Why Have Most Windows 8 Users Not Upgraded to Windows 8.1?

Windows 8.1 is a free upgrade to Windows 8. It’s what the original Windows 8 should have been, with important improvements for both desktop and tablet users. So why are more people using Windows 8 than Windows 8.1?

It’s hard not to see this as a failure for Microsoft. Windows 8.1 is the first “new version” of Windows they’ve given out for free to existing users and most Windows 8 users aren’t biting.

Source

A Guy

 

[alphanumeric]

Why Have Most Windows 8 Users Not Upgraded to Windows 8.1?

Because Microsoft did it though the Windows store instead of Windows update. I think they would have got more takers if they had done it that way and made it a "recommended update".

 

[Edwin]

Why Have Most Windows 8 Users Not Upgraded to Windows 8.1?

Because Microsoft did it though the Windows store instead of Windows update. I think they would have got more takers if they had done it that way and made it a "recommended update".

Agreed!
That, and the fact that the migration/transformation to Windows 8 did not go smoothly for a huge number of users, and may still be progressing poorly. So..., it scares a lot of people off.

 

[alphanumeric]

Why Have Most Windows 8 Users Not Upgraded to Windows 8.1?

Because Microsoft did it though the Windows store instead of Windows update. I think they would have got more takers if they had done it that way and made it a "recommended update".

Agreed!
That, and the fact that the migration/transformation to Windows 8 did not go smoothly for a huge number of users, and may still be progressing poorly. So..., it scares a lot of people off.

If you have an OEM install and only recovery disks to fall back on ( if you took the time to make them) its a big issue if your update goes south. I've only done it once though the store and it didn't go well. I'm one of the lucky few who have access to clean ISO's so I just started over and did a clean install of 8.1. A lot had to go back to the OEM 8.0 install and debate having another go at the store update. I'm betting they didn't do it that second time.

 

[adamf]

A lot had to go back to the OEM 8.0 install and debate having another go at the store update. I'm betting they didn't do it that second time.

I'm betting they didn't run recimg after the upgrade either and just hoped for the best. Each to their own.

 

[alphanumeric]

A lot had to go back to the OEM 8.0 install and debate having another go at the store update. I'm betting they didn't do it that second time.

I'm betting they didn't run recimg after the upgrade either and just hoped for the best. Each to their own.

Even a stand alone downloadable update would have been a good move, especially if you have more than one PC to update. Based on past performance though, I wouldn't get your hopes up at them offering up an ISO this time around. I'd be more than happy to eat those words though.

 

[Allison]

To clarify as someone who has hesitated with her desktop- compatibility. I'm still undecided on whether I'm simply upgrading my desktop or replacing it- I do either on a three year cycle. I'm just a year into this desktop's lifespan and whatever decision I make doesn't have to be made until January 2016 when I might end up getting a new one anyway. I always install programs which worked on old versions of Windows and quite frankly I'd rather save the compatibility headache until I have to deal with it. Also, I can upgrade to 8.1- HP has been very helpful in saying which models can and can't but many people have effectively been stranded on Windows 8 and I don't agree with them cutting off the Windows 8 lifespan. It's nothing against 8.1 but it's a new operating system masquerading as an update and people shouldn't be penalized for being unable to deploy it.

The more people who don't, the more likely Microsoft will cave and do something for them. I'd rather they focus all their attention on Windows 9 than their various shades of Windows 8 operating systems anyway.

 

[adamf]

Ipeople shouldn't be penalized for being unable to deploy it.

How are you penalised? You don't have to do anything if you are happy with what you have. It isn't going to get suddenly worse.

 

[Allison]

Ipeople shouldn't be penalized for being unable to deploy it.

How are you penalised? You don't have to do anything if you are happy with what you have. It isn't going to get suddenly worse.

Moving the end of main lifespan cycle up to 2016 rather than 2018? That is penalizing people and rendering many computers, a lot of OEMs usually with a prematurely unsecure OS. I feel for people who are affected because they bought machines in good faith that it was (Windows 8) a new operating system and they would be fine. It's my other reason for not updating because the more machines that don't, Microsoft may reconsider its stance and it might not affect me but it does affect others.
My first reason is foremost compatibility. Generally, start screen/start menu and cumbersome search properties aside, I'm happy to move onto new systems. I became happier with Windows 8 after I stopped trying to install third party start menus. I like Windows 8.1 on my laptop- they'd pretty much have to turn the OS into a cloud streaming, power user denied joke for me not to keep moving on.

