automatically upgraded to Windows 8.1 for free

Buy Windows 8.1 - Microsoft Store

If you're already running Windows 8 you'll be automatically upgraded to Windows 8.1 for free on October 17. If you're running Windows 7, pre-order Windows 8.1 now.

See also: http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/32995-windows-8-1-upgrade-windows-8-8-1-preview.html

 

[DavidY]

I checked the store, their is no update in it. I am in Az. I don't know if that makes a difference or not. I currently have 8.1 preview, but I can not find the update in the windows store.

You aren't the only one having problems going from the Preview...
http://www.eightforums.com/general-support/33015-windows-8-1-preview-8-1-retail.html

I haven't been able to try it properly, but I think this might work:
Use the Upgrade Assistant and run it, and
Upgrade Assistant: FAQ - Microsoft Windows Help

Then I think it will show you a "Go to the store" link which will take you to the correct Windows Store page.

 

[sygnus21]

If you're using the preview or anything before that, you may need to uninstall and go back to vanilla 8, than try the store. If I'm not mistaken, somewhere it was warned this would happen with the "preview" edition. The RTM was different because it was pretty much final.

Anyway anything other than the RTM is probably going to cause problems. And if you had the RTM, all you needed was the updates which could be had through Windows Update.

 

[HOODY]

I had the same issue with Comodo, the way to fix that is un-install Comodo Internet Security and go to the registry and do the following

Run regedit, go to this value
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Network
On the right side you will see MaxNumFilters REG_DWORD change it's value from 1 to 8. Reboot your machine and then install CIS, everything works just fine thereafter.

Hope that helps, for me I actually deleted the key, only found that above solution after the fact. But Comodo Internet Security is working fine for me know.

If you don't have the above DWORD, you can simple create a new one by right click selecting New \ DWORD name it MaxNumFilters and change it's value to 8.

well I got done updating, and so far "most" of the stuff is there, I have a lot of stuff to go through to test if it actually does work. I know for sure my HP graphics driver for W8 doesn't work, it disabled my Radeon 7690 m xt, and now device manager says its a 6700 series, with a yellow question mark. so all I have now is the Intel 3000 thing.

Also my COMODO security suite won't load right, tried to re install and now it won't even do that. that's 2 items so far.

For a bit I thought Fire Fox was hosed too, but it came back, but is slow to start up.

I may end up re installing my W8 image, I dono, we'll see. I just hate to go through the damned update time again later though, sure need a ISO, smirks.

edit

btw that windows 7 recovery image backup program is gone in 8.1 too. luckily Acronis 2010 still works.

Thanks Homes, I fixed it too, I just manually removed the comodo folder, downloaded the FULL installer and ran that, it worked that way


btw I was also a bit hasty, cause its "new" lol about the Windows 7 recovery thing, its still available in 8.1 too, just under a different name and a bit harder to find. its located in file history, on the lower left corner, its just not called windows 7 recovery now, its just "System Image Backup", but its there . So all in all so far I'm still havin fun lolol.

 

[IownAmoneyPit]

I first tried different drivers by trial & error which proved to be very risky as I had to do a system restore after a black screen at startup. But I made sure my system could be restored back to Windows 8 by using an image (Acronis/Easus)with all of my programs intact before attempting something so risky. What eventually worked was using the working driver I already had for windows 8 which I re-installed by using the method described in the link below.

The HP link below which describes an alternate method of installing a driver (basically works by unzipping the HP spXXXX file then running the exe. file in compatibility mode)
I followed steps 1,2,6 to 12 to the letter. There were no compatible Win 8 drivers listed by HP so steps 3,4 & 5 did not apply in my case.

I upgraded to Windows 8. How do I get switchable graphics t... - HP Support Forum - 2213275

Originally Posted by HOODY

Never mind, I just re installed SP59850 and its back to normal, device manager sees the card as it is now.

That's good to hear HOODY my unfinished reply above describes my all day risky adventure to get the driver working as I did not want to give any bad advice that would do harm.

 

[Wds]

Man .... It took painfully 5 hrs to download {internet 10GBps) and 45 mins to set up ....

but all went well ...

I notice , Avast antivirus completely disappear .... chrome browser is disable ... but IE 11 is nice and snappy .. I like it ...

Oh yeh ... I don't know why I don't see the "Fake" start button ... "the way I like anyway ... just curious ..."

may be because I have classicshell ...???

 

[caleula]

My Windows 8.1 upgrade aborted because my User Profiles are on another drive!

I install Windows using Audit Mode and an XML file to relocate User Profiles to another drive during installation. Less messy and leaves no residual junk. Also, makes imaging a lot easier and cleaner too.

First time I've had Windows of any version fall over for this reason. Have set up an email request with Microsoft to be advised of any and all details posted on this.

Bad one Microsoft!!

 

[Hybrid Vigor]

Fixed! Thanx anyway. Things seem to run smooth now.

 

[samanthablock]

I still may give it a few days and upgrade........but for now, with the painfully slow download yesterday and doing some reading of some people having problems, I stopped it and decided to wait......especially since everything is running so fast and smooth on my Vanilla 8 version of windows on my laptop....the only weird thing I notice is that hot corners don't work........and when in an app.....the mouse arrow doesn't change to a hand when you move it to the top of the screen....I have to use keyboard shortcuts to get these things I mentioned to work........so no big deal I guess....I may upgrade in a week or so. Right now I'm in "leave well enough alone" mode.

