Microsoft announces 'spring' update for Windows 8.1

Microsoft is at Mobile World Congress today, and the company is announcing its first significant update to Windows 8.1. Microsoft's Joe Belfiore, who is now responsible for phones, tablets, and PCs at the software maker, revealed the update is coming "this spring" and is largely focused at improving the experience for mouse and keyboard users. Several leaks of an update, known as "Update 1," have shown these particular changes several times, and Belfiore is confirming that the update will include improvements like a title bar at the top of modern apps, and power / search buttons on the Windows 8.1 Start Screen.

Read more - Microsoft announces 'spring' update for Windows 8.1 | The Verge
 
Patiently waiting.
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Windows 7 Home Premium
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    HP Pavillion
  • PC2
    Tablet - Windows 10 Home
But my Win 8.1 doesn't need its springs updated... :p:p:p

Seriously, I'm running a leaked Update 1 now, and it's really not that different.

I like the context menus on Start and All Apps, the new power and search buttons I can live without.

Not interested in being able to pin metro apps to the taskbar as I pin nothing to the taskbar. it's for
displaying running programs imo, not for choking with icons. That's what the Quick-Launch toolbar
is for.

Rumours that the Start menu (I don't miss it now) and Aero Glass (should NEVER have been removed)
would be returning appear to have been unfounded.

The update itself, though, (it's not the latest leak) installed and activated smoothly, and so far runs
just fine with no obvious issues.


Wenda.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 'Ultimate' RTM 64 bit (Pro/WMC).
    Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Acer AS8951G 'Desktop Replacement'.
    CPU
    i7-2670QM@2.2/3.1Ghz.
    Motherboard
    Acer
    Memory
    8GB@1366Mhz.
    Graphics Card(s)
    GeForce GT555M 2GB DDR3
    Sound Card
    Realtek HD w/Dolby 5.1 surround.
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Built-in. Non-touch.
    Screen Resolution
    18/4" 1920x1080 full-HD.
    Hard Drives
    Toshiba 750GBx2 internal. 1x2TB, 2x640GB, 1x500GB external.
    PSU
    Stock.
    Case
    Laptop.
    Cooling
    Stock.
    Keyboard
    Full 101-key
    Mouse
    USB cordless.
    Browser
    IE11, Firefox, Tor.
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender, MalwareBytes Pro.
    Other Info
    BD-ROM drive.
But my Win 8.1 doesn't need its springs updated... :p:p:p

I'm doing early spring cleaning of my apt and I think a spring cleaning of my PC would be useful as well. :p
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Win 8.1 Pro 64 Bit
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Custom Built: Atomic City Computer
    CPU
    AMD A4-4000 3.0/3.2Ghz
    Motherboard
    MSI FM2-A55M-E33
    Memory
    8BG of Corsair DDR3 RAM
    Graphics Card(s)
    On Board
    Sound Card
    On Boardi
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Viewsonic 27" VA2703
    Screen Resolution
    1920 X 1080
    Hard Drives
    Seagate 500GB, Crucial 120Gb SSD
    Case
    Thermaltake
    Cooling
    N/A
    Keyboard
    Corsair Raptor K40
    Mouse
    Amazon Generic Optical
    Internet Speed
    56Mbps
    Browser
    Firefox, Chrome and Opera
    Antivirus
    Micro Soft Defender
    Other Info
    Getting this on May 1st:
    AMD A8-6600K
I've try also the update 1, a little different a little better.

Lievre
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 pro with Media center
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    intel
    CPU
    i5
    Motherboard
    intel
    Memory
    12 gig
    Graphics Card(s)
    nvidia
    Sound Card
    intel
    Monitor(s) Displays
    AOC 27 inches (2)
    Hard Drives
    a lot
    Browser
    firefox
    Antivirus
    none
Does that mean south hemisphere will get "Fall" update ?
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Pro
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Home made
    CPU
    AMD Ryzen7 2700x
    Motherboard
    Asus Prime x470 Pro
    Memory
    16GB Kingston 3600
    Graphics Card(s)
    Asus strix 570 OC 4gb
    Hard Drives
    Samsung 960 evo 250GB
    Silicon Power V70 240GB SSD
    WD 1 TB Blue
    WD 2 TB Blue
    Bunch of backup HDDs.
    PSU
    Sharkoon, Silent Storm 660W
    Case
    Raidmax
    Cooling
    CCM Nepton 140xl
    Internet Speed
    40/2 Mbps
    Browser
    Firefox
    Antivirus
    WD
I just don't think their updates make any difference, people either like Windows 8 or they don't. They tinker around with minute (small) tweak's, and hassle people to upgrade. The changes really don't matter. The word on the street, is that it is a loser. But, maybe after 5 more years of tweaking, it will morph back into Windows 7 with a metro rear-end.

