Windows 8.1 update leaks to the web, direct from Redmond

The much-anticipated update to Windows 8.1, which is scheduled for release to the general public in early April, has leaked to the web early.

And this time the leak comes from an unexpected source: Microsoft itself.

Windows 8.1 update leaks to the web, direct from Redmond | ZDNet

 

[robinb9]

someone want to type in all the changes from 8.1 now to the new update 8.1 (8.2) please
thanks

 

[alphanumeric]

When clicking the lower left Start button to go from Desktop to the Start Screen I'll have it until I hover away. That's all I get.

UPDATE:
Forgot about a gpedit I made! Switched it back! All good now.

What did you do? I just did a clean install of 8.1 Pro, installed updates and 8.1.1 and have this behavior... I haven't changed anything or installed anything else.

I'm not sure what you guys are talking about. If I mouse to the far left corner of a screen with an open Metro App, all I get is the Start Button and it disappears as soon as I mouse away again. If I mouse to the bottom of the screen away from the corner, I'll see the taskbar and it disappears as soon as I mouse away. If I click on the taskbar while its visible it will stay visible while I'm on that screen. If I switch focus to one of my other monitors the taskbar will auto hide again.

 

[Edwin]

When clicking the lower left Start button to go from Desktop to the Start Screen I'll have it until I hover away. That's all I get.

UPDATE:
Forgot about a gpedit I made! Switched it back! All good now.

What did you do? I just did a clean install of 8.1 Pro, installed updates and 8.1.1 and have this behavior... I haven't changed anything or installed anything else.

In my case, I was running a 'lean' version of 8.1.1 prior to the 'Redmond' updates. I couldn't get the Store app to remain unpinned from the taskbar so I enabled 'Don't show store apps on the taskbar' in gpedit. Apparently that disabled the 'mouse down to show taskbar' feature. After the 'Redmond' updates I shortly realized what the problem was and I switched it back. All is good now.

 

[Rickkins]

Is there any point whatsoever for a desktop user to install this update..?

 

[Edwin]

Aside from fooling around with "Useless to Desktop Users" features, not really!

 

[Tepid]

As far as I can tell,, there is no official information from MS as to what all is included in Update 1
the GUI changes are documented by users, nothing official.... we can rely one some of that to be true of course
But anything else that may not be readily noticeable is not known yet.

Should you upgrade? Yes, I will be.

 

[gator2013]

I would imagine the update would clean up a variety of issues and likely some that are not even apparent. Hopefully it will cause a lot less problems than the store upgrade to 8.1 I just wish MS would provide a way to get a clean install of 8.1 for systems pre-installed with 8 an upgraded from the store to 8.1. I would much prefer a clean install of 8.1. I know it can be done now but I guess I have not been motivated enough to go through all the steps.

I will most definitely install the update.

 

[alphanumeric]

I installed it on my Desktop PC. The changes are actually tailored to desktop users. They have more benefit to keyboard mouse users than touch screen users, IMHO that is.

 

[Edwin]

I installed it on my Desktop PC. The changes are actually tailored to desktop users. They have more benefit to keyboard mouse users than touch screen users, IMHO that is.

Granted, the whole dual interface thing is doable but I still have yet to find a Metro app that is actually useful, one that contributes to my increased productivity in a more elevated fashion than in the desktop environment. To me they're still just toys.

 

[JohnBurns]

Aside from fooling around with "Useless to Desktop Users" features, not really!

Think I'll pass and wait for the official update. People who like the challenge of trying to jump ahead with this seem to enjoy it - I'm not in that category. I like for my pc to run as smoothly as possible without self-made problems. Good luck to you who try it - the rest of us will wait until April, I guess.

 

[alphanumeric]

I installed it on my Desktop PC. The changes are actually tailored to desktop users. They have more benefit to keyboard mouse users than touch screen users, IMHO that is.

Granted, the whole dual interface thing is doable but I still have yet to find a Metro app that is actually useful, one that contributes to my increased productivity in a more elevated fashion than in the desktop environment. To me they're still just toys.

The two I use everyday are The Weather Network App and Slacker Radio. I'm retired so productivity is a non factor for me. I use a couple more like Netflix and some Racing news Apps. I'd still use 8.1 without the Apps, they are there and some are free so I like to test them out. I run my Metro apps on my left monitor and use the other two for desktop programs. Usually Outlook on my right monitor and IE on the center. That way I can cruse the forums and see email notifications at the same time, and listen to some tunes.

 

[alphanumeric]

Aside from fooling around with "Useless to Desktop Users" features, not really!

Think I'll pass and wait for the official update. People who like the challenge of trying to jump ahead with this seem to enjoy it - I'm not in that category. I like for my pc to run as smoothly as possible without self-made problems. Good luck to you who try it - the rest of us will wait until April, I guess.

I'm retired so its not a big deal if my PC gets messed up and I have to reinstall. I have a spare desktop and a laptop as backup anyway.

