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

 

[sygnus21]

After I'd updated my Notebook I made an image backup using Acronis True Image 2013 and also a Windows Image through File History, both to an external hard drive.

Yeah I have ATI 2014 which I'll use to create a new image seeing that I can't access the factory image any more.

 

[alphanumeric]

Yeah it looks like you're right. I just tried to recover my laptop using the supplied instructions and hitting F9, what I get is Windows options, but nothing to do with accessing the hidden partition for the laptop. In short no recovery partition.

Oh, well, like you, I have the 8.1 ISO image with it's own key so same here, no sleep lost.

Looks like I need to create a backup image for the new OS now.

Thanks for the heads up :thumb:

On my laptop that lead me to a Windows menu that you could do a Windows 8 Refresh or Reset from. The Reset let you restore the factory image. You may still get that option but it won't see the factory recovery partition and likely ask you to insert your DVD. You'll reset the current 8.1 install instead or restoring the factory 8.0 install. You won't know until you actually try it.
This was my thread on the subject and what I went though. http://www.eightforums.com/installation-setup/21897-new-asus-laptop-has-no-recovery-disk-utlity.html

 

[alphanumeric]

I used The app that comes with the lap top . and looks like you all are right . It only makes the original OS that came with .

That don't make sense to me . when you open system info , it said wds 8.1 , why can't it copy that ...?

View attachment 29708

View attachment 29709

Thank you all .

That utility likely just copies the recovery utility and factory image from the factory installed recovery partition. It doesn't actually image the installed OS. It just transfers the utility to external media so you can run it when the hard drive isn't bootable anymore.

 

[Jm44jg39]

I was having a heck of a time yesterday because my "store" never had the Win 8.1 Pro free upgrade. I had upgraded previously up graded the "8.1 Preview" via a downloaded ISO. I had installed all of the updates available, still no link to 8.1 upgrade. I left my computer on last night in the hopes that a new update would show up and one DID. This morning I had a message splashed across my metro screen telling me that I had to install some of my apps again. I clicked ok and the upgrade 8.1 Pro free install started. This took about 45 minutes or so. it turns out that about 1/3 of my apps were still installed.

 

[sygnus21]

Yeah it looks like you're right. I just tried to recover my laptop using the supplied instructions and hitting F9, what I get is Windows options, but nothing to do with accessing the hidden partition for the laptop. In short no recovery partition.

Oh, well, like you, I have the 8.1 ISO image with it's own key so same here, no sleep lost.

Looks like I need to create a backup image for the new OS now.

Thanks for the heads up :thumb:

On my laptop that lead me to a Windows menu that you could do a Windows 8 Refresh or Reset from. The Reset let you restore the factory image. You may still get that option but it won't see the factory recovery partition and likely ask you to insert your DVD. You'll reset the current 8.1 install instead or restoring the factory 8.0 install. You won't know until you actually try it.
This was my thread on the subject and what I went though. http://www.eightforums.com/installation-setup/21897-new-asus-laptop-has-no-recovery-disk-utlity.html

Yeah I was just playing around and the bottom line is I can't recover the partition. I tried using my recovery USB drive but no go since I didn't copy the contents of the drive. Wish I would have did that. Anyway running the recovery feature and choosing reset nets me a "unable to reset your PC. A required drive partition is missing" message.

The only thing that bums me is I lost an OS with a key, even if it wasn't even 8 Pro. Anyway I have my 8.1 copy with it's key, as well as a couple of copies of 8 with their own keys so no worries.

BTW I've asked Brink to chime in and posted a question here - http://www.eightforums.com/tutorial...usb-flash-drive-windows-8-a-8.html#post293402 so we'll see what's what.

 

[alphanumeric]

Yeah it looks like you're right. I just tried to recover my laptop using the supplied instructions and hitting F9, what I get is Windows options, but nothing to do with accessing the hidden partition for the laptop. In short no recovery partition.

Oh, well, like you, I have the 8.1 ISO image with it's own key so same here, no sleep lost.

Looks like I need to create a backup image for the new OS now.

