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

shankly1985 · 17 Oct 2013 at 13:28

Nismo said:
Installed.

First thing that struck me was how god-awful the default wallpapers are. Some orangey-yellow thing blinded me on logon. A solid colour was promptly picked

The My Computer layout has been messed about with too :/

I love now you can have same wallpaper on desktop and start menu.

Infidelus · 17 Oct 2013 at 13:33

Nismo said:
The My Computer layout has been messed about with too :/

That's the one thing I found really irritating when I installed the preview. Admittedly I didn't give the rest of the update much of a go at the time as MediaPortal wouldn't install then because the devs actively block installing on an OS that isn't released ... which annoys me even more!

Will probably wait until this weekend to update my main machine and then go round the house slowly afterwards and do all the others.

HeX · 17 Oct 2013 at 13:38

gareth170 said:
If you want the full iso here it is http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-8/upgrade-product-key-only

edit: doesn't work with a win8 key.

Wait, so I can't just grab the new 8.1 iso and use my current key to install?

Where do I get an 8.1 key from then? :confused:

Or do I have to install 8.0 then upgrade to 8.1 (faffy).

Montala · 17 Oct 2013 at 13:40

Can't see an obvious upgrade in the store on my Windows 8.0 oem version.

Should it pop up automatically, or if not which section of the store should I be looking in please?

Thanks!

P.S. I would also be interested in reading the answers to the previous post!

Glaucus · 17 Oct 2013 at 13:43

I take it those of us in stalled preview from an iso have to reinstall win8 first?

enigma27 · 17 Oct 2013 at 13:49

Glaucus said:
I take it those of us in stalled preview from an iso have to reinstall win8 first?

According to someone from a few posts back the preview version has some updates through windows update so im guessing not...

just cant understand how they can work out how my install is legit as the preview key overrides the windows 8 key i have installed.

enigma27 · 17 Oct 2013 at 13:51

HeX said:
Wait, so I can't just grab the new 8.1 iso and use my current key to install?

Where do I get an 8.1 key from then?

Or do I have to install 8.0 then upgrade to 8.1 (faffy).

I would imagine the 8.1 ISO is only for fresh installs with legit 8.1 key boguht retail..

i would imagine you would have to do a fresh install with an 8 ISO which as part of the install checks for the latest updates before installing the Os. the key you have is only valid with a windows 8 install.

Or i might be wrong and someone can correct me.

.Griff. · 17 Oct 2013 at 13:53

When you upgraded what options did you get when it asked you "what to keep" ?

I only get "Keep personal files only" or "Keep nothing".

I thought the idea of the 8.1 upgrade for existing WIN8 owners was it would keep everything and merely upgrade us to 8.1 ?!?

lsg1r · 17 Oct 2013 at 13:55

Just tried to update one of my windows 8 rigs to be told that the cpu doesn't support 8.1.... I've only been using 8 for nearly a year lol

Hopefully it's something in the registry (I did try to get the preview but didn't go through with it) because the the system requirements for 8 and 8.1 are exactly the same lol

Glaucus · 17 Oct 2013 at 13:55

enigma27 said:
According to someone from a few posts back the preview version has some updates through windows update so im guessing not...

just cant understand how they can work out how my install is legit as the preview key overrides the windows 8 key i have installed.

Went on the store and cant see anything.

Cosimo · 17 Oct 2013 at 13:57

This may answer a few questions:

If you're an existing Windows 8 user then moving to 8.1 should be relatively pain free. The update will retain all desktop and Windows 8-style apps, including files and settings. It's worth backing up just in case, but it should be like any other patch through Windows Update that Microsoft supplies on a monthly basis. Windows 8.1 Preview users will have a slightly different experience depending on how the Preview was originally installed. If you installed Windows 8.1 Preview from the Windows Store on top of Windows 8 then you can move straight to the final edition in the Store today. Personal files will be retained, but apps will need to be reinstalled.

If you clean installed Windows 8.1 Preview by using an ISO then you can update to the final version of Windows 8.1 using the Store today, but the system won't activate without a Windows 8.1 license key. Microsoft says existing Windows 8 keys will not work on systems that clean installed the Preview and update to 8.1. If you were previously running Windows 8 then you'll need to reinstall that copy before moving to 8.1 to ensure you don't have to purchase a new key.

If you are on 8.1 RTM then your rollup update is available on Windows Update.

WiZZyWiGG · 17 Oct 2013 at 14:00

well mine is complete.

Only problem is I have no audio... the bars move in Windows but I cant hear anything which is odd.

Michael_10 · 17 Oct 2013 at 14:03

Updated my desktop and Surface Pro, both installs went fine. Word of warning however, my desktop is windows 8 pro with media center, and when I booted into 8.1 I was told that the product key was already in use and I couldn't activate windows. Had to give that automated Microsoft number a quick ring and enter that massive ID key and get another massive number back, it's all activated now though so no harm done I suppose! My Surface which is just standard Windows 8 Pro updated without any problems!

enigma27 · 17 Oct 2013 at 14:06

Cosimo said:
This may answer a few questions:

If you are on 8.1 RTM then your rollup update is available on Windows Update.

Ahh damn i cant remember if I updated or fresh installed to 8.1 preview, Pretty sure i updated through the store.. but my key still shows as the preview one.

marc2003 · 17 Oct 2013 at 14:12

lsg1r said:
Just tried to update one of my windows 8 rigs to be told that the cpu doesn't support 8.1.... I've only been using 8 for nearly a year lol

Hopefully it's something in the registry (I did try to get the preview but didn't go through with it) because the the system requirements for 8 and 8.1 are exactly the same lol

no, the requirements are not the same. windows 8.1 x64 needs your CPU to support CMPXCHG16b, PrefetchW and LAHF/SAHF.

Bane · 17 Oct 2013 at 14:14

Done upgrade after clicking link to download the 3GB file. It got to about 50% on progress bar then rest was installation stages and reboots.

Got to figure out how get to desktop without having to log-in with Microsoft account. Previously didn't need to connect to account, but now as soon as disconnect it logs me off Windows.

Edit: Worth doing disk clean up after as you get a Windows.old directory. Disk clean up states 4.31GB saving if delete previous Windows installation(s) and 79.8MB for Windows upgrade log files.

Elevon · 17 Oct 2013 at 14:19

I just got two Windows updates for my Win8.1 Pro x64 RTM,http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2884846 ,http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2895219 installed fine and I had to reboot.

Glaucus · 17 Oct 2013 at 14:20

As it's not showing up in store and as it is for others, reinstalling win8

Montala · 17 Oct 2013 at 14:27

Just carried out a couple of Windows 8.0 upgrades through the usual Upgrade screen, rebooted, went back into the Store, and there was a large invitation to upgrade to 8.1 staring me in the face.

With only a 2.4 Mb download speed, I hate to think how long it will take though!

Just to confirm, my original 8.0 installation was from an official Microsoft oem DVD.

Mythril1976 · 17 Oct 2013 at 14:39

Elevon said:

Could you send me a link to that picture please ? Thanks in advance