Will there be a Windows 8.1 final release ISO download?

[jimbo45]

Maybe, maybe not? Microsoft have been vague on this but from what I have read they may make changes and fix issues right up to the oct 18th release. It's hard to tell if they are going to actually patch the code of just release updates. I hope they patch the ISO and or release a newer version if any major glitches are found..

Hi there
Windows 8.1 ENTERPRISE won't upgrade a WINDOWS 8 ENTERPRISE version currently - (WINDOWS 8 ENTERPRISE was a TechNet "Real" not a preview version) so I'd imagine unless some new ISO's are released users installing from an ISO will have to INSTALL FROM NEW.

What's confusing is that there appears to be a choice -- but even if you go for the "upgrade" you just get presented with chices - keep user files or keep nothing - and the install does a new install but keeps things like IE favourites settings, documents etc. You have to re-install all your applications (and some special drivers depending on your hardware) all over again. The old drivers etc are kept in a WINDOWS.OLD file so it's not a hassle to re-install these but you need to be aware of this.

I had the same problem when I installed W8 PRO from TechNet and tried to upgrade to W8.1 PRO also from TechNet - both from ISO's- I tested that combination on a VM.

So it looks for ENTEPRISE users - re-install (not sure how many W8 enterprise versions were ever out there -- probably not to many - and these were I guess mainly in I.T depts. with people just testing. For PRO users it looks like Ms is forcing people through the STORE if they want to upgrade rather than install new.

We shall see anyway in a few weeks when W8.1 becomes generally available to "the great unwashed".

Cheers
jimbo

I haven't done any upgrade installs from the ISO, only clean installs, so I haven't had to contend with the keep this or keep that menu options. This is going to sound like nit picking but the TechNet ISO is actually Multii, not just Pro. You can install 8 core from it if you wanted to. TechNet only gives you 8 Pro keys but MSDN gives Pro and Core keys. 5 of each instead of the 3 you get from TechNet.

Hi there
I'm talking about ENTERPRISE here -- that's not part of the MULTI DVD - the enterprise version is a different download and is Multi activation.

Cheers
jimbo

 

[alphanumeric]

Hi there
Windows 8.1 ENTERPRISE won't upgrade a WINDOWS 8 ENTERPRISE version currently - (WINDOWS 8 ENTERPRISE was a TechNet "Real" not a preview version) so I'd imagine unless some new ISO's are released users installing from an ISO will have to INSTALL FROM NEW.

What's confusing is that there appears to be a choice -- but even if you go for the "upgrade" you just get presented with chices - keep user files or keep nothing - and the install does a new install but keeps things like IE favourites settings, documents etc. You have to re-install all your applications (and some special drivers depending on your hardware) all over again. The old drivers etc are kept in a WINDOWS.OLD file so it's not a hassle to re-install these but you need to be aware of this.

I had the same problem when I installed W8 PRO from TechNet and tried to upgrade to W8.1 PRO also from TechNet - both from ISO's- I tested that combination on a VM.

So it looks for ENTEPRISE users - re-install (not sure how many W8 enterprise versions were ever out there -- probably not to many - and these were I guess mainly in I.T depts. with people just testing. For PRO users it looks like Ms is forcing people through the STORE if they want to upgrade rather than install new.

We shall see anyway in a few weeks when W8.1 becomes generally available to "the great unwashed".

Cheers
jimbo

I haven't done any upgrade installs from the ISO, only clean installs, so I haven't had to contend with the keep this or keep that menu options. This is going to sound like nit picking but the TechNet ISO is actually Multii, not just Pro. You can install 8 core from it if you wanted to. TechNet only gives you 8 Pro keys but MSDN gives Pro and Core keys. 5 of each instead of the 3 you get from TechNet.

Hi there
I'm talking about ENTERPRISE here -- that's not part of the MULTI DVD - the enterprise version is a different download and is Multi activation.

Cheers
jimbo

Yeah, I know Jimbo. You mentioned 8 Enterprise and 8 Pro. For some reason the first time I read your post I thought you were talking about an Enterprise ISO and an 8 Pro ISO. You were talking installs though so I misread it. Just a misunderstanding on my part. I have TechNet and MSDN so I know what's on there for downloads. That's what lead to my 8 being a multi edition ISO comment. Sorry for the confusion.

 

[fafhrd]

I installed the 8.1 PRO RTM version and I was required to use my Microsoft account to install it. After it was installed I used the disconnection option and that allowed me to set up my local user account BUT on my drive c:/users my local account is not listed but my Hotmail account is shown twice. I tried renaming and deleting without success.

You missed the detour in the 8.1 PRO RTM setup that says something like "create a new Microsoft account" - if you follow the form to create the account down to the bottom, it has a link that allows you to proceed to make a local account, without filling in the form with your email details etc.

 

[alkaufmann]

I installed the 8.1 PRO RTM version and I was required to use my Microsoft account to install it. After it was installed I used the disconnection option and that allowed me to set up my local user account BUT on my drive c:/users my local account is not listed but my Hotmail account is shown twice. I tried renaming and deleting without success.

You missed the detour in the 8.1 PRO RTM setup that says something like "create a new Microsoft account" - if you follow the form to create the account down to the bottom, it has a link that allows you to proceed to make a local account, without filling in the form with your email details etc.

Thanks, I did see that option "create a new Microsoft account" but it seems illogical to chose that option not to create a Microsoft account. Maybe I will remember this the next time I do a clean install.

Sooner or later I will have to give up the local account and sign in with a Microsoft account. I thought I could easily switch between local and Microsoft but Microsoft does not make that easy. You need the Microsoft account for their store, Skydrive and who knows what else?

 

[chev65]

I did the upgrade install from the 8.1 DVD and it worked flawlessly, kept all of my programs and games completely intact and they are working fine which I did not think was possible with an upgrade.

Normally I would go with the clean install but didn't want to lose my games and installed programs.

So if some of you guys are wondering if the upgrade works, I can tell you it works better than expected and really saved me a lot of time.