Windows 8.1 now available!

[Brink]

I bought W8 when MS had it on a special offer. I have the ISO and key but never installed it. Can you download a W8.1 ISO in case one day I ever want to install it ? Or do you need to install W8 then go through the upgrade process? Thanks.

Hey Michael,

If you have a retail Windows 8.1 product key, then you could download a Windows 8.1 ISO file.

How to Create or Download a Windows 8 and 8.1 ISO
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If you have a Windows 8 product key, then you'll need to install Windows 8 and update to 8.1 via the Store.

Windows 8.1 - Upgrade To from Windows 8 or 8.1 Preview
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Hope this helps

 

[mjf]

Thank you Shawn.

 

[Joan Archer]

I've just had to come back onto my Windows 7 machine to do my Tesco shop, their site isn't geared up for 8.1 yet so had more problems than I wanted, all sorted now on trusty old 7.

 

[snuffdaddy]

Windows 8.1 usb3 driver keeps disconnecting my hub, safely back to 7 & working.

 

[jimbo45]

Hi there
strangely enough I rather find W8.1 OK - my only beef is that the full set of Language packs aren't yet available.

There are a few Windows updates too -- I don't have any probs with USB3 - either using a HUB or a genuine USB3 port or even an add in USB3 card -- although on a lot of older Mobos you won't get full USB3 speed with an add on card since the mobo bus speed isn't fast enough for full USB3 anyway.

For those that still like Menus's aka Windows 7 it's very easy to attach your own list to the Windows 8.1 "Start button" via Shawns excellent Edit start menu tutorial - the only difference is you need to do a RIGHT mouse click on the W8.1 start button --- you can add your own links to the menu thrown up (WINDOWS+X if you are a keyboard power user). You don't really need 3rd part Start menu type apps at all. Boot direct to the desktop is also fine too.

With a few minor tweaks W8.1 is actually an easy upgrade for W7 users -- you can even disable the corner navigation things too (ALL CONFIGURABLE IN CONTROL PANEL) so it's far less painful than the original W8.

I'd certainly recommend trying it in a VM -- you can download FREE a trial W8.1 Enterprise version - valid for 90 days - to play around with - so you can test it etc without having to spend any money - if you like it upgrade to a retail copy of W8.1 Pro or whatever - if you don't stay with W7 - but I think a lot will agree W8.1 is infinitely more desktop friendly than W8 and even some of the Metro apps are beginning to work properly too-- you can ignore all those if you want easily as well - unlike in W8.

Cheers
jimbo

 

[JerometheGiraff]

With a few minor tweaks W8.1 is actually an easy upgrade for Windows 7 users -- you can even disable the corner navigation things too (ALL CONFIGURABLE IN CONTROL PANEL) so it's far less painful than the original W8.

What corner navigation things ?

I paid for Start8, I'm a little late to use an alternative. Is there an alternative to ModernMix ?

 

[jimbo45]

With a few minor tweaks W8.1 is actually an easy upgrade for Windows 7 users -- you can even disable the corner navigation things too (ALL CONFIGURABLE IN CONTROL PANEL) so it's far less painful than the original W8.

What corner navigation things ?

I paid for Start8, I'm a little late to use an alternative. Is there an alternative to ModernMix ?

Hi there
Those little images you see when moving the mouse to the top corners of the screen -- The top right and bottom right give you the "Charms" bar for want of a better name while the top LEFT brings you back to desktop from a Metro app and the bottom right has the "Vestigial" windows 8.1 start button.

Cheers
jimbo

 

[JerometheGiraff]

Vestigial ? Unless Start8 overrides that ?

 

[x BlueRobot]

I've just noticed this thread, Windows 8.1 is a improvement over Windows 8, but I still prefer using Windows 7 any day.

Just in this case, anything running into this problem - Fix: Your Windows 8.1 install couldn?t be completed error

I saw it posted on Twitter, so I thought it might be useful here.