How to Correctly Install Windows 8.1 Preview

The official documentation that reached the web recently reveal that Windows 8 users should basically make the switch to Windows 8.1 Preview via the Windows Store, as this is the safest, easiest, and fastest way to do it.

Separate ISOs will also be offered for those who wish to set up a dual-boot configuration and install Windows 8.1 Preview on a different partition. Here’s what Microsoft says about it.

How to Correctly Install Windows 8.1 Preview


See also: http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/27188-windows-8-1-preview-download-install.html

 

[Nemix]

Finally, just woke up and found the official links on Microsoft download page; downloading right now...

 

[Hamnat]

Installed from the Microsoft store. Now all my USB 3.0 ports are inactive. Been a pain trying to find a way to get them back on. USB Root HUb (xHCI) "Windows cannot start this hardware device because its configuration information (in the registry) is incomplete or damaged. (Code 19)"

Trying to remove it and then reinstall but no luck so far

 

[CountMike]

Maybe it would be good idea to install 8.1 on "virgin" windows, without any third party software, specially AV, there's no vay in this short time everybody could synchronize everything. That's what I'll do when I get ISO of it. Btw. is ISO available yet, oficialy ?

Hello Mike,

Sure is. See OPTION TWO below.


http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/27188-windows-8-1-preview-download-install.html

Thnx, downloading now.

 

[caperjack]

why would anyone want to install any preview on a good working install of windows ,not me for sure ,i did a full install from iso on separate partition ,all is working well so far !!! now i will install my software .

 

[kmint]

I am installing it and it is the slowest download I have seen from the old days of a rare movie in eMule.

After two hours it's still at 25%.

Additionally, everything is faulty. I look at the progress bar and sometimes it shows the percentage and other times it doesn't. Everything is full of problems and fails in this installation.

 

[kmint]

Actually, it's been like this for 20 minutes already.

Looks like the 25% installed is gone or something.

View attachment 23742

 

[vrosa]

Actually, it's been like this for 20 minutes already.

Looks like the 25% installed is gone or something.

View attachment 23742

It's normal. Mine took a while to show the progress bar too !

 

[kmint]

Actually, it's been like this for 20 minutes already.

Looks like the 25% installed is gone or something.

View attachment 23742

It's normal. Mine took a while to show the progress bar too !

Oh, how professional and well finished from Microsoft. We have all the time in the world to worry about bad installations after all.

Who cares if we cancel it because we think it's not working and then we can no longer install it again.

Microsoft is a horrible company, seriously.

Thanks a lot anyway, I will just wait a few more hours until something happens, If it does.

 

[HippsieGypsie]

@ kmint

I had the same exact problem > Twice. Only to find out it wouldn't install. I gave up. I went the ISO route. You may want to consider that.

 

[kmint]

@ kmint

I had the same exact problem > Twice. Only to find out it wouldn't install. I gave up. I went the ISO route. You may want to consider that.

Oh dear... And the ISO route I guess means to fight with UEFI and etc.

I really like to try new things but Microsoft can really get on my nerves.

Thanks a lot HippsieGypsie.

 

[kmint]

By the way, suppousing that a 25% is installed and I want to give up, should I just cancel and ignore it or will it leave me a 25% of the 2,5GB of junk files in my system? Should we do some uninstalling or cleaning or what.

Thanks Microcrap for this great preview to your free of charge volunteer testers all over the world, I love you.

 

[kmint]

By the way, I'm trying to give thanks or reputation point or however it's called but I can't see the button anywhere.

Has it been removed, the thanking thingy?

 

[HippsieGypsie]

I have an older machine so UEFI is no problem for me.

A system clean gets rid of the files. I use CCleaner.

The ISO installs right off the hard drive within 8. No need to burn it.

BTW, before the second time of installation I performed a scannow of which it repaired files, but to no avail of installation.

The ISO installation went without a hitch.

 

[vrosa]

By the way, I'm trying to give thanks or reputation point or however it's called but I can't see the button anywhere.

Has it been removed, the thanking thingy?

It depends on the category that you are posting. You won't see it in the NEWS category.

 

[kmint]

Thanks @HippsieGypsie and @vrosa

 

[HippsieGypsie]

You're welcome. Give it thought. If you don't have 8 install media, I suggest you mirror your 8 in case you want to return.

 

[kmint]

So, I gave up. Cancelled. That thing never moved again and never showed the progress anymore.

Bravo Microsoft. The habit of making shoddy stuff seems to be strong as always. The company's motto. We make junk, you buy it.

 

[caperjack]

So, I gave up. Cancelled. That thing never moved again and never showed the progress anymore.

Bravo Microsoft. The habit of making shoddy stuff seems to be strong as always. The company's motto. We make junk, you buy it.

but 8.1 is free ,and its only prieview/beta version ,so you should not be installing it on/over your main win8 computer,

I created another partition and installed it there just to be safe ,i have a older computer and use a usb thumb drive to install the iso version of win8.1 pro 64bit and it works great

 

[kmint]

So, I gave up. Cancelled. That thing never moved again and never showed the progress anymore.

Bravo Microsoft. The habit of making shoddy stuff seems to be strong as always. The company's motto. We make junk, you buy it.

but 8.1 is free ,and its only prieview/beta version ,so you should not be installing it on/over your main win8 computer,

I created another partition and installed it there just to be safe ,i have a older computer and use a usb thumb drive to install the iso version of win8.1 pro 64bit and it works great

Well, it finally worked. What I did was to start all over again and noticed that if I kept using the computer, the installation would stop and the progress bar will disappear. So I just left it alone without touching it and set the screen to never turn off, so that I could keep an eye on it. And that worked.

I preferred to install it over, not in a different partition, because I really wanted to use it fully and I don't care much if I have to do a refresh or uninstall later. The laptop is new, came today from Amazon, and didn't have any software installed yet.

 

[alphanumeric]

So, I gave up. Cancelled. That thing never moved again and never showed the progress anymore.

Bravo Microsoft. The habit of making shoddy stuff seems to be strong as always. The company's motto. We make junk, you buy it.

but 8.1 is free ,and its only prieview/beta version ,so you should not be installing it on/over your main win8 computer,

I created another partition and installed it there just to be safe ,i have a older computer and use a usb thumb drive to install the iso version of win8.1 pro 64bit and it works great

Well, it finally worked. What I did was to start all over again and noticed that if I kept using the computer, the installation would stop and the progress bar will disappear. So I just left it alone without touching it and set the screen to never turn off, so that I could keep an eye on it. And that worked.

I preferred to install it over, not in a different partition, because I really wanted to use it fully and I don't care much if I have to do a refresh or uninstall later. The laptop is new, came today from Amazon, and didn't have any software installed yet.

Did you make your Windows 8 recovery media before updating to Windows 8.1? Doing a Reset or Refresh now may just restore Windows 8.1 and not roll you back to Windows 8.