I guess I'm sympathetic because these aren't people holding onto XP and trying to cripple new machines- they bought new machines in a lot of instances or upgraded to a new OS in Windows 8 with a main lifecycle to 2018 and then their hardware was unable to upgrade to the new "update" and then support's end was brought up to 2016.

 

[adamf]

I think you'll find it is only older AMD processors that lack the CMPXCHG16b instruction set and will not work with 64 bit 8.1. It would be annoying if you were in that boat but nothing lasts for ever. Some people on this forum have found that these old AMD processors do in fact work.

 

[Coke Robot]

Hi there
Windows 8.1 is better in almost EVERY WAY especially if you don't like or use the "Metro" interface. Boot to the desktop directly.

I'm even LOATHING the interface on Smartphones -- if you have lots of apps installed you are forever scrolling and it' needs a Ph.D in Computer Science to even start to arrange these in a sensible order -- modern phones seem to come with loads of bloatware apps that can't be uninstalled.

Actually the Metro interface isn't new at all --it's rather old fashioned and can really be called "The Kiddies Interface".

Have a look. !!!

@ StriikeN

BTW I have some programs that STILL can only run on XP -- I just use a VM for those -- W8.1 is really snappier (much) than W7 so why not just run your application on small W7 Virtual machine and keep W8.1 for the rest. Virtual Machines these days are really efficient and run almost at native speed on modern hardware.

Cheers
jimbo

Why does it feel like I've read this once or twice before....

 

[m4v3r1ck]

Hi there
OK - but unless you said in your post that you had added a 3rd party app the info you gave was misleading as it implied that W8 can boot straight to the desktop "Out of the box" which it doesn't.

I'm not having a go at you but it's very easy for people to get the wrong info like some would say - where's the configuration for W8 to boot straight to desktop.

W8.1 DOES boot straight to desktop without any 3rd party addons.

Cheers
jimbo

Hi Jimbo,

Just checked my BootCamp and Yes, with the installation of Pokki Windows 8 Start Menu, I managed to boot into desktop directly. Like on your screendump, in Windows 8 there is NO "Navigation" tab present, only "Taskbar". So for that fact 8.1 is a GOOD upgrade.

Sorry for causing the misunderstanding!

Cheers

 

[Burgurne]

I believe some of the reasons are due to lack of the possibillity to do a "clean install". When you have a windows 8 licence key, you can't get a Windows 8.1 ISO to install from. If you get your hand on an ISO (torrent or whatever), then you can't install it with your windows 8 key. Finding an (unlegal??) installkey, install windows 8.1, change to your legal windows 8 key, and THEN you can activate your windows 8.1.

This stupid solution brings some poor installations to surface. First install a windows 8, then opdate a lot, then upgrade til windows 8.1, then update some more, and then change key. No wounder normal people don't like to start such a job.

When Windows 8.1 CAN be activated with a windows 8 key, why the .uc. can't we be allowed to install windows 8.1 in the best possible way, without having to use an "install key", that we're not even sure is legal to use?

I have had a big search going on for finding an .ISO in my language (danish) with Windows 8.1 Pro x64. I can't download it from Microsoft as I only have an Windows 8 Pro key. But at last I have succes in finding such an .ISO, and after a clean install with Windows 8.1 I can now see some of the better things MS has been done with the OS (for my use).

All the way back to Windows 95 it was never a good idea to "upgrade" an OS, you get the smallest and the fastest system by a clean install, so WHY does MS want most of os to go through this "upgrade hell"??

 

[sri2000]

Looks like i have the slowest internet! i takes me 13-16 hrs to download 3 gb (55kbps)

Sorry to be a pedant (and doubly so if I am wrong). 3gb is 3.221.225.472 bytes or 25.769.803.776 bits. At 55kbps this would take around 5 1/2 days. I guess your speed must be better than you thought (or my arithmetic worse of course). Cheers

OMG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Wynona]

If you have an OEM install and only recovery disks to fall back on ( if you took the time to make them) its a big issue if your update goes south. I've only done it once though the store and it didn't go well. I'm one of the lucky few who have access to clean ISO's so I just started over and did a clean install of 8.1. A lot had to go back to the OEM 8.0 install and debate having another go at the store update. I'm betting they didn't do it that second time.

I have an OEM install and the first time didn't go well for me either. After a trip to HP for repair when it arrived back to my house, I had to call support because the idjits didn't finish the repair job, so I stayed with Windows 8 for quite awhile.

