Nervous about attmpting Win. 8.1 upgrade

[edythe]

Just go for it.

Downloads - Microsoft Windows

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i would just 'go for it' if i had your knowledge ...will i be told to disable my McAfee? and is it totally necessary to do this ? i found out how to do it within the program -i just click to disable firewall and a/v protection ....then i 'reverse' once 8.1 is complete. sounds simple enough - thanks

 

[David Bailey]

Just go for it.

Downloads - Microsoft Windows

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i would just 'go for it' if i had your knowledge ...will i be told to disable my McAfee? and is it totally necessary to do this ? i found out how to do it within the program -i just click to disable firewall and a/v protection ....then i 'reverse' once 8.1 is complete. sounds simple enough - thanks

Try it with it enabled & disabled.

When I installed it I left my Avast run with no problems.

 

[edythe]

Just go for it.

Downloads - Microsoft Windows

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i would just 'go for it' if i had your knowledge ...will i be told to disable my McAfee? and is it totally necessary to do this ? i found out how to do it within the program -i just click to disable firewall and a/v protection ....then i 'reverse' once 8.1 is complete. sounds simple enough - thanks

Try it with it enabled & disabled.

When I installed it I left my Avast run with no problems.[/QUOTE---
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I HAVE mcAfee - but the instructions on the download & Win. 'help' area state to close-out one's AV/Firewall.... taht's where i got confused ...it stated (if i remember correctly) not closing-out could hinder a good, clean install (in so many words)

 

[David Bailey]

I'm not the brightest bulb on the tree, but I found it easy to go from 8 to 8.1.
I have confidence in you.
You can do it.

 

[edythe]

I'm not the brightest bulb on the tree, but I found it easy to go from 8 to 8.1.
I have confidence in you.
You can do it.

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I get your 'point' - if you can do it anyone can - lol - thanks for that - well i have to build-up my confidence i guess ... i just get so discouraged when i read other posts about trouble with that update (upgrade). Course you don't hear the 'success stories' - only the complaints/problems ....LOL thanks again !

 

[Nuccii]

Go for it Edythe. Never mind the problems of others, you will only hear the bad and not the good and most of the time they had other issues that caused problems. Take what's said with a grain of salt.
I'm with David on this one, if we can do it so can you but you will never know unless you try. I you have a problem, bite my tongue, we are here to help you.

 

[edythe]

Go for it Edythe. Never mind the problems of others, you will only hear the bad and not the good and most of the time they had other issues that caused problems. Take what's said with a grain of salt.
I'm with David on this one, if we can do it so can you but you will never know unless you try. I you have a problem, bite my tongue, we are here to help you.

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Hi very kind of you to write the above and you do make a point about unsuccessful attempts caused by 'other' issues within one's computer Thanks again so much ... the one thing that bothered me was the instruction on Win 8.1 update instructions is to disable one's A/V and Firewall during the install ... doesn't that compromise a computer ? (you can see how i look for 'what-if's'- LOL) welll, i like to be 'pro-active' with everything. again many thanks for your kindness. Edythe

 

[Nuccii]

Disabling you AV program poses no risk on the short term. It is now really necessary to do so but it may help.

 

[edythe]

Disabling you AV program poses no risk on the short term. It is now really necessary to do so but it may help.

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reading the directions instructing to disable the a/v=firewall per Win 8.1 caused my concern...i did chk with MCaffee who stated even tho 'disabled' (a/v + firewall) there 'is' some protection provided from their program ...also i'm assuming as long as one has no other programs 'open' during the update then one is not technically 'on the net' thus no 'exposure' (other than via the download itself ...) .... thanks again very much

 

[alphanumeric]

If it makes you that nervous just uninstall your third party anti-virus, upgrade, then install it again. Windows Defender should become active when you uninstall your third party AV.

 

[edythe]

If it makes you that nervous just uninstall your third party anti-virus, upgrade, then install it again. Windows Defender should become active when you uninstall your third party AV.

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you think i'm nervous now - just wait until i'd try to uninstall and reinstall my a/v program ! lol
Anyway, in my thinking (not always logical) if Defender would then activate after said 'uninstall' of McAfee, wouldn't i just be back to square-'one' I.E. with an 'active' A/V program in place? ...i hope im not totally confusing you ...

 

[alphanumeric]

If it makes you that nervous just uninstall your third party anti-virus, upgrade, then install it again. Windows Defender should become active when you uninstall your third party AV.

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you think i'm nervous now - just wait until i'd try to uninstall and reinstall my a/v program ! lol
Anyway, in my thinking (not always logical) if Defender would then activate after said 'uninstall' of McAfee, wouldn't i just be back to square-'one' I.E. with an 'active' A/V program in place? ...i hope im not totally confusing you ...

