Microsoft’s Leaked Windows 8.1 Update 1 Was Just a Test...

Last week, Microsoft accidentally disclosed several Windows 8.1 Update 1 download links, which basically allowed everyone with Internet access to download and install the new OS version prepared by the software giant for the April launch.

While Microsoft has quickly taken down the links, a Chinese website is now claiming that the build that was delivered to users on that day was actually just a testing version supposed to allow the Redmond-based company to test the update system that’s going to go live once Windows 8.1 Update 1 is released.

PCBeta suggests that build 17031 is not RTM, which means that those who rushed to install it might need to reinstall their operating systems once again once the full build becomes available, as it’s not yet clear whether the new and final version could be delivered via Windows Update to these computers.

Read the rest here:Microsoft?s Leaked Windows 8.1 Update 1 Version Was Just a Test Build, Not RTM

 

[lehnerus2000]

My friend's Arch Linux machine got (temporarily) hosed by an NVidia update earlier this week.
He has a GeForce GTX660.

IMO, Graphics card driver updates are problematic (both NVidia and ATI).
Past experience has shown that they normally lower my WEI score (when they aren't causing other major problems).

 

[popeye]

New NVidia drivers working fine here although I don't have any SLI or other fancy stuff on laptop.

Is getting sad that Windows has a lock on the average PC OS market. Sorry Linux but you just don't support things across the entire spectrum like Windows.

Anticipating the rebuttals. BTW: No WEI in 8.1 Pro. Well, hidden but hard to find, for a reason.....doesn't mean much.

 

[CountMike]

For long time ATI was notorious for botched drivers until AMD fixed it for most part, It looks like it's nVidia's turn since Vista. Microsoft's changing conditions and Dx is not helping any and both AMD and nVidia take their sweet time to release appropriate drivers.
WEI does not mean anything to user but a too low score can affect the way graphics are set in windows by default.

 

[davehc]

Well, as you know, There is no WEI in Windows 8. It was , apparently under used and misused by software developers. But, curiosity, is this a typo?

"WEI does not mean anything to user but a too low score can affect the way graphics are set in windows by default"

 

[alphanumeric]

I just installed the 335.23 drivers, custom install excluding the 3d Vision and GeForce Experience. No issues that I know of. It didn't prompt to reboot but I did anyway. Haven't tried playing a game yet but all seems OK so far. I am still running with update 1, this is just a FYI post concerning the 335.23 drivers. GT 640 with three monitors connected.

 

[CountMike]

Well, as you know, There is no WEI in Windows 8. It was , apparently under used and misused by software developers. But, curiosity, is this a typo?

"WEI does not mean anything to user but a too low score can affect the way graphics are set in windows by default"

Not a typo, for WEI score there's nothing to compare to except maybe "before and after" shots, so if it says 7.9 what does that mean ? is it better or worse than if I had another GPU ?. On the other hand when for instance video card score is low, fewer detals are set to GUI but even when set highest nothing slows down.
Main reason for benchmark programs is to be able to see what you should fix / upgrade to get satisfactory results. Let's say, my Video card gives me 7.1 WEI graphics score, for heaven's sake I know I have mid line / mediocre video card, no need to be reminded of that by WEI. My SSD is at least 10 times faster than my old WD 750 GB, Green spinner and all I got from WEI is less that 2 points. So it's not accurate enough even for bragging rights.
Another thing, my processor /AMD Phenom II x4 965B) is 3.4 GHz default but OCed to 4.2GHz and it still shows same WEI when not OCed because Windows do not recognize real frequency but goes for standard one. So, what did WEI show me there ? nothing useful.

 

[my2cents]

Well, as you know, There is no WEI in Windows 8. It was , apparently under used and misused by software developers. But, curiosity, is this a typo?

http://www.eightforums.com/tutorial...dex-update-refresh-wei-score-windows-8-a.html

 

[davehc]

CountMike.
Sorry. No offence was intended, but I could not understand how a low score could affect the way the graphics are set. The score, I would have thought, affected nothing. Maybe my interpretation.

 

[davehc]

Well, as you know, There is no WEI in Windows 8. It was , apparently under used and misused by software developers. But, curiosity, is this a typo?

http://www.eightforums.com/tutorial...dex-update-refresh-wei-score-windows-8-a.html

Thanks. I am aware that there is a background way to complete the assessment. I did post my own version in the link. Since then, though,I have been using this super little app.

Windows Experience Index on Windows 8.1 with ChrisPC Win Experience Index - Get WEI Base Score, CPU Score, Memory Score, Gaming Score, Graphics Score, Storage Score - FREE Download - Chris P.C. srl

 

[CountMike]

CountMike.
Sorry. No offence was intended, but I could not understand how a low score could affect the way the graphics are set. The score, I would have thought, affected nothing. Maybe my interpretation.

Windows and menu effects, animations etc. When installing Win8 (I upgraded thru store so I didn't notice with 8.1) during setup it runs WEI to determine best settings for that score. On slower computers, it even sets windows to Blank or transparent while moving them around on desktop. Win7 was doing same thing. I'm not sure if it is because of WEI but in my case it set resolution on both screens lover than possible on my setup. Maybe because it did not notice that whole system including GPU is OCed by a good margin. Had to set everything manually after installation. Nothing changed after I run WEI after installation.