When I got my first Windows 8 machine, I had messed up the install, though it worked, just not properly, so I hopped on the phone and dialed MS support. Well, they get on and after a little tutoring, decide they need to connect via remote desktop. I thought, ahhh now I will see how to operate this new software. The very first thing they did was to go into desktop mode, I was shocked "I had no clue it had​ a desktop".. I thought to myself, if they go into desktop mode "what use is the metro interface?".
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Win8,Win7,XP
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    DIY. Acer ,iBuypower,Epson printer
    CPU
    i5, i3. AMD
    Motherboard
    all sorts
    Memory
    2 to 8 GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    different on all
    Sound Card
    on board
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Samsung displays and TV's
    Screen Resolution
    1920x1080
    Hard Drives
    14 in all
    Cooling
    stock
    Keyboard
    Hp, Logitech, Acer and MS
    Mouse
    Hp, Logitech, Acer and MS
    Internet Speed
    Comcast ( 30mbps average download, 5mbps upload)
    Browser
    Chrome, Firefox and IE 10 and 11
    Antivirus
    Microsoft Security Essentials, MalawareBytes and Kaspersky
    Other Info
    also have Apple iphones, AT&T and Tracfone services
I just don't think their updates make any difference, people either like Windows 8 or they don't. They tinker around with minute (small) tweak's, and hassle people to upgrade. The changes really don't matter. The word on the street, is that it is a loser. But, maybe after 5 more years of tweaking, it will morph back into Windows 7 with a metro rear-end.

When I got my first Windows 8 machine, I had messed up the install, though it worked, just not properly, so I hopped on the phone and dialed MS support. Well, they get on and after a little tutoring, decide they need to connect via remote desktop. I thought, ahhh now I will see how to operate this new software. The very first thing they did was to go into desktop mode, I was shocked "I had no clue it had​ a desktop".. I thought to myself, if they go into desktop mode "what use is the metro interface?".

