servers. But it does not work for my movies stored on my local website.

I did succeed in reverting my site back to 3.0.5 and have that function back. I did successfully revert without changing the database back from 3.1, YMMV.

I appreciate that WordPress is built on cooperation and contribution. However, I don’t have the skillset or (currently) the time to figure out how to add this functionality back into 3.1, given that it appears to have been removed on purpose to clean up and simplify the appearance of the editor.

Sorry, but I’m not drinking the purple coolade.

You can downgrade the newest version of WordPress to an older one. Just follow this tutorial –> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OwNR6NVhVFQ&feature=player_embedded#at=181
Just make sure you follow the instructions exactly as in the video and everything will be ok