 

[TerryM]

Is one of the changes to "show all users" on the welcome screen by default?
I have been setting up some laptops for a school and trying (unsuccessfully) to have it easier to switch users without typing the entire computer name when switching (local). There is a new computer (same model), more recently purchased, that I am also setting up. The welcome screen on this computer shows both users, and can be switched by only entering the password. I may have run the Windows Update at the time when the new release was available.
Thanks for any information you can give on this issue.

 

[JohnBurns]

Does anyone know yet if Classic Shell will still work with 8.1.1? I have come to rely on Classic Shell like it is a part of Windows and hope it's still going to be available.

 

[BunnyJ]

I updated my rig with the spring update and Classic shell works just fine with it.
HTH
Jeff

 

[Lee]

Aside from fooling around with "Useless to Desktop Users" features, not really!

Think I'll pass and wait for the official update. People who like the challenge of trying to jump ahead with this seem to enjoy it - I'm not in that category. I like for my pc to run as smoothly as possible without self-made problems. Good luck to you who try it - the rest of us will wait until April, I guess.

I'm retired so its not a big deal if my PC gets messed up and I have to reinstall. I have a spare desktop and a laptop as backup anyway.

Great minds "Think alike. . .

 

[JohnBurns]

I updated my rig with the spring update and Classic shell works just fine with it.
HTH
Jeff

Thanks for the response, Jeff. I appreciate it.

 

[waltc]

I updated my rig with the spring update and Classic shell works just fine with it.
HTH
Jeff

Thanks for the response, Jeff. I appreciate it.

Yes, I had no problems with it, either...

 

[HippsieGypsie]

someone want to type in all the changes from 8.1 now to the new update 8.1 (8.2) please
thanks

The two links below are articles that describes most of the changes complete with some pics, but not sure if it’s all of them. At least UI-wise. They don’t mention anything under the hood improvements. I think there’s an update to IE11. Perhaps someone will list them. Although some are appealing to me, not sure yet if I’m going to install these. I can see where it would be easier to navigate as a “mouser”, but as a “keyboarder” some really don’t appeal to me unless there are new combo keys or tabbing to something to aid me.

I see they’ve added more features to the Mail app as they have been all along. That has gotten to be a terrific app.

This brings me to my next subject and question. I see these updates are installed individually in the leak. Would anyone know if they will be presented this way upon official release or will it be lumped such as an SP1? Gawd I hope they’re individual and optional!

Windows 8.1 Update 1 leaks on the web ahead of its March release | The Verge

Microsoft’s first update to Windows 8.1 has leaked today on various file-sharing websites ahead of its March debut. The early build includes a number of changes that Microsoft is making to improve the keyboard and mouse experience in Windows 8.1. The most obvious change is a new title bar for Microsoft’s Windows 8-style apps, allowing you to close, minimize, and snap apps to appear side by side with a mouse. It occupies a small amount of space at the top of all "Metro" apps, and it appears to be included as more of a helpful option for mouse users to quickly navigate through apps.

Windows 8.1 Update 1 leak: More changes for Start screen, desktop | PCWorld

Following weeks of speculation and rumors, a purported early build of Update 1 for Windows 8.1 has leaked online and is available on a number of file sharing sites. The download reveals a lot of the features we’ve been hearing about since Update 1 screenshots started appearing. The update itself is expected in March or April.

 

[johnpombrio]

Howdy,
Read through the posts.

Just downloaded and installed the accidentally released April 8th RTM Windows 8.1.1 update. 700MB, 20 minutes to install the 6 updates (the 355 update takes a WHILE to install, the others are faster). They need to be installed in this order (don't forget to reboot if the update asks you to):

Windows8.1-KB2919442-x64.msu
Windows8.1-KB2939087-x64.msu
Windows8.1-KB2919355-x64.msu
Windows8.1-KB2932046-x64.msu
Windows8.1-KB2938439-x64.msu
Windows8.1-KB2937592-x64.msu

Notice that this "update" is really only a series of UPDATES lumped together. So it does not involve any radical changes or break any programs that I can see. My Stardock Start 8 and Modernmix both work fine for instance. If you are on the fence about updating, don't be. It really is a trivial update. No worries, mate.

As for desktop users, it is a meh update. Frankly, nothing in it for us unless you want to pin Metro apps to the taskbar.

As for the Metro changes? Power button, minimize and Exit buttons in the top corner and a power button. Taskbar (auto hide) is now on the Start menu.

And as Edwin said, a Metro app closed with the exit X button STILL is running in task manger. Grrr.

I have found one bug fix for me and I hope another, more important one. The trivial bug fix was that after coming out of sleep, the Wallpaper slide show would not change the background image until I "kick started" it by changing it once myself. Then it would shuffle through my hundreds of images. That is now working properly again.

There is a HUGE post from some frustrated Win8.1 users that cannot get their computers to automatically sleep after they installed the Win8.1 update. 86 pages and counting (we tried everything)! I am hoping that this update fixes that.
http://www.eightforums.com/general-support/28226-windows-8-1-refuses-sleep-86.html#post354658

Bottom line? Go ahead and update. It is only minor changes and bug fixes.