Metro interface is for Metro Apps, desktop mode for "ordinary " programs, what's so perplexing about it ?
Another failure from M$, they just did not make enough of an effort to explain workings of Win 8 in the beginning and just took it for granted that every body would be impressed with "Pretty little squares" all over the screen and make a lot of money by selling Metro Apps, along with millions of tablets and devices.
Hope you are getting along with it much better now.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Pro
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Home made
    CPU
    AMD Ryzen7 2700x
    Motherboard
    Asus Prime x470 Pro
    Memory
    16GB Kingston 3600
    Graphics Card(s)
    Asus strix 570 OC 4gb
    Hard Drives
    Samsung 960 evo 250GB
    Silicon Power V70 240GB SSD
    WD 1 TB Blue
    WD 2 TB Blue
    Bunch of backup HDDs.
    PSU
    Sharkoon, Silent Storm 660W
    Case
    Raidmax
    Cooling
    CCM Nepton 140xl
    Internet Speed
    40/2 Mbps
    Browser
    Firefox
    Antivirus
    WD
Does that mean south hemisphere will get "Fall" update ?
No... they will have to wait until their "Spring" season to receive the upgrade! :p
Hahahaha! :cool:
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 7 Ultimate/Windows 8.1 Update Pro with Media Center/Windows Technical Preview [All 64-bit]
    Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    HP Pavilion g6-1d85nr Notebook PC
    CPU
    AMD A4-3305M APU with Radeon(tm) HD Graphics 1.9GHz
    Motherboard
    Hewlett-Packard 169B
    Memory
    4GB Ramaxel DDR3 RAM 1.33 GHz
    Graphics Card(s)
    AMD Radeon(TM) HD 6480G
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Generic PnP Monitor
    Screen Resolution
    1366x768
    Hard Drives
    500 GB Toshiba HDD MQ01ABD050 ATA Device
    Internet Speed
    1 Mb/s Download & 400 Kb/s Upload
    Browser
    Internet Explorer 11 [default]/ Pale Moon [64-bit]
    Antivirus
    MS System Center Endpoint Protection
another step towards windows 7 but with a different name
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1
    Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Lenovo G580
    CPU
    Inter Core I5 3210M
    Memory
    4GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    Nvidia Geforce 610
    Screen Resolution
    1366*786
    Internet Speed
    1MBpS
    Browser
    Google Chrome
    Antivirus
    Avira
    Other Info
    medical student who enjoys gaming
I really doubt that Windows 9 will look like Windows 7. That's in the past and Windows will continue to look more like Windows 8.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Win 8.1 Pro 64 Bit
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Custom Built: Atomic City Computer
    CPU
    AMD A4-4000 3.0/3.2Ghz
    Motherboard
    MSI FM2-A55M-E33
    Memory
    8BG of Corsair DDR3 RAM
    Graphics Card(s)
    On Board
    Sound Card
    On Boardi
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Viewsonic 27" VA2703
    Screen Resolution
    1920 X 1080
    Hard Drives
    Seagate 500GB, Crucial 120Gb SSD
    Case
    Thermaltake
    Cooling
    N/A
    Keyboard
    Corsair Raptor K40
    Mouse
    Amazon Generic Optical
    Internet Speed
    56Mbps
    Browser
    Firefox, Chrome and Opera
    Antivirus
    Micro Soft Defender
    Other Info
    Getting this on May 1st:
    AMD A8-6600K
Installing 8.1 was a freakin nightmare. I'm not sure about the upcoming upgrade. As it isn't rumoured to have anything real for desktop users, and frankly there is nothing I'm currently lacking, I may just forgo the update and wait for 9.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Win8.1 Pro, Desktop Mode
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Me
    CPU
    AMD FX-8150
    Motherboard
    Gigabyte GA-890GPA-UD3H
    Memory
    8.00 GB Dual-Channel DDR3 (9-9-9-28)
    Graphics Card(s)
    AMD Radeon HD 6570
    Sound Card
    Creative X-Fi Titanium
    Monitor(s) Displays
    PX2710MW
    Screen Resolution
    1920x1080@60Hz
    Hard Drives
    1x1TB Western Digital WDC WD1001FALS-00J7B1 ATA Device Caviar Black -

    4 x 2TB Seagate ST32000542A -
    1 x 4TB Seagate External
    Case
    Antec
    Cooling
    Noctua NH-D14
    Keyboard
    Logitech Illuminated Keyboard K740
    Internet Speed
    60meg cable
    Browser
    Cyberfox
    Antivirus
    AVG Security Suite
Installing 8.1 was a freakin nightmare. I'm not sure about the upcoming upgrade. As it isn't rumoured to have anything real for desktop users, and frankly there is nothing I'm currently lacking, I may just forgo the update and wait for 9.

Just wondering, how was it a nightmare? I installed it from the ISO and the instillation went very smooth.,
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Win 8.1 Pro 64 Bit
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Custom Built: Atomic City Computer
    CPU
    AMD A4-4000 3.0/3.2Ghz
    Motherboard
    MSI FM2-A55M-E33
    Memory
    8BG of Corsair DDR3 RAM
    Graphics Card(s)
    On Board
    Sound Card
    On Boardi
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Viewsonic 27" VA2703
    Screen Resolution
    1920 X 1080
    Hard Drives
    Seagate 500GB, Crucial 120Gb SSD
    Case
    Thermaltake
    Cooling
    N/A
    Keyboard
    Corsair Raptor K40
    Mouse
    Amazon Generic Optical
    Internet Speed
    56Mbps
    Browser
    Firefox, Chrome and Opera
    Antivirus
    Micro Soft Defender
    Other Info
    Getting this on May 1st:
    AMD A8-6600K
Installing 8.1 was a freakin nightmare. I'm not sure about the upcoming upgrade. As it isn't rumoured to have anything real for desktop users, and frankly there is nothing I'm currently lacking, I may just forgo the update and wait for 9.

