Windows 8.1

So, who else is busy downloading the update ?

Let the lemmings do it first.

Fair enough.

At 3.62GB it does seem to be rather... small... for what was needed to upgrade Windows 8.

It's also odd that it is being done through the Store - I suppose to stop those with "invalid" copies...

I can't remember exactly what size Windows 8 was, but that sounds to be much the same.

In reply to a post by MrTAToad2:

It's also odd that it is being done through the Store - I suppose to stop those with "invalid" copies...

Perhaps so, but don't be too quick to judge, because I am logged in with a local account (not a microsoft account etc) and it is letting me download Windows 8.1. I think the back-end transfer technologies in the store are similiar to that used by Windows Update so it is the logical place to put it. Also, if it was done via Windows Update it would cause a problem for corporate customers who use WSUS (especially if they had it on auto-approve!)

The size is roughly the same as Windows 8 was...

Quite possible there.

It takes a loooong time to install (half an hour on my machine) and so far 45 minutes on my Dad's...

Microsoft seem to have gotten rid of the Windows Experience Index which is a shame - but then I suppose few people actually used it.

The default Windows theme (of various shades of orange) is a bit garish - and they have removed the default backgrounds too, which is a shame.

The new look charms will take a bit of getting used to but they do look better.

Mail is still limited (cant request read receipts).

Overall, its rather nice

Hint:

When you install 8.1 it will try to insist that you sign on with an e-mail account. Just put a dummy, but valid, e-mail address in with any old password and continue. It will then say something like "there is an error with that e-mail address" and asks if you want to continue without using one - i.e. using a local account.

I now remember having to do it with the pre-release, but it stumped me for a couple of minutes just now.

the official reason for ditching the WEI is they feel its not relevant, people dont use it etc.

I suspect its more to do with them focusing on touch devices tho and WEI on a tablet/phone is likely to get horrible scores. Especially on the underpowered microsoft surface

True - but I might as well use my Microsoft account, otherwise I would have wasted time creating it

In reply to a post by idb:

Hint:

When you install 8.1 it will try to insist that you sign on with an e-mail account. Just put a dummy, but valid, e-mail address in with any old password and continue. It will then say something like "there is an error with that e-mail address" and asks if you want to continue without using one - i.e. using a local account.

I now remember having to do it with the pre-release, but it stumped me for a couple of minutes just now.

Hmm. This didn't happen to me, but then I already created a local account...

Took ages to install on my oldish PC (over 1 hour), but its up and running now and working perfectly.

Edited by Pipexer (Thu 17-Oct-13 16:19:01)

In reply to a post by Pipexer:

Hmm. This didn't happen to me, but then I already created a local account...

I was already using a local account as well, always have done.

During the installation it asked for my local account password. The next page asked for my MS account details and I couldn't get past that page without using the dummy email address.

If you didn't see that page it might have been because the installer had already found the details by itself in an existing app?

One annoyance. My first step has always been to uninstall every app I can from the start page. This time there are some more that don't have an uninstall option.

Downloading now at half my max rate so I found the iso on Windows forum and getting that to max out my line so I can burn to DVD as a backup. Glad everybody's experience is good so far.

Are you sure that's an RTM ISO and not just a Preview? I didn't think there were any ISOs yet.

http://windowsforum.com/threads/windows-8-1-rtm-now-...

Just updated my Surface RT - a noticeable improvement in all aspects. In my opinion, puts the device quite a bit ahead of an iPad/iOS7 for productivity.

In reply to a post by AEP:

Let the lemmings do it first.

Agree with you there, anyway it is massive, i rather download the Iso and do it that way at some point.

You will have to install it using an ISO, because you said you would never use Windows 8 and preferred 7, right?!

In reply to a post by Pipexer:

You will have to install it using an ISO, because you said you would never use Windows 8 and preferred 7, right?!

I still prefer windows 7, i only got 8 because someone got it for me, I would not have bothered other wise. using linux more often these days anyway, windows I still need for editing video.

There are some compatibilities straight away - considering the beta had been out for a while now, you would think certain companies (for example those beginning with E and containing Arts in the name) would be able to get this going properly for us people.

In reply to a post by MrTAToad2:

There are some compatibilities straight away - considering the beta had been out for a while now, you would think certain companies (for example those beginning with E and containing Arts in the name) would be able to get this going properly for us people.

Nah, that is not going to happen, you only have to look at the mess with vista.

Downloaded while I was out, install this evening without a single problem.

It's certainly an improvement...

Cant see any option in MSCONFIG to boot straight into the desktop though...

Edited by deleted (Fri 18-Oct-13 00:00:22)

right click taskbar > properties.

I like the fact when you close an app it goes to desktop. Apart from having to re-install vmlite xp mode no problems. Plenty of Getting Ready restarts though.

Those ISOs can only be used for a clean install with a new product key.

I upgraded last night and seem to have lost Media Center as well as the "Add features to windows" function which means I cannot re install it!

When I look at my Windows edition it says "Windows 8.1 Pro with Media Edition"

Any ideas?

Ah yes - what a weird place for it.

