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

I installed the 8.1 preview. I've been running W8 with classic start for a long time.

In 8.1 they seem to have moved a lot of minor things around, for no real reason. Bit baffled with what they've changed at the moment. Still not seeing anything worth upgrading from 7 for.
 
You can use your key, first use the key given here for just the install part then when finished change it. Not sure if a command line is necessary to do that
 
Installed 8.1 professional last night from 7, as it was free for uni students.

So far, looks nice, but don't really see the point. The tile screen is nice, but far too microsoft orientated. I want my google apps up there!

You'd have to speak to Google about that. If they choose not to provide apps for their customers on other platforms there isn't much you can do. Microsoft aren't stopping them.

I'd love a Google maps app, but I'm not holding my breath.
 
I upgraded to 8.1 from 8 today. Everything went well, just had to reinstall a couple of drivers after.

Is there a way to move the Public folder to another drive?
 
I am still a bit confused as to what retail versions of Windows 8.1 will be available after 17th October here in the UK, and at what price.

Ideally I would like to be able to buy something which I can install on a 'new' hard drive... effectively an OEM version.

At the moment I can pick up a Windows 8.0 Std OEM DVD for about £70 or the Pro for £110.

Although Windows 8.0 Pro upgrades are available for £60, I don't think that these can not be used on a 'new' or 'bare' hard drive (or SSD), can they?

As I understand it, Microsoft have recently announced that all retail DVD's of Windows 8.1 will be installable without an earlier version being present, but do we know the actual U.K. prices for any of these yet.

I know a lot of folk will just say "do an upgrade" but there are others (like myself) who would rather start off with an 'official' integrated copy of 8.1.

Hope this all makes sense! :)

Edit: Just to confirm, I am looking for something to install on a new PC (actually a barebones laptop I have built myself), so I don't have a 'spare' Windows 8 activation key, and I would rather wait another 17 days or so and go straight to Windows 8.1 with the minimum of hassle.
 
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can someone explain this all to me please - me head hurts:

1) Ive heard there are iso's of 8.1 floating about, i thought it was an update like a glorified service pack?

2) Or is the iso a standalone OS? (i.e. doesnt need a w8 installation)

3) are they going to be selling it as a new OS then?

4) so will people on w8 automatically be upgraded to 8.1 through their windows updates?
 
1) yes & yes
2) both standalone(new systems, xp, vista, win 7 etc) and an update(for systems running windows8).
3) yes
4) update will be through the app store.
You need a standalone os for new computers, or people wanting to install it at home and don't already have windows8.

If you have windows 8 then its just an upgrade. Unless you want to install it before the official release, then you can get hold of the rtm version and install it.
 
I need to re-install Windows 8 on my system for a number of reasons and was just wondering when 8.1 is released will we be able to download 8.1 as an iso and do a fresh install with it?

or

Will we have to install W8 and then always do an upgrade on the app store to 8.1?
 
I have a minor issue since I upgraded to 8.1 from 8. Sometimes pressing the power button restarts the PC instead of turning it off, it does close everything properly and only happens sometimes. Selecting shut down from menu works fine all the time.
 
I need to re-install Windows 8 on my system for a number of reasons and was just wondering when 8.1 is released will we be able to download 8.1 as an iso and do a fresh install with it?

KIA has already answered "YES" to this question, but what I am still not sure about is if the original Win 8.0 installation was from an upgrade DVD, will 8.1 accept the original Activation Code on a fresh install from a downloaded ISO on a different hard drive (or SSD) or will it have to be done on the original one, do we know?
 
I have a minor issue since I upgraded to 8.1 from 8. Sometimes pressing the power button restarts the PC instead of turning it off, it does close everything properly and only happens sometimes. Selecting shut down from menu works fine all the time.

i'm on 8.0 and sometimes get this, figured it was hardware. i also get this when putting it to sleep, sometimes i come back and it's turned itself back on after a wihle, or sometimes it happens instantly.
 
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