 

[tinmar49]

I've done three pc's to W8.1 pro 64, rather slow, but they are mostly working, I have a problem with Google Earth which is on another thread. I feel sorry for people on slow connections and on a limited download allowance.

 

[tinmar49]

I've just read the 8.1 license agreement and it states that you can make one backup copy. How?

 

[Phone Man]

I've just read the 8.1 license agreement and it states that you can make one backup copy. How?

Maybe that means if you buy the retail version you can make one backup copy.

Jim

 

[HOODY]

I've just read the 8.1 license agreement and it states that you can make one backup copy. How?

you can try this, its mainly a way to backup the system as installed, not a OS install disk. But its better in a way as its an image of what you actually have.

Create a complete System Image Backup with Windows 8.1 and File History - Scott Hanselman

its not the end all, I use it as a 2nd backup, I use Acronis 2010 (yeah it works in 8.1) for my primary images.

Only thing I don't see in 8.1 that was in 8 is the ability to create a recovery disk, I'm not sure how you would recover if the OS won't boot at all without it. I still have my W8 recovery disk, but don't know if it works the same on 8.1.

I'm still waiting for someone to post a ISO link for this 8.1 though as I have the install disk for 8, but need the "update ISO in case of a clean reinstall, to save D/l time.

 

[DavidY]

I've just read the 8.1 license agreement and it states that you can make one backup copy. How?

Maybe that means if you buy the retail version you can make one backup copy.

Jim

I think it means the license agreement has said the same thing since about Windows 3.1 and has been copied and pasted from version-to-version without much thought ever since.

 

[alphanumeric]

I've just read the 8.1 license agreement and it states that you can make one backup copy. How?

Maybe that means if you buy the retail version you can make one backup copy.

Jim

I think it means the license agreement has said the same thing since about Windows 3.1 and has been copied and pasted from version-to-version without much thought ever since.

Just a standard clause in the agreement. If you bought a retail DVD it would say the same thing but in that case you could actually make a copy. My interpretation is it means Microsoft doesn't want you making multiple copies and redistributing them.

 

[sygnus21]

So has anyone figured out what changes if any came from the Windows update to the RTM version of 8.1? In other words for those of us who were already running the RTM version of 8.1, Microsoft put out a 230 meg patch to "finalize" 8.1 - Anyone notice any differences now?

 

[alphanumeric]

So has anyone figured out what changes if any came from the Windows update to the RTM version of 8.1? In other words for those of us who were already running the RTM version of 8.1, Microsoft put out a 230 meg patch to "finalize" 8.1 - Anyone notice any differences now?

Which update was that? do you have a KB number for it. I have six updates for 10/172013, not sure if its one of those or all of those? I haven't noticed anything obvious.

 

[sygnus21]

Which update was that? do you have a KB number for it. I have six updates for 10/172013, not sure if its one of those or all of those? I haven't noticed anything obvious.

As posted here - http://www.eightforums.com/windows-...-upgraded-windows-8-1-free-18.html#post291183

 

[gasdel]

I've just read the 8.1 license agreement and it states that you can make one backup copy. How?

you can try this, its mainly a way to backup the system as installed, not a OS install disk. But its better in a way as its an image of what you actually have.

Create a complete System Image Backup with Windows 8.1 and File History - Scott Hanselman

its not the end all, I use it as a 2nd backup, I use Acronis 2010 (yeah it works in 8.1) for my primary images.

Only thing I don't see in 8.1 that was in 8 is the ability to create a recovery disk, I'm not sure how you would recover if the OS won't boot at all without it. I still have my W8 recovery disk, but don't know if it works the same on 8.1.

I'm still waiting for someone to post a ISO link for this 8.1 though as I have the install disk for 8, but need the "update ISO in case of a clean reinstall, to save D/l time.

In 8.1 you can create a recovery usb unit (a small one is enough); go to file history then hit Recovery (above "image backup)

I hope this help you

Gas

 

[Katsumoto]

I installed 8.1 last night on my VAIO. Seems to have upgraded without a hitch, but haven't checked out everything yet. But I notice boot times into OS and load times into programs and apps are now lengthier. My brother has also seen the same (but his Firefox was disabled, my Chrome wasn't).

I might hold off upgrading my gaming rig for a few days. That's super quick and don't want to see a recurrence of older Windows boot times..

 

[samanthablock]

Ok.........so yesterday about halfway through the download, I stopped it.....decided to wait.........today, I couldn't stand it and went back to the store and it picked up where it left off, then installed everything which the setup seemed to take forever. Where I ran into the problem was the stupid microsoft acct password.........I don't have a microsoft acct and when I set up windows 8 initially, it forced me to make one, so I did.....I tweaked the setting so that it would boot automatically when I start windows.... so during setup, it asked me for my password. My fault for forgetting it. I had to go to another computer and go to live mail to reset it, then I was able to log in.......

I thought windows 8.1 update kept all your settings? It didn't on mine. I had to go back to change mouse sensitivity on my Lenovo laptop, because even with charms bar disabled in the new 8.1, it still activated the charms bar........once I changed mouse sensitivity, that stopped. Also, the wireless adapter had power management enabled, I had to turn that off again.........so all those little settings apparently have to be reconfigured........also, the windows 8.1 startup sound is enabled, but there is no startup sound............Otherwise, I have no issues and it seems fine, but it's really hard to notice much difference quite frankly....I guess when I delve into it more and look around I will notice some things...........