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

 

[A Guy]

Why are you requiring Windows 8 customers move to Windows 8.1 two years after the General Availability?

Historically, we’ve had a similar support approach related to Windows service packs; when a Windows service pack is released, Microsoft provides customers 24 months of support for the prior service pack or original RTM version. Unlike service packs that are typically just a collection of fixes, Windows 8.1 has new features and enhancements. We designed Windows 8.1 to give customers an ability to deploy this update in a manner that is similar to how customers deploy service packs, therefore we are applying the existing service pack support policy to Windows 8.1.

Windows 8.1 does not change any hardware requirements compared with Windows 8 or Windows 7 and existing Windows Store apps will work with Windows 8.1. The update has little to no impact on existing desktop apps and there is no direct software cost because enterprise customers with Software Assurance licensing will receive Windows 8.1 as a free update. For organizations running legacy applications that need to be upgraded, there are tools to manage deployment in order to help mitigate cost and impact.

Windows 8.1 Support Lifecycle Policy FAQ

A Guy

 

[adamf]

What about all the updates if someone stayed with plain W8 and not go to 8.1 or 8.1.1 ?

Well, what about them? Surely they would ask if they had a problem. I was told off by someone for asking the same question recently - some people can't upgrade. Don't look for a problem before it starts I think.

 

[CountMike]

What about all the updates if someone stayed with plain W8 and not go to 8.1 or 8.1.1 ?

Well, what about them? Surely they would ask if they had a problem. I was told off by someone for asking the same question recently - some people can't upgrade. Don't look for a problem before it starts I think.

Well, better to be prepared, a wrong update and "poooffff".

 

[oneextraid]

Windows 8.1 has changed hardware requirements from Windows 8.

I currently run Windows 8 x64 on an older desktop. Can't upgrade to 8.1 x64 because 8.1 requires LAHF/SAHF and PrefetchW to upgrade to x64 and my desktop doesn't support these features.

I can run x86 version but would like to be able to use x64. So I will stay put until support dies or I purchase new hardware.

 

[adamf]

What about all the updates if someone stayed with plain W8 and not go to 8.1 or 8.1.1 ?

Well, what about them? Surely they would ask if they had a problem. I was told off by someone for asking the same question recently - some people can't upgrade. Don't look for a problem before it starts I think.

Well, better to be prepared, a wrong update and "poooffff".

OK I said the wrong thing. I don't think my ZX81 will run Vista though (he says, desperately grabbing at straws)

 

[waltc]

I installed StartisGone by our fellow member hb860. http://www.eightforums.com/free-dev...ove-start-button-windows-8-1-startisgone.html

Me too - good isn't it

:thumb:

Excellent to say the least. Don't need no stinkin' Start Flag on my Task Bar! There's one in the hot corner already.

hmmmm.... I've disabled the desktop hot spots and charms, and 8.1x64 has never been better... 98% of the time I never even see the "Metro" ui, and it's wonderful. I've done this courtesy of a start menu program: it's so much better to be able to do everything I want from a single desktop screen than to have to side and vertical scroll simply because so much screen space is wasted! The "start screen" is just an exceedingly ugly desktop, don't'cha know...

IMO, if you don't use touch then "Metro" will get in your way in a major way.

 

[Wynona]

Kerry, I know you did the leaked updates. Do you boot to Desktop? If so, does WinKey/C get you the black Charms bar and time on it? How about hot corners? The right corners get you the white Charms bar? How about the lower left Start Flag and right click on that? Is the Start Flag still in the Task Bar?

Hipsie, I hate that stupid Charms bar! I'll be doing something really serious and go too far to the right and that stupid thing pops out! Yeah, it's easy enough to get rid of, but when it pops out at least ten times while I'm working on a project, it's distracting, throws my train of thought out of kilter and just POs me in general. Not to mention the time it takes over and over and over and over ad infinitum . . .

So, the best thing that could happen is to program the Charms bar to only come out of its box when I want it to! Windows Key + C is good.

Now, if someone tells me I can get rid of the Charms bar that would be icing on the cake and egg on my face!

 

[HippsieGypsie]

Me too - good isn't it

:thumb:

Excellent to say the least. Don't need no stinkin' Start Flag on my Task Bar! There's one in the hot corner already.

hmmmm.... I've disabled the desktop hot spots and charms, and 8.1x64 has never been better... 98% of the time I never even see the "Metro" ui, and it's wonderful. I've done this courtesy of a start menu program: it's so much better to be able to do everything I want from a single desktop screen than to have to side and vertical scroll simply because so much screen space is wasted! The "start screen" is just an exceedingly ugly desktop, don't'cha know...

IMO, if you don't use touch then "Metro" will get in your way in a major way.

I'm so exceedingly happy for you that even my flowers bloomed around me today!

Why don't you do something useful and teach Wynona how to disable it all.

 

[Edwin]

Kerry, I know you did the leaked updates. Do you boot to Desktop? If so, does WinKey/C get you the black Charms bar and time on it? How about hot corners? The right corners get you the white Charms bar? How about the lower left Start Flag and right click on that? Is the Start Flag still in the Task Bar?

Hipsie, I hate that stupid Charms bar! I'll be doing something really serious and go too far to the right and that stupid thing pops out! Yeah, it's easy enough to get rid of, but when it pops out at least ten times while I'm working on a project, it's distracting, throws my train of thought out of kilter and just POs me in general. Not to mention the time it takes over and over and over and over ad infinitum . . .

So, the best thing that could happen is to program the Charms bar to only come out of its box when I want it to! Windows Key + C is good.