Thanks for the heads up :thumb:

On my laptop that lead me to a Windows menu that you could do a Windows 8 Refresh or Reset from. The Reset let you restore the factory image. You may still get that option but it won't see the factory recovery partition and likely ask you to insert your DVD. You'll reset the current 8.1 install instead or restoring the factory 8.0 install. You won't know until you actually try it.
This was my thread on the subject and what I went though. http://www.eightforums.com/installation-setup/21897-new-asus-laptop-has-no-recovery-disk-utlity.html

Yeah I was just playing around and the bottom line is I can't recover the partition. I tried using my recovery USB drive but no go since I didn't copy the contents of the drive. Wish I would have did that. Anyway running the recovery feature and choosing reset nets me a "unable to reset your PC. A required drive partition is missing" message.

The only thing that bums me is I lost an OS with a key, even if it wasn't even 8 Pro. Anyway I have my 8.1 copy with it's key, as well as a couple of copies of 8 with their own keys so no worries.

BTW I've asked Brink to chime in and posted a question here - http://www.eightforums.com/tutorial...usb-flash-drive-windows-8-a-8.html#post293402 so we'll see what's what.

Thank you for posting that. It confirms what I thought would happen but I wasn't 100% sure. Your 8 key is embedded in the BIOS and tied to that PC. Official Microsoft Windows 8 install media will read it and use it automatically. If I do a clean install with my TechNet Windows 8 ISO it reads my laptops embedded code and install the matching 8 core automatically and I don't get prompted to enter a code. It activates online automatically too.

 

[DJG]

Well, after 3 tries my upgrade would fail when it got ready to restart. Very painful time wasted! I then found Mosharino's post on downloading the ISO - awesome & THANK YOU!! But my upgrade from the ISO also failed! I started thinking, it goes through everything not a beep but it fails on the restart, i.e. reboot. My boot partition is on a PCI Express controller card ... hmmm.

I copied my boot image from the external controller SSDs to an auxiliary OS partition I have on the native MB controller - BINGO!

After I got the basic 8.1 partition I copied it back to the external controller SSDs, no problems BTW, even my convoluted True Launch Bar migrated properly to the 8.1 taskbar and all my Adobe apps did not require de-& re-activation. It even migrated the Office 2003 claimed to be not compatible by the upgrade assistant.

So I'm thinking if I had my OS partition on the native controller the store update would have worked. But I then might not have found the ISO download post .

 

[sygnus21]

Your 8 key is embedded in the BIOS and tied to that PC. Official Microsoft Windows 8 install media will read it and use it automatically. If I do a clean install with my TechNet Windows 8 ISO it reads my laptops embedded code and install the matching 8 core automatically and I don't get prompted to enter a code. It activates online automatically too.

Well when I went to do the clean install, I was prompted for a key, which I had. For the record, my copy of 8.1 came through my school which participates in Microsoft's DreamSpark program. This allowed me to get the ISO version of 8.1 with a key.

Anyway the other reason I'm thinking it asked for a key is because the original OS was just plain old Win 8, not even Pro. But yeah, it did ask for a key so...

Anyway it seems the partition is lost so I'll just wipe it and gain more HD space. This is a 256 SSD drive so the more space, the merrier.

Thanks for the input.

Drew.

 

[Wynona]

Popeye, it is not automatic, you have to go to the Store and select it.

Jim

There's gonna be a lot of Windows 8 users out there that don't use the store, or access this forum, that simply won't know about the update.

HaHaHa, I thought the same as you, Mr. Sardonicus, but everywhere I go on the Internet, I'm told Windows 8.1 is now available and am offered multiple ways of upgrading.

So, I guess it's safe to say that if one is on the Internet, they'll know there's an update.

 

[alphanumeric]

Your 8 key is embedded in the BIOS and tied to that PC. Official Microsoft Windows 8 install media will read it and use it automatically. If I do a clean install with my TechNet Windows 8 ISO it reads my laptops embedded code and install the matching 8 core automatically and I don't get prompted to enter a code. It activates online automatically too.