 

[Edwin]

Just in case MS doesn't offer an 'image' with the Spring update, this is working well:
(this is what I've done):
- wiped disks completely
- performed a clean install with Windows 8.1 Pro ISO,

View attachment 39633

- installed all drivers, completed all MS updates, set desired Windows features, etc., etc., etc.
- re-applied the 'Redmond' updates, (triple checked for any pending actions)
- created a System Image Backup
- reset PC to said Backup,

View attachment 39634

- reporting to you from one squeaky clean install of Windows 8.1 Pro 6.3.9600.17031 and all is working well.

View attachment 39636

View attachment 39638

Now... we'll wait and see what happens on April 8th to see if this was all for naught!

 

[labeeman]

Windows 8.1 Update 1 was leaked a couple of weeks ago via Microsoft’s servers and although the company has removed the downloads soon after they reached the web, plenty of users have actually managed to get the update.

A couple of days ago, it has emerged that the version that Microsoft “accidentally” leaked was only a testing build of Windows 8.1 Update 1 which wasn’t actually the RTM flavor we’ve all been expecting for, which means that Redmond most likely continued work on the upcoming OS update.

Now it turns out that a new build has been compiled, with the first signs spotted on a Windows Update page that comprises information about a fix delivered to users as part of the Patch Tuesday rollout.

Read the rest here:Microsoft Ready to Ship Another Windows 8.1 Update 1 Build

 

[CountMike]

Made me full system backup before update so no surprises for me if they change their mind (again), last patch Tuesday went smoothly too. They said it would be regular update so can't expect no image than. I suppose that any Windows bought after April 8th together with machines bought after that will have that incorporated. Anyway, what will be, will be. I'm ready come snow or sunshine.

 

[davehc]

"When installing Windows 8 (I upgraded thru store so I didn't notice with 8.1) during setup it runs WEI to determine best settings for that score. On slower computers, it even sets windows to Blank or transparent while moving them around on desktop. Win7 was doing same thing"

Well thanks. I had no idea it did that!

I have been browsing for some info from MS since I read this interesting info, but couldn't find anything.

 

[CountMike]

"When installing Windows 8 (I upgraded thru store so I didn't notice with 8.1) during setup it runs WEI to determine best settings for that score. On slower computers, it even sets windows to Blank or transparent while moving them around on desktop. Win7 was doing same thing"

Well thanks. I had no idea it did that!

I have been browsing for some info from MS since I read this interesting info, but couldn't find anything.

I always pay attention to processes happening while something is installing, specially during windows installation. It would be more apparent if those processes are more verbose or give some more choices during installation. I remember people complaining that Win95 asked so many questions during installation so they "streamlined" the process to the point when it's difficult to follow all that.
Don't remember exactly now but there was a part of installation, close to the end when it said something like "Determining HW requirements to set windows bla. bla bla".

 

[davehc]

I see. Still interesting. I understood that on installation, the latest drivers received from manufacturers, and in the MS Dbase, were loaded. This was on reason for the initial fail of Vista - the driver guys had not bothered to write new drivers.

Do you have any kind of site, or link, where I could read up a little on this?

 

[CountMike]

I see. Still interesting. I understood that on installation, the latest drivers received from manufacturers, and in the MS Dbase, were loaded. This was on reason for the initial fail of Vista - the driver guys had not bothered to write new drivers.

Do you have any kind of site, or link, where I could read up a little on this?

Most drivers installed with windows are just pretty basic ones with no "bells and whistles" and limited options. Even updating them thru control panel does not always ( might even say rarely) produce "full" driver you would get from part manufacturerand maybe another step could be taken to get even more updated driver.
Case one. My Asus HD 3850 top worked with Win8 with MS drivers but had fewer options than the ones from Asus, which in turn was at least 2 versions older than the ones I found at AMD site. Than came Win 8.1 and there was no driver compatible at Asus but 2 weeks later I found right drivers at AMD.
Case 2. Realtec sound worked with initial windows 8 installation, was nowhere to be found at Gigabyte site at the time and did not have it's control panel like drivers from Realtec directly and even when they showed up at Gigabyte they were 2 versions older. Same goes with some other HW and good drivers for USB3 came out even later but worked for a while with Win7 drivers. Even worse was with AHCI drivers which came 6 month or more later and are still not completely satisfactory.
Now if you look at driver details, with most of them, their parts and some files predate Win8 by a long time. Clear conclusion is that they change just parts of driver needed to make them compatible with new OS or to make some corrections. That's why there's no point chasing newest drivers for everything especially if it's older stuff except if there is apparent incompatibility.
Those are age old facts and not specific to windows 8 /8.1.
Case 3, HP never released drivers for Win8 for older printers, windows found drivers for my HP Laserjet 4l and 1300, not as many settings for them as there were for HP drivers for XP but they work eve with files harking back to 2001 (at least that's their declared date). For Mustec Bearpaw scanner had to wait until some good soul modified drivers to fit Win8 and same goes for drivers for older Sound blasters and my K world TV card.

 

[davehc]

That checks. MS, of course, if a compatible driver is not available, install the closest "generic". You have no link, the answer to my query?

 

[alphanumeric]

The limitations of the MS supplied generic drivers become even more apparent on devices like laptops that often have very customized drivers. Everything works as far as sound and video go but my laptop Function keys for stuff like volume up down etc don't work. My touchpad works but my two finger scroll is MIA. To get the full functionality for most of my hardware I have to install the ASUS supplied drivers. Dual Video being one of the biggies.

 

[CountMike]

That checks. MS, of course, if a compatible driver is not available, install the closest "generic". You have no link, the answer to my query?

Not really, it's all from experience, careful observation and talking to a lot of people. MS is not really forthcoming with such details.