Now, if someone tells me I can get rid of the Charms bar that would be icing on the cake and egg on my face!

​The only thing I've been able to accomplish is disabling the Charms Hint and the top right corner... links to follow...

http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/15538-charms-bar-hint-enable-disable-windows-8-a.html

View attachment 40571

 

[alphanumeric]

Kerry, I know you did the leaked updates. Do you boot to Desktop? If so, does WinKey/C get you the black Charms bar and time on it? How about hot corners? The right corners get you the white Charms bar? How about the lower left Start Flag and right click on that? Is the Start Flag still in the Task Bar?

Hipsie, I hate that stupid Charms bar! I'll be doing something really serious and go too far to the right and that stupid thing pops out! Yeah, it's easy enough to get rid of, but when it pops out at least ten times while I'm working on a project, it's distracting, throws my train of thought out of kilter and just POs me in general. Not to mention the time it takes over and over and over and over ad infinitum . . .

So, the best thing that could happen is to program the Charms bar to only come out of its box when I want it to! Windows Key + C is good.

Now, if someone tells me I can get rid of the Charms bar that would be icing on the cake and egg on my face!

​The only thing I've been able to accomplish is disabling the Charms Hint and the top right corner... links to follow...

http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/15538-charms-bar-hint-enable-disable-windows-8-a.html

View attachment 40571

I turned the upper hot corners off too. I also disabled the edge swipe option on my laptop. I hardly ever see it on my desktop, unless I want it. On my laptop it was annoying, as I usually slid my hand across the palm rest without looking to find the touch pad when I need it. That almost always bought up the charms bar because of the accidental edge swipe.

 

[Wynona]

Why don't you do something useful and teach Wynona how to disable it all.

Hipsie, if it entails installing a third party start button, I've been there, done that and didn't hang around long enough to get the T-shirt. Every start button I've installed leaves something lacking, so, thanks, but no thanks. That said, to each his own . . . I have no problem with those who like the things; I installed one for my best friend who has a system identical to mine.

As I mentioned in my earlier post, I boot to the desktop, have the Quick Launch and Programs toolbars installed and Windows 8.1 gave me a teeny tiny little window for the few times I actually want to see the butt-ugly metro interface. I do like clicking on the teeny tiny window and just start typing to get what I want in a flash, and maybe one or two more things.

Thanks for thinking of me, though. It's appreciated.

 

[HippsieGypsie]

Why don't you do something useful and teach Wynona how to disable it all.

Hipsie, if it entails installing a third party start button, I've been there, done that and didn't hang around long enough to get the T-shirt. Every start button I've installed leaves something lacking, so, thanks, but no thanks. That said, to each his own . . . I have no problem with those who like the things; I installed one for my best friend who has a system identical to mine.

As I mentioned in my earlier post, I boot to the desktop, have the Quick Launch and Programs toolbars installed and Windows 8.1 gave me a teeny tiny little window for the few times I actually want to see the butt-ugly metro interface. I do like clicking on the teeny tiny window and just start typing to get what I want in a flash, and maybe one or two more things.

Thanks for thinking of me, though. It's appreciated.

I was exercising my Chicago whit. My apology I used you as an example. I wrote it in haste as an example due to the Charms problem in your previous posts. I meant no disrespect. BTW, did you get that worked out?

 

[Wynona]

I was exercising my Chicago whit. My apology I used you as an example. I wrote it in haste as an example due to the Charms problem in your previous posts. I meant no disrespect. BTW, did you get that worked out?

You didn't offend me in any way, Hippsie. I knew you were being cute.

I don't think Microsoft will allow us to take down that horrible thing that pops out of the side of my monitor. I think they're too proud of it. Plus, I don't think any of them will even realize some of us don't like it.

 

[Arpan]

I don't think Microsoft will allow us to take down that horrible thing that pops out of the side of my monitor.

Hi Wynona

I think you missed some posts. Microsoft actually does allow us to disable the charms bar. Look at post no. 109 of this thread.

Here is the link below:
http://www.eightforums.com/windows-...not-upgraded-windows-8-1-a-11.html#post363117

 

[CountMike]

On my system "That terrible thing" pops up only when I hover pointer in the right bottom corner for more than a second and the hot spot for it is 1/500 of the monitor screen.

 

[adamf]

On my system "That terrible thing" pops up only when I hover pointer in the right bottom corner for more than a second and the hot spot for it is 1/500 of the monitor screen.

Makes you lose the will to live that doesn't it.

 

[CountMike]

On my system "That terrible thing" pops up only when I hover pointer in the right bottom corner for more than a second and the hot spot for it is 1/500 of the monitor screen.

Makes you lose the will to live that doesn't it.

I don't use Charms bar too often, I normally go thru "God Mode" or Control panel, all the desktop programs are grouped on the Start screen too.

 

[adamf]

It's really useful - :winkey: C tells you the time. It might do something else interesting but I've not figured it out yet.

 

[CountMike]

It's really useful - :winkey: C tells you the time. It might do something else interesting but I've not figured it out yet.

Well, not exactly a "Power house" feature, that Charms bar, comes handy when looking for an unknown program or feature thou.

 

[alphanumeric]

The charms bar will behave differently depending on where you launch it from so its not that easy a thing to just get rid of. If you have an App open and launch it from the screen the App is open on, Settings gets you the settings for that App. Launch it from your desktop and Settings gets you PC Settings etc. Launch it from your Metro Start Screen and you'll get different options at the top yet again.