As a beta tester, one of the betas I'm on absolutely and positively required Windows 8.1, so I had to bite the bullet and install 8.1. Since time was of the essence, I went through the Store for the update. Reluctantly, I must say!

What is amazing is that I actually cannot tell any difference between the Windows 8 and Windows 8.1 installs. I actually went into my system to be sure I'm running 8.1. Well, duh! The beta I'm on didn't work on Windows 8 before installing 8.1, but I still went in and looked.

 

[Wynona]

Ipeople shouldn't be penalized for being unable to deploy it.

How are you penalised? You don't have to do anything if you are happy with what you have. It isn't going to get suddenly worse.

Adam, those who have systems that won't take Windows 8.1 have a very short life-span for Windows 8. IOW, if I cannot update to Windows 8.1, MIcrosoft will cut off support for my OS much earlier than they will for Window 7! So, yes, those who cannot update to Windows 8.1 are penalized.

 

[Wynona]

I think you'll find it is only older AMD processors that lack the CMPXCHG16b instruction set and will not work with 64 bit 8.1. It would be annoying if you were in that boat but nothing lasts for ever. Some people on this forum have found that these old AMD processors do in fact work.

Nope, Adam, it's not only AMD proessors; I have an Intel CPU that took Windows 8 64 bit quite handily, but when I attempted to update to Windows 8.1, I could not. Somewhere in Microsoft's wisdom, they changed the rules on a large number of us. On top of that, those who cannot even roll back to 32 bit, suffer the consequences because Windows 8 will be obsolete and unsupported years before its time.

 

[adamf]

I have an Intel CPU that took Windows 8 64 bit quite handily, but when I attempted to update to Windows 8.1, I could not.

Your system specs says AMD Elite Quad-Core A8-6500 - perhaps you are talking about another PC. I did find on Microsoft site yesterday a quote that said no changes were necessary between 8 and 8.1 which is obviously untrue - there are plenty of threads here stating the contrary.

I'd be astonished if anyone bought a OEM PC with windows 8 pre-installed that wouldn't upgrade to 8.1 though.

 

[m4v3r1ck]

I believe some of the reasons are due to lack of the possibillity to do a "clean install". When you have a windows 8 licence key, you can't get a Windows 8.1 ISO to install from. If you get your hand on an ISO (torrent or whatever), then you can't install it with your windows 8 key. Finding an (unlegal??) installkey, install windows 8.1, change to your legal windows 8 key, and THEN you can activate your windows 8.1.

This stupid solution brings some poor installations to surface. First install a windows 8, then opdate a lot, then upgrade til windows 8.1, then update some more, and then change key. No wounder normal people don't like to start such a job.

When Windows 8.1 CAN be activated with a windows 8 key, why the .uc. can't we be allowed to install windows 8.1 in the best possible way, without having to use an "install key", that we're not even sure is legal to use?

I have had a big search going on for finding an .ISO in my language (danish) with Windows 8.1 Pro x64. I can't download it from Microsoft as I only have an Windows 8 Pro key. But at last I have succes in finding such an .ISO, and after a clean install with Windows 8.1 I can now see some of the better things MS has been done with the OS (for my use).

All the way back to Windows 95 it was never a good idea to "upgrade" an OS, you get the smallest and the fastest system by a clean install, so WHY does MS want most of os to go through this "upgrade hell"??

Great post!!! Indeed these update and upgrade -very time consuming- routines MAKES NO SENSE at all, M$ BS!!!

Cheers

 

[TairikuOkami]

Upgrading Windows 8 to 8.1 is the most horrific experience I have had Windows, ever.
My attempts failed 3 times and every try took about 3 hours, then it rolled back slowly.
Not to mention, that in order to install it you need to register a pesky microsoft account.
I am really disappointed, that Microsoft does not allow users to legally download 8.1 ISO.
I navigated my friend to upgrade and he failed 2 times, then he was forced to use 8.1 ISO.

 

[alphanumeric]

Looks like i have the slowest internet! i takes me 13-16 hrs to download 3 gb (55kbps)

Sorry to be a pedant (and doubly so if I am wrong). 3gb is 3.221.225.472 bytes or 25.769.803.776 bits. At 55kbps this would take around 5 1/2 days. I guess your speed must be better than you thought (or my arithmetic worse of course). Cheers

OMG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

http://www.w3schools.com/downloadwww.htm