Just wondering, how was it a nightmare? I installed it from the ISO and the instillation went very smooth.,

A fair number of users have to do it though the store. Those with an OEM Windows 8.0 install can find it very difficult to obtain an ISO. I did the store update once and had issues right away. My WIFI went intermittent along with my wireless keyboard and trackball. A clean install from an 8.1 ISO and all was well. I'll let Rickkens confirm it, but my guess is he did the store update and it went south. Getting your 8.0 factory install back after that can also be an issue. It was for some.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 10 Education 64 Bit
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Asus
    CPU
    AMD Phenom II X4 980 Black Edition Deneb 3.7GHz
    Motherboard
    ASUS M4N68T-M V2 µATX Motherboard
    Memory
    8GB 4GBx2 Kingston PC10600 DDR3 1333 Memory
    Graphics Card(s)
    NVIDIA Geforce GT640 2 Gig DDR3 PCIe
    Sound Card
    VIA VT1708s High Definition Audio 8-channel Onboard
    Monitor(s) Displays
    22" LG E2242 1080p and 2 19" I-INC AG191D
    Screen Resolution
    1280x1024 - 1920x1080 - 1280x1024
    Hard Drives
    Crucial MX100 256 GB SSD and 500 GB WD Blue SATA
    PSU
    Thermaltake TR 620
    Case
    Power Up Black ATX Mid-Tower Case
    Cooling
    Stock heatsink fan
    Keyboard
    Logitech Wireless K350 Wave
    Mouse
    Logitech M570 Trackball and T650 TouchPad
    Internet Speed
    80 Mbps Down 30 Mbps Up
    Browser
    Internet Explorer 11
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender
    Other Info
    HP DVD1040e Lightscribe - External USB2
I can't use the store, as I disable uac via regedit. It kept hanging, right near the end with a black screen and a totally useless error message that did absolutely nothing to identify the issue.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Win8.1 Pro, Desktop Mode
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Me
    CPU
    AMD FX-8150
    Motherboard
    Gigabyte GA-890GPA-UD3H
    Memory
    8.00 GB Dual-Channel DDR3 (9-9-9-28)
    Graphics Card(s)
    AMD Radeon HD 6570
    Sound Card
    Creative X-Fi Titanium
    Monitor(s) Displays
    PX2710MW
    Screen Resolution
    1920x1080@60Hz
    Hard Drives
    1x1TB Western Digital WDC WD1001FALS-00J7B1 ATA Device Caviar Black -

    4 x 2TB Seagate ST32000542A -
    1 x 4TB Seagate External
    Case
    Antec
    Cooling
    Noctua NH-D14
    Keyboard
    Logitech Illuminated Keyboard K740
    Internet Speed
    60meg cable
    Browser
    Cyberfox
    Antivirus
    AVG Security Suite
Installing 8.1 was a freakin nightmare. I'm not sure about the upcoming upgrade. As it isn't rumoured to have anything real for desktop users, and frankly there is nothing I'm currently lacking, I may just forgo the update and wait for 9.

Just wondering, how was it a nightmare? I installed it from the ISO and the instillation went very smooth.,

A fair number of users have to do it though the store. Those with an OEM Windows 8.0 install can find it very difficult to obtain an ISO. I did the store update once and had issues right away. My WIFI went intermittent along with my wireless keyboard and trackball. A clean install from an 8.1 ISO and all was well. I'll let Rickkens confirm it, but my guess is he did the store update and it went south. Getting your 8.0 factory install back after that can also be an issue. It was for some.

I got my copy of the ISO for Windows 8/8.1 from TechNet so it was rather easy for me to install both versions. I've read the horror stories that took place when users tried to do the install from the store.
I just hope there is a way to get a copy of the ISO for both update 1 and Windows 9.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Win 8.1 Pro 64 Bit
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Custom Built: Atomic City Computer
    CPU
    AMD A4-4000 3.0/3.2Ghz
    Motherboard
    MSI FM2-A55M-E33
    Memory
    8BG of Corsair DDR3 RAM
    Graphics Card(s)
    On Board
    Sound Card
    On Boardi
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Viewsonic 27" VA2703
    Screen Resolution
    1920 X 1080
    Hard Drives
    Seagate 500GB, Crucial 120Gb SSD
    Case
    Thermaltake
    Cooling
    N/A
    Keyboard
    Corsair Raptor K40
    Mouse
    Amazon Generic Optical
    Internet Speed
    56Mbps
    Browser
    Firefox, Chrome and Opera
    Antivirus
    Micro Soft Defender
    Other Info
    Getting this on May 1st:
    AMD A8-6600K
I can't use the store, as I disable uac via regedit. It kept hanging, right near the end with a black screen and a totally useless error message that did absolutely nothing to identify the issue.

