PSA: Windows 8.1 now available through Windows Store

[misor]

... but it may soon be time to take the computer outside, apply Thermite and move likely to a Third World country where I can still live in peace

not so fast there buddy, I'm living in a third-world country, the philippines... we may not have the latest tech available to us but the possibility that everything is for sale is a real one.
your privacy is not safe here. even our then president arroyo was wire-tapped. the Philippine army sergeant admitted the wiretapping, the generals denied wiretapping capabilities, the politicians knew about it but would not acknowledge any participation in it.
there is even a rumor that u.s. drones are operating in Philippine territories without real authority or congressional approval.

That doesn't make any sense, not for an upgrade that does not cost. What is MS thinking?

pirates already have the leaked windows 8.1 rtm about a month ago but the people who bought legit windows 8 will have to undergo the painful process of re-downloading the same installer file for each computer to be updated.
this is akin to movie piracy, the pirated copies have no ads and the legit ones have fbi warning, upcoming movies, etc, before the actual movie.

This is like any service pack we used to get before but only change is you upgrade using windows store instead of windows update
You need windows 8 already installed to update to 8.1 for free
To do a clean 8.1 install its not possible with windows 8 key
From Friday you can purchase a version for clean install with a windows 8.1 key
Just think windows 8.1 of as a big service pack if you already have windows 8

Note you wont loose any programs with upgrade from windows store its keeps all programs and files

Microsoft should have allowed downloading of windows 8.1 using windows 8 key. just like the monthly patch updates, ms should just check if the windows 8 key is legit/unabused/for the particular machine only before it allows ANY windows 8 to be upgraded to windows 8.1.
being a fan of ms, as much as it pains me, Microsoft's move is a pain in the '455'.

 

[St1ckM4n]

Anyone know when 8.1 will be available for Enterprise users?

Wow, are you serious? This is oddly hilarious. (That there is no 8.1 update for Enterprise)

 

[cliffordcooley]

Wow, are you serious? This is oddly hilarious. (That there is no 8.1 update for Enterprise)

LOL, yeah they have to build the starship first. And we are still playing with Grasshoppers.

 

[Raoul Duke]

When I mentioned Third World, I was thinking somewhere where one could stake out a shack in the countryside, other than perhaps fuel for cooking and light, the main 'appliance' would be your AK-74 which would be needed to live in peace, not sure how well they work for hunting...yes Win8 has driven me to thoughts of this...LOL
Maybe Africa??

 

[Arris]

There is a difference between fresh install and upgrade. If you have a choice and selected fresh install, your outcome would be expected. Are you suggesting there is not an upgrade option available, with an install package being advertised as an upgrade?

It just downloaded then told me it would reboot in 15 minutes. Don't remember seeing any choice dialog for fresh or upgrade. I'm guess that there is no upgrade option from 8.1 Preview. Desktop was pretty much the same experience and same splash screens during update. Not much available in the way of choices at all really.

 

[misor]

I'm now in the process of downloading windows 8.1 pro with media center (x64), 3.42gb, from within windows 8 app store. assuming no power interruption and computer is not turned off, it will be finished in ~3 days.

 

[Guest]

I checked the Windows Store on Thursday and no upgrade. I checked again on Friday morning and still no upgrade. (U.S. East)

 

[cmbjive]

I checked the Windows Store on Thursday and no upgrade. I checked again on Friday morning and still no upgrade. (U.S. East)

You might have to make sure Windows 8 has all the latest updates first before trying to upgrade to Windows 8.1. My wife's computer did not show the Windows 8.1 upgrade until after I installed the most current Windows 8 updates.

 

[GhostRyder]

I tried it now on my desktop after updating and honestly, its ok. I had not tried the pre-realse version so all im going off of is now what I have experienced.

The start button actually looks good down there, glad its back honestly because it is a bit easier when you have 3 screens it was a little annoying but I still did not see it as a big deal personally. But thats an opinion...

The search feature is significantly improved, like it actually finds stuff now compared to before, I can search alot easier in alot more variety compared to having to manually tell it general places to search.

As for everything else, I have not played around with it enough yet, but its improved for sure. Though I personally liked Windows 8 once I got used to it, I think its nice to at least know they are improving things about it.

 

[misor]

My ISP is giving me a push, from ~50kbps to ~200kbps, so ~7 hours and the download/installation is almost finished. (y) the internet plan I have is 768kbps with spikes up to 1mbps, then very slow if I exceed ~10gb/month.

I'm still mad at ms for not letting legit windows 8 users use original key to download windows 8.1 update for offline installation or bootable dvd/iso creation.

I have installed latest October 2013 updates prior to windows 8.1 so I tend to agree with cmbjive. I hope the update will be smooth all the way.

 

[Guest]

I have discovered that if you are using Windows 8 Enterprise volume license that you can not upgrade from the Windows Store and can only upgrade via media.

 

[misor]

Update was smooth but I fell asleep thru it.

so far, most programs appear as is:
1. mso 2010 home and student
2. process lasso 6.7.0
3. steam engine
4. Mozilla thunderbird

except:
1. avast free antivirus is gone, well its update time since avast 2014 is now available.
2. gmail account missing from windows live mail. ms kicking google or I forgot I erased gmail?
3. NVidia driver pack 327.23 still works but NVidia GeForce experience is re-trying to scan for game folders (no, it would not support my old NVidia 9800gt card )
4. ie11 appears to remember my techspot password but requires me to manually type the login name before automatically signing me in.
5. some free programs I installed from www.giveawayoftheday.com no longer work.

 

[hood6558]

Desktop users were thrown 2 small bones - wallpaper integration on the start screen, and boot to desktop. Almost every other change is a step in the wrong direction (like the phony Start button), they're all designed to keep you in Metro and Windows Store, or put Bing search results in every search. They even hide the local account option during installation, almost guaranteeing the average user will give up and just sign up for a Microsoft account, which then takes control of your system in many subtle and not-so-subtle ways. If you're the kind who always uses MS's built in programs, you're in heaven, because everything is more synchronized and integrated, such as Skype and SkyDrive. But if you're more inclined to use third party programs, you're better off sticking with Windows 8 or 7.

 

[St1ckM4n]

misor

You can use this to download and deploy 8.1

http://blogs.technet.com/b/configmg...ft-deployment-toolkit-2013-now-available.aspx

 

[misor]

Thanks, St1ckM4n.
I have finished updating my three windows 8 computers to windows 8 with the first download consuming about 7 hours, the second download consuming about 13 hours, and the third download consuming about 19 hours.

unfortunately, I am too late to read a guide on another forum on how to create a windows 8.1 iso using my own purchased cd key from microsoft store:
http://www.neowin.net/news/here-is-how-to-get-the-windows-81-iso-and-create-a-usb-install-stick
the windows 8.1 iso I made and burned to dvd is set aside for backup purposes.
I also made two windows 8.1 usb installers.