Solved Clean Windows 8.1 Pro install seems like Windows 8.0

This may be something simple I'm missing, but I'm completely new to Windows 8. I bought Windows 8.1 Pro from Microsoft's online store this weekend and installed it on my desktop on a clean drive. Everything works... or so it seems.

This same weekend I also upgraded my Thinkpad X1 Carbon laptop from Windows 8.0 to 8.1. It struck me as odd that they look different though. I want my desktop Windows 8.1 to look like my laptop Windows 8.1.

Desktop: Here you see there's no shutdown or search icon in the upper-right


Desktop: Here you see there's no title bar to minimize or close a Window's Store app


Desktop: Here you see the Window's Store apps are on the left panel, but none in the task bar


These things are all on my laptop.

A few other odd things:

• Cannot add anything to Favorites in an Explorer window (for example by using right-click on Favorites icon)
• Task bar properties is missing an option between the customize notifications and Peek options

Am I missing something?

Did you install Update 1 for Windows 8.1? That's where most of the things you are missing comes from.

Thanks Ztruker, that was it.

I enabled automatic updates on install and for the past 24 hours it said I was up to date even after manually checking. After your comment I looked again and saw 30 optional updates, which led (after install and restart) to 4 more updates, which led finally to 1 last update.

I didn't know about Update 1. They apparently don't list it in System like with the service packs, so I figured my two systems were the same.

Thanks again!

Yeah, the Store Upgrade to 8.1 now includes Update 1. It looks like your other download doesn't. Strange that it doesn't though, coming right from Microsoft? Anyway, you've got it all sorted out so enjoy.