Using the store was not very good from what I read. The post above describes what I did to install Windows 8/8.1.
Sorry to hear that you had these issues. :rolleyes:
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Win 8.1 Pro 64 Bit
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Custom Built: Atomic City Computer
    CPU
    AMD A4-4000 3.0/3.2Ghz
    Motherboard
    MSI FM2-A55M-E33
    Memory
    8BG of Corsair DDR3 RAM
    Graphics Card(s)
    On Board
    Sound Card
    On Boardi
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Viewsonic 27" VA2703
    Screen Resolution
    1920 X 1080
    Hard Drives
    Seagate 500GB, Crucial 120Gb SSD
    Case
    Thermaltake
    Cooling
    N/A
    Keyboard
    Corsair Raptor K40
    Mouse
    Amazon Generic Optical
    Internet Speed
    56Mbps
    Browser
    Firefox, Chrome and Opera
    Antivirus
    Micro Soft Defender
    Other Info
    Getting this on May 1st:
    AMD A8-6600K
Just wondering, how was it a nightmare? I installed it from the ISO and the instillation went very smooth.,

A fair number of users have to do it though the store. Those with an OEM Windows 8.0 install can find it very difficult to obtain an ISO. I did the store update once and had issues right away. My WIFI went intermittent along with my wireless keyboard and trackball. A clean install from an 8.1 ISO and all was well. I'll let Rickkens confirm it, but my guess is he did the store update and it went south. Getting your 8.0 factory install back after that can also be an issue. It was for some.

I got my copy of the ISO for Windows 8/8.1 from TechNet so it was rather easy for me to install both versions. I've read the horror stories that took place when users tried to do the install from the store.
I just hope there is a way to get a copy of the ISO for both update 1 and Windows 9.

I also got my ISO from TechNet. I did the store update once as a test just to see procedure. I won't be doing it that way again any time soon.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 10 Education 64 Bit
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Asus
    CPU
    AMD Phenom II X4 980 Black Edition Deneb 3.7GHz
    Motherboard
    ASUS M4N68T-M V2 µATX Motherboard
    Memory
    8GB 4GBx2 Kingston PC10600 DDR3 1333 Memory
    Graphics Card(s)
    NVIDIA Geforce GT640 2 Gig DDR3 PCIe
    Sound Card
    VIA VT1708s High Definition Audio 8-channel Onboard
    Monitor(s) Displays
    22" LG E2242 1080p and 2 19" I-INC AG191D
    Screen Resolution
    1280x1024 - 1920x1080 - 1280x1024
    Hard Drives
    Crucial MX100 256 GB SSD and 500 GB WD Blue SATA
    PSU
    Thermaltake TR 620
    Case
    Power Up Black ATX Mid-Tower Case
    Cooling
    Stock heatsink fan
    Keyboard
    Logitech Wireless K350 Wave
    Mouse
    Logitech M570 Trackball and T650 TouchPad
    Internet Speed
    80 Mbps Down 30 Mbps Up
    Browser
    Internet Explorer 11
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender
    Other Info
    HP DVD1040e Lightscribe - External USB2
I also got my ISO from TechNet. I did the store update once as a test just to see procedure. I won't be doing it that way again any time soon.
Amen! That's why I was scrambling to get that ISO! :)
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Windows 7 Home Premium
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    HP Pavillion
  • PC2
    Tablet - Windows 10 Home
Windows 8 (8.1 actually) is great. You have to remember that you can never satisfied everybody. Impossible. Some are still running XP (how do you spell ouache or eurk) some are running windows 7 (which is a great windows) and some are running windows 8.

There is something you have to remember, when Microsoft release windows 7, they have make a big mistake. They've forgot all the phone and all the new tablet touch screen! That's why windows 8 came earlier with obviously some mistake.

Don't live in the passed! A child begins to walk, he falls but rises up again.
Windows will never be perfect.

Lievre
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 pro with Media center
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    intel
    CPU
    i5
    Motherboard
    intel
    Memory
    12 gig
    Graphics Card(s)
    nvidia
    Sound Card
    intel
    Monitor(s) Displays
    AOC 27 inches (2)
    Hard Drives
    a lot
    Browser
    firefox
    Antivirus
    none
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