Trouble with win 8.1 upgrade

J

Jineu21

New Member
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I am currently running win 8 on Dell Inspiron 14z. I made several attempts to upgrade to 8.1 and failed. I went through the procedures that are supposed to happen, including express customization and restart. One thing I didn't do is to enter the security code they sent through my alternate email because I could not access that email while setting up the windows. But the process went ahead without it and seemed to have been completed. But I see the same win 8 starting screen with no change, although I see some changes in the file explorer folder structure.

So I went back to the Win 8.1 web page (Windows 8.1 - Microsoft Windows), where I had started the update from. Now I don't see the "upgrade to win 8.1" button any more on this page, so I figure this page thinks I already have win 8.1, whereas i don't see it on my computer. Instead, at the bottom of the page, I see the following message:

"Still running Windows 8.1 Preview?"
The final version of Windows 8.1 is available to download now.
Button: [See how to update]

So I figure what I got was Win 8.1 Preview instead of win 8. I am puzzled why MS makes my life difficulty with this weird preview version. What is the point? Anyway, I clicked on the button and the new page tells me to type in the following address: [FONT=WOL_Bold]ms-windows-store:WindowsUpgrade [/FONT]to update from 8.1 preview to 8. I typed the address into the address bar and the screen switched to windows store and then immediately to a screen with win 8.1 download button. I clicked on that download button and got the following error message:

Windows 8.1
This app wasn't installed. View details.

I clicked on the message and got a little pop up that says:

"Windows 8.1 Preview isn't available at the moment. please try again later."

Can somebody tell me what is wrong and how I can get this win 8?

Thanks.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Dell Inspiron 14z
    CPU
    I3
    Memory
    4G
Jineu21 said:
I am currently running win 8 on Dell Inspiron 14z. I made several attempts to upgrade to 8.1 and failed. I went through the procedures that are supposed to happen, including express customization and restart. One thing I didn't do is to enter the security code they sent through my alternate email because I could not access that email while setting up the windows. But the process went ahead without it and seemed to have been completed. But I see the same win 8 starting screen with no change, although I see some changes in the file explorer folder structure.

So I went back to the Win 8.1 web page (Windows 8.1 - Microsoft Windows), where I had started the update from. Now I don't see the "upgrade to win 8.1" button any more on this page, so I figure this page thinks I already have win 8.1, whereas i don't see it on my computer. Instead, at the bottom of the page, I see the following message:

"Still running Windows 8.1 Preview?"
The final version of Windows 8.1 is available to download now.
Button: [See how to update]

So I figure what I got was Win 8.1 Preview instead of win 8. I am puzzled why MS makes my life difficulty with this weird preview version. What is the point? Anyway, I clicked on the button and the new page tells me to type in the following address: [FONT=WOL_Bold]ms-windows-store:WindowsUpgrade [/FONT]to update from 8.1 preview to 8. I typed the address into the address bar and the screen switched to windows store and then immediately to a screen with win 8.1 download button. I clicked on that download button and got the following error message:

Windows 8.1
This app wasn't installed. View details.

I clicked on the message and got a little pop up that says:

"Windows 8.1 Preview isn't available at the moment. please try again later."

Can somebody tell me what is wrong and how I can get this win 8?

Thanks.
Click to expand...

The link above is to buy Windows 8.1.

To upgrade from Windows 8.1 Preview to Windows 8.1 GA, you would need to buy Windows 8.1 GA.



To upgrade from Windows 8 Core/Pro to Windows 8.1 Core/Pro GA, this is free from the Windows Store.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    ME, XP,Vista,Win7,Win8,Win8.1
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Other Info
    Notebooks x 3

    Desktops x 5

    Towers x 4
Thank you for your reply. So not everyone who uses win 8 is eligible for free win 8.1. Then how come these pages don't say anything about buying it? If I don't buy it, is it any good just to have win 8.1 Preview?
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Dell Inspiron 14z
    CPU
    I3
    Memory
    4G
I'm sorry I don't know what your exact problem is.

However I can confirm I successfully upgraded using these steps:
  • PC with Windows 7 when new
  • then bought the Windows 8 Pro upgrade for it (when it was cheap, around a year ago)
  • Installed Windows 8.1 Pro Preview on the PC as a clean install
  • Used the Windows Store (by pasting a link into the address bar as posted earlier) and successfully upgraded to Windows 8.1 Pro. I had to type in my Windows 8 Product Key later in the setup process

So as long as you have a valid Windows 8 product key, you shouldn't need to buy anything.

Edit: If you use the keyboard combination
<WindowsKey> <X>
and then select 'System' (Or go into Control Panel and select System) what edition does it say you have?
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1, 10
Had a similar problem, bought 8 had good license, did free upgrade to 8.1 from store, (took 2days) once install completed license no good, 2 hour call to MS, let them take control, register with new #, all is well
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Win xp win7 win8
I looked at the system info. Under "Windows edition" it says Windows 8.1. But on the right a big windows logo and "Windows 8" sign is displayed. So I am not even sure whether I have win 8 or win 8.1. This is really weird!
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Dell Inspiron 14z
    CPU
    I3
    Memory
    4G
@jineu

start or :winkey:

type msinfo32.exe

in System summary you should see:

OS Name Microsoft Windows 8.1 Pro
Version 6.3.9600 Build 9600

if it is Windows 8.1

or

OS Name Microsoft Windows 8
Version 6.2.9200 Build 9200

if it is Windows 8

It will tell you if it is a preview edition - you don't want this, it will expire in January 2014

If you have upgraded but not activated, it will remind you to activate soon, perhaps the next time you start up the PC.

My store upgrade activated automatically without having to enter a key.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Pro with Media Center
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    HP COMPAQ Presario CQ57
    CPU
    AMD E- 300 APU with Radion HD Graphics 1.30GHz
    Motherboard
    inbuilt
    Memory
    4GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    ATI
    Sound Card
    High Definition Audio on-board
    Monitor(s) Displays
    notebook
    Screen Resolution
    1366x768
    Hard Drives
    Seagate ST9500325AS
    Google drive 15GB
    Skydrive 25GB
    BT Cloud
    PSU
    external 20v
    Case
    Laptop
    Cooling
    pretty good
    Keyboard
    inbuilt
    Mouse
    touchpad
    Internet Speed
    BT Infinity Unlimited - 80 up 20 down =70/16 really
    Browser
    Chrome Canary usually
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender and Malwarebytes
    Other Info
    no Start menu modifications
    Upgraded with no issues to 8.0 and to 8.1
Showing Windows 8.1 GA, the Windows store update.

Capture.PNG
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    ME, XP,Vista,Win7,Win8,Win8.1
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Other Info
    Notebooks x 3

    Desktops x 5

    Towers x 4
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