Edited by deleted (Fri 18-Oct-13 16:04:23)

Yes, it's due to competitors complaining about the Media functionality being bundled with Windows - apparently it's been removed - and Microsoft forgot to put it back...

That's odd. One of my Windows 8 installations had Media Center and it's still there in 8.1 (as is the "Add features to Windows" function. Have you tried doing a search on "Media Center"?

Microsoft forgot nothing, it's just that they charge for Media Center nowadays. You could have got it for free for a while after Windows 8 was first released. And it's still there in 8.1.

Yep. Searched for "Media Center" and "Features" but got nothing.
Not too concerned about Media Center but starting to wonder if anything else hasn't gone quite right.

Did you previously install any of the previews or was it a straight Windows 8 retail to Windows 8.1 retail upgrade?

Straight upgrade from retail 8 to 8.1 using the store.

Microsoft seem to have gotten rid of the Windows Experience Index which is a shame - but then I suppose few people actually used it.

I believe that you can still run winsat.exe from the command line.

In reply to a post by AEP:

Microsoft seem to have gotten rid of the Windows Experience Index which is a shame - but then I suppose few people actually used it.

I believe that you can still run winsat.exe from the command line.

Winsat.exe dont work for me.

You have to run it as Administrator.

Still nothing, open and closed cmd prompt is all I get.

You are opening the command prompt with "Run as Administrator"? Works fine on my system.

Didnt realise it was a cmd prompt output, was expecting a GUI. winsat formal runs ok and outputs details in admin cmd prompt.

Updating from Windows 8.1 Preview to Windows 8.1

Thank you for using Windows 8.1 Preview. The final versions of Windows 8.1 and Windows RT 8.1 are now available online and in the Windows Store.

The preview is no longer available for download. You must install the final version of Windows 8.1 or Windows RT 8.1 before January 2014 when the licence for the preview will expire. If you've been using the preview, you should update to the final edition as soon as possible to avoid an interruption in using your PC.
Updating to Windows 8.1 or Windows RT 8.1

Your options for updating to Windows 8.1 depend on how you installed Windows 8.1 Preview or Windows RT 8.1 Preview.
I installed the preview from the Windows Store or I installed the preview using media while Windows 8 was running
I installed the preview by booting from ISO media
Returning your PC to its previous operating system

In some cases, you might want to go back to your previous operating system before updating or upgrading to Windows 8.1. You have different options depending on which version of Windows your PC was running before you installed the preview.
Warning
Warning

When running Windows 8.1 Preview, if you used the Add Feature function to change editions, you might need to reinstall or reactivate using your same edition product key. To find out more about changing product keys, see KB2750773.

My PC was running Windows 8 before I installed the preview

If your PC was running Windows 8, you might be able to restore it back to Windows 8 using PC refresh. Your personal files won't be affected, but applications that did not come with the PC will need to be reinstalled and apps that you installed while using the preview might not be available through the Windows 8 Store. To find out more about using PC refresh, see Restoring, refreshing or resetting your PC.

If your PC was running Windows 8 and you installed the preview by booting from media, you'll need to restore your original operating system by using recovery media created prior to installation or by following instructions provided by your PC manufacturer. You can then install Windows 8.1 through the Windows Store. For detailed instructions, see Updating to Windows 8.1 from Windows 8.
My PC was running Windows RT before I installed the preview
My PC was running Windows 7 before I installed the preview
My PC was running Windows Vista or Windows XP before I installed the preview

please do take care to install windows 8.1 to avoid any problems

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-gb/windows-8/update-...

http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/news/press/2013/oct13...

Can you safely delete Windows.old folder after the upgrade from 8 to 8.1?


How to remove the Windows.old folder

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-8/how-rem...

Edited by NICK_ADSL_UK (Sat 19-Oct-13 01:46:36)

Getting some interesting effects in games also now.

pic

Does this look like it is set to '3d glasses' type output?
Had a look around but cannot see where this would be set?

I clean re-installed the Nvidia drivers and unchecked the 3d vision components.

Problem solved.

Managed to get IE 11 to hang

I think it has trouble with Flash adverts at times...

In reply to a post by gmoorc:

Getting some interesting effects in games also now.

pic

Does this look like it is set to '3d glasses' type output?
Had a look around but cannot see where this would be set?

A mate of mine who have windows 8 have been having some problems with games that he never had with windows 7, he is considering re-installing windows 7, i wondered if updating to 8.1 would solve the problems, but reading your post thinks maybe not.

Just updated notebook, silly I had to edit the registry just to get to the download.

There is a way to download a ISO or USB stick image of Windows 8.1, follow the instructions on this site.


i am downloading, but not installing, it is there if i decide to install.

Thanks for that.
Thinking of re installing now.

Most of the options when I right click the windows button won't launch either!

In reply to a post by zyborg47:

There is a way to download a ISO or USB stick image of Windows 8.1, follow the instructions on this site.


i am downloading, but not installing, it is there if i decide to install.

Thanks for that tip, I got the media and burned just in case.

Well after burning an 8.1 disk I used the "Remove everything and re-install windows" menu option.
Everything back to normal now and seems even 'snappier'.

Only issue I found was that it seemed to use a blocked software key during the install but I authenticated OK once I added my real 8.0 key.