Confirmed: Windows Blue Will Be Free, to Be Called 8.1

I suppose that's pretty cool, maybe it's just me being lazy. What they should have done is ditch the desktop entirely and just have the metro interface, but with a proper(ish) start button too. Maybe.

I'm going to try and get into W8 as I don't suppose they'll be going back. Currently I just go straight to desktop and start IE and Steam, that's all I've installed so far!
 
godinman said:
I suppose that's pretty cool, maybe it's just me being lazy. What they should have done is ditch the desktop entirely and just have the metro interface, but with a proper(ish) start button too. Maybe.

I'm going to try and get into W8 as I don't suppose they'll be going back. Currently I just go straight to desktop and start IE and Steam, that's all I've installed so far!
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I like a clean desktop so my old desktop on Win8.1 is clean,another advantage of Metro since I can stick most of my stuff in there and only put things I need on the old desktop UI and I also improved Win+X menu slightly as you can see like here,

812_zps39c3c87e.png



813_zps1a04c5ae.png



I make Win8/8.1 work for me and not the other way around,I don't even miss the old XP/Win7 Start button,Win8/8.1 covers all I need with my customisation.

Steam and Origin are easy since you can either have them launch at bootup on the old desktop UI taskbar or pin them to taskbar/desktop or on Metro Tiles,games installed on them I just right click on the Steam or Origin icon on old desktop taskbar for playing,I could make shortcuts or more Metro game tiles but then its all down to preference and customisation choices for the user in question.


Bottomline I've no issues using Win8/8.1 as desktop or gamer even with mouse and keyboard(only things I use).

Btw if I can adapt and accept changes at age of 50+,I'm sure the younger generation can if they are willing.
I still remember seeing my first electronic calculator at school , PCs were not around then lol...
 
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Elevon said:
I like a clean desktop so my old desktop on Win8.1 is clean,another advantage of Metro since I can stick most of my stuff in there and only put things I need on the old desktop UI and I also improved Win+X menu slightly as you can see like here,

812_zps39c3c87e.png



813_zps1a04c5ae.png



I make Win8/8.1 work for me and not the other way around,I don't even miss the old XP/Win7 Start button,Win8/8.1 covers all I need with my customisation.

Steam and Origin are easy since you can either have them launch at bootup on the old desktop UI taskbar or pin them to taskbar/desktop or on Metro Tiles,games installed on them I just right click on the Steam or Origin icon on old desktop taskbar for playing,I could make shortcuts or more Metro game tiles but then its all down to preference and customisation choices for the user in question.


Bottomline I've no issues using Win8/8.1 as desktop or gamer even with mouse and keyboard(only things I use).

Btw if I can adapt and accept changes at age of 50+,I'm sure the younger generation can if they are willing.
I still remember seeing my first electronic calculator at school , PCs were not around then lol...
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Looks sweet. Well done. Waiting for the official update myself though
 
Elevon said:
Metro part is the new start area,it's not bad if you are not afraid to customise the metro tiles etc,just an easier way for touch users and also if you have a lot of programs etc you want to customise and organise even as a desktop user ,this is mine on Win8.1 Pro x64 RTM.


81_zps86f713ee.png
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It also makes my old desktop neat and tidy and lets face it the old start button is crap for touch users,again its just a more modern way of doing things,I also don't have the pinning limitation the old start button gives you.

You have to look at Win8/8.1 as a modern hybrid OS,old desktop OS like XP to Win7 is going to be a thing of the past and only really caters for desktop users which for Microsoft is missing out a lot of the modern market.

Btw you still have the hidden Win+X menu on bottom left corner even in Metro.
 
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So as a current Windows 8 user can I get 8.1 now and successfully activate it without any problems, or do I need to wait till October?

Just noticed some folk are already running it.

I assume my original Windows 8 key works yes?
 
RumbleBee said:
So as a current Windows 8 user can I get 8.1 now and successfully activate it without any problems, or do I need to wait till October?

Just noticed some folk are already running it.

I assume my original Windows 8 key works yes?
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I installed 8.1 with no problems and used my Win 8 key. All works perfectly.
 
Trig said:
I used the RTM and tried my 8 key and it didnt work :/
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If you're doing a clean install using the RTM ISO, use one of these keys for the initial install:

Code: 
Windows 8.1 Core:		334NH-RXG76-64THK-C7CKG-D3VPT

Windows 8.1 Professional:	XHQ8N-C3MCJ-RQXB6-WCHYG-C9WKB

Then change it to your own (purchased) product key, and you should be able to activate as normal. :)
 
CaptainCrash said:
If you're doing a clean install using the RTM ISO, use one of these keys for the initial install:

Code: 
Windows 8.1 Core:		334NH-RXG76-64THK-C7CKG-D3VPT

Windows 8.1 Professional:	XHQ8N-C3MCJ-RQXB6-WCHYG-C9WKB

Then change it to your own (purchased) product key, and you should be able to activate as normal. :)
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Can it be installed over an existing W8 install, or is it clean install only?
 
Well I've been spending the morning properly playing with windows 8 and have to say, I now quite like it. :cool:

I actually would now rather the desktop programs opened in a more metro way, so instead of snapping to desktop when I click steam it just opened full-screen and acted like an 'app'. Is there a way of doing this?
 
CaptainCrash said:
If you're doing a clean install using the RTM ISO, use one of these keys for the initial install:

Code: 
Windows 8.1 Core:		334NH-RXG76-64THK-C7CKG-D3VPT

Windows 8.1 Professional:	XHQ8N-C3MCJ-RQXB6-WCHYG-C9WKB

Then change it to your own (purchased) product key, and you should be able to activate as normal. :)
Click to expand...


Can you use an upgrade key after clean install using those keys?
 
Bobmunkhouse said:
Can you use an upgrade key after clean install using those keys?
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Yes,basically use one of the keys above to install Win8.1 RTM (depending if you have core or Pro version key)then after install at desktop change the key by installing your upgrade Win8 key,ie use command prompt as admin, type

slmgr.vbs -ipk xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx then hit enter key

xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx being your Win8 upgrade key.


It does work that's how I did my clean install of Win8.1 RTM Pro with my legit upgrade Win8 Pro key.
 
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