Well when I went to do the clean install, I was prompted for a key, which I had. For the record, my copy of 8.1 came through my school which participates in Microsoft's DreamSpark program. This allowed me to get the ISO version of 8.1 with a key.

Anyway the other reason I'm thinking it asked for a key is because the original OS was just plain old Win 8, not even Pro. But yeah, it did ask for a key so...

Anyway it seems the partition is lost so I'll just wipe it and gain more HD space. This is a 256 SSD drive so the more space, the merrier.

Thanks for the input.

Drew.

Let me just clarify in case you misunderstood what I was trying to say.
Windows 8 install media will read and use the Windows 8 embedded key.
Windows 8.1 install media likely reads the Windows 8 key but won't use it. 8.1 wants an 8.1 key to install.

 

[theog]

Your 8 key is embedded in the BIOS and tied to that PC. Official Microsoft Windows 8 install media will read it and use it automatically. If I do a clean install with my TechNet Windows 8 ISO it reads my laptops embedded code and install the matching 8 core automatically and I don't get prompted to enter a code. It activates online automatically too.

Well when I went to do the clean install, I was prompted for a key, which I had. For the record, my copy of 8.1 came through my school which participates in Microsoft's DreamSpark program. This allowed me to get the ISO version of 8.1 with a key.

Anyway the other reason I'm thinking it asked for a key is because the original OS was just plain old Win 8, not even Pro. But yeah, it did ask for a key so...

Anyway it seems the partition is lost so I'll just wipe it and gain more HD space. This is a 256 SSD drive so the more space, the merrier.

Thanks for the input.

Drew.

Let me just clarify in case you misunderstood what I was trying to say.
Windows 8 install media will read and use the Windows 8 embedded key.
Windows 8.1 install media likely reads the Windows 8 key but won't use it. 8.1 wants an 8.1 key to install.

http://www.eightforums.com/installa...retail-windows-8-1-windows-8-product-key.html

 

[gasdel]

Hi All @the forum,

Does anyone got the chance to upgrade an RTsurface 8 to 8.1? I have the opportunity to get one at very low price, I heard that RT surface with win 8 (the tegra3 ones) where not so good; any improvement about perforrmance with 8.1 RT?

Thanks in advance for any caveat about

Gas

 

[labeeman]

Hi All @the forum,

Does anyone got the chance to upgrade an RTsurface 8 to 8.1? I have the opportunity to get one at very low price, I heard that RT surface with win 8 (the tegra3 ones) where not so good; any improvement about perforrmance with 8.1 RT?

Thanks in advance for any caveat about

Gas

It seems there are problems with the 8.1 upgrade with RT at this time.

Microsoft yanks Windows RT 8.1 update from Windows Store

Microsoft yanks Windows RT 8.1 update from Windows Store | Microsoft - CNET News

 

[gasdel]

Thanks Labeeman,

I heard about taht problem, I thought it was not for all the Surface but some of them, it was my hope some of the guy at the forum could upgrade and test it.

Thanks a lot anyway

Gas

 

[DavidY]

Thanks Labeeman,

I heard about taht problem, I thought it was not for all the Surface but some of them, it was my hope some of the guy at the forum could upgrade and test it.

Thanks a lot anyway

Gas

I think the Surface Pro model would be OK; it's the ordinary Surface which would have the problem.

 

[siliconman01]

Thanks Labeeman,

I heard about taht problem, I thought it was not for all the Surface but some of them, it was my hope some of the guy at the forum could upgrade and test it.

Thanks a lot anyway

Gas

I think the Surface Pro model would be OK; it's the ordinary Surface which would have the problem.

My Surface Pro upgraded successfully without problems from Win 8 Pro to Win 8.1 Pro via download from Windows Store

 

[Katsumoto]

Been a couple of days since the upgrade.

The longer boot times are still present.

It seems that my Radeon gfx driver on my VAIO has been corrupted via the upgrade. Playing WoW now relies on the CPU and blows out hot air worse than a hairdryer. Will need to fix this asap. Trying to update via the CP says it's all OK, which it's not.