Yes, you'll be back to using the built in Microsoft Antivirus > Defender. You could just try turning off McAffee. Assuming the option you click actually turns it "all" off.

 

[edythe]

If it makes you that nervous just uninstall your third party anti-virus, upgrade, then install it again. Windows Defender should become active when you uninstall your third party AV.

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you think i'm nervous now - just wait until i'd try to uninstall and reinstall my a/v program ! lol
Anyway, in my thinking (not always logical) if Defender would then activate after said 'uninstall' of McAfee, wouldn't i just be back to square-'one' I.E. with an 'active' A/V program in place? ...i hope im not totally confusing you ...

Yes, you'll be back to using the built in Microsoft Antivirus > Defender. You could just try turning off McAffee. Assuming the option you click actually turns it "all" off.

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did 'chat' with McAfee -i know where to go for a/v and firewall within the program interface - it's clearly marked ''turn off'' - 'but' tech did state even 'turned-off' i still am afforded 'protection' (i questioned vulnerability w/o their program ...so your point is well taken - 'what' constitute and to 'what' degree does ''turned-off' encompass... oh well - can't say i don't ask tons of questions ! many thanks again - edythe

 

[alphanumeric]

I don't know about McAfee, but some of those suits (cough Norton cough) are so entrailed into Windows that even when you uninstall them, it's not all removed. And turning them off doesn't always kill everything. I run with just Defender on all my PC's. Have you created your recovery media? The upgrade to 8.1 may break the factory recovery utility.
http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/5132-recovery-drive-create-usb-flash-drive-windows-8-a.html

 

[edythe]

I don't know about McAfee, but some of those suits (cough Norton cough) are so entrailed into Windows that even when you uninstall them, it's not all removed. And turning them off doesn't always kill everything. I run with just Defender on all my PC's. Have you created your recovery media? The upgrade to 8.1 may break the factory recovery utility.
http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/5132-recovery-drive-create-usb-flash-drive-windows-8-a.html

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don't know anything about McAfee but remember uninstalling was supposed to be a 'bear' - this Lenovo came with win/8/ McAfee so i didn't even bother transferring Norton 'bbbeeeecause''' i was too skittish to try and transfer into this new machine -i took the coward's way out and just stayed with McAffee .....but i 'hear ya' about the 'suits' !!! I do find McAfee customer service alert & alive - And yes, i created the usb-flash drive when i brought home this little darling with Win 8. (Lenovo)

 

[alphanumeric]

Sooner or latter you'll have to byte the bullet and do it. Or do a clean install. My factory OEM installs are long gone on our two laptops. As a backup, backup, you may want to download install media from here, Create installation media for Windows 8.1 - Windows Help, and make a bootable thumb drive. Especially if you only have the one PC.

 

[edythe]

Sooner or latter you'll have to byte the bullet and do it. Or do a clean install. My factory OEM installs are long gone on our two laptops. As a backup, backup, you may want to download install media from here, Create installation media for Windows 8.1 - Windows Help, and make a bootable thumb drive. Especially if you only have the one PC.

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ok have to 'plead' stupidity here - are you saying once i do the 8.1 update and it's working (oh please !) that i could do a usb for that as i did when i first got this puter with 8 on it ?

 

[David Bailey]

You could try

Macrium Reflect FREE Edition - Information and download

Standard version.
I use it.

 

[alphanumeric]

Sooner or latter you'll have to byte the bullet and do it. Or do a clean install. My factory OEM installs are long gone on our two laptops. As a backup, backup, you may want to download install media from here, Create installation media for Windows 8.1 - Windows Help, and make a bootable thumb drive. Especially if you only have the one PC.

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ok have to 'plead' stupidity here - are you saying once i do the 8.1 update and it's working (oh please !) that i could do a usb for that as i did when i first got this puter with 8 on it ?

Yes and no. The one you did when you got the PC is likely Recovery media. It doesn't install Windows, it just restores an image. An image of the factory install. It restores it to the OOBE. Out Of the Box Experience. When you do the recovery your PC will be just like it was the first time you turned it on. The install media I linked to will let you do a clean install. You will be installing Windows like you would if you bought a Windows 8.1 DVD. If your upgrade fails, and your recovery media doesn't work for some reason. You could start over with a clean install. That Windows 8.1 install media will read and use OEM keys, even 8.0 keys. It's just a backup to your recovery media. Windows 8.1 will let you make a recovery thumb drive but the option to copy the factory recovery partition will be grayed out. That's what I've seen posted anyway. I have no way to check it myself at this time. It makes sense because the factory recovery partition will be for 8.0, not 8.1.

 

[alphanumeric]

Anyway, I'm packing it in for tonight. My aching back is telling me its time to take a break and relax a bit. I'll check back in the morning to see what's up.