Windows 8.1 arrives!

[Simon]

Microsoft is releasing the Windows 8.1 update for its flagship operating system on Thursday.

The download seeks to address some of the criticisms levelled at the original version of Windows 8.

In particular, the update restores the start button and allows a computer to boot up with a traditional desktop interface.

The launch comes at a critical time for Microsoft as it seeks a new boss, with PC sales experiencing a long decline.

Windows 8 sought to bridge the gap between touchscreen devices, such as tablets and smartphones, and more traditional form laptops and desktop machines. As such it had an interface built of tiles that could be tapped or swiped to open applications.

However, many people found the tiled interface did not work well for some of the things they were used to doing with a computer.

The changes in 8.1 include:

• start button - tapping once on this brings up the tiled interface and a long press opens up system controls

• desktop mode - lets people avoid the tiled interface entirely

• keyboard shortcuts - removes the need to toggle between different on-screen keyboards when typing numbers and letters

• gesture control - some applications, such as those for cooking, can now be paged through without touching a screen

• tile sizing - the blocks on the touchscreen interface can be in one of four sizes

• web browsing - Windows 8 machines will now display separate web pages side by side

A host of other changes, including better support for multi-tasking and improved links to Microsoft's Xbox game console, are also in the update.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-24564738

[psp83]

Installed it lunch time and liking it better than 8.0

It seems faster as well.

[Den]

Installed w8.1 on my desktop and laptop but it will not install on my back up desktop and comes up with error 0x1900101-0x40017 and restores to w8. Any thoughts?  Also on my main computer I seem to have lost all my data Office/Outlook Calendar.   

[Simon]

Do you have a backup of Office / Outlook, Den?  I do remember when I went from Office 2003 to 2007, I thought I'd lost everything, but it had just decided to put them in different folders.  Maybe something similar has happened?

[Den]

I'm sure it has just to tired to look, I'm going to bed and will look in morning. As for the backup computer I will wait as other people are reporting the same problem. I must admit it was easier to move from 7 to 8 than it was from 8 to 8.1. 

[Simon]

But Dennis, I thought Windows 8 was perfect in every way! 

[Den]

Windows 8 was

[Gary]

Windows 8 was

Thats why it sold so well   

[Glenn]

Installed w8.1 on my desktop and laptop but it will not install on my back up desktop and comes up with error 0x1900101-0x40017 and restores to w8. Any thoughts?  Also on my main computer I seem to have lost all my data Office/Outlook Calendar.   

Take a look at http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/windows8_1_pr-windows_install/error-0xc1900101-0x40017-trying-to-install-81/b7504ec8-56be-450c-88aa-8c68224e9db5?page=1&tab=question&status=AllReplies

[Den]

Any thoughts on this one. I always use Office 2010 Outlook for my emails and calendar. At the moment I can't find my appointments in Outlook but I can when using my iPad using the default calendar. I have tried accessing the iCloud calendar in outlook but it won't let me open it saying file (or files) is missing. I have logged into iCloud and altered the settings to share between computers but it still does not work. 

[Simon]

Have you opened up the folders in Outlook itself, Den, to see what's there?  It may have just hidden your calendar in another folder. 

[psp83]

Any thoughts on this one. I always use Office 2010 Outlook for my emails and calendar. At the moment I can't find my appointments in Outlook but I can when using my iPad using the default calendar. I have tried accessing the iCloud calendar in outlook but it won't let me open it saying file (or files) is missing. I have logged into iCloud and altered the settings to share between computers but it still does not work. 

That's weird as I have Outlook 2010 and didn't have any problems, the only thing 8.1 removed on my PC was the AV that was supported but AVAST has a newer version supporting 8.1 anyways.

Go to you C drive and see if you can find the missing files in Windows.old folder and restore them ?

[cavillas]

Did an update yesterday, it took 2 hours from download to completion.  Works faster and more manageable than before.  Like it a lot.  Didn't lose anything and everything works fine.  Upgraded from my £24.00 Windows 8 Pro bought from Microsoft at the start.  Very pleased with results.

[pctech]

Are you using the same AV on all your PCs Den?

Looking at this page http://windows.microsoft.com/en-gb/windows-8/update-from-windows-8-tutorial it is supposed to run an Upgrade Advisor type check before it proceeds, did this show any issues with hardware or software?

[psp83]

Are you using the same AV on all your PCs Den?

Looking at this page http://windows.microsoft.com/en-gb/windows-8/update-from-windows-8-tutorial it is supposed to run an Upgrade Advisor type check before it proceeds, did this show any issues with hardware or software?

When I installed it, it was "checking & getting information" for a while, then it went on with installing and asking to restart to finish, once finish it booted into the desktop and had removed my AV without warning, I actually didn't know until I read a forum post saying it destroyed their AV, so I decided to check mine, that's when I noticed.

-1 for MS on that.

[pctech]

I'm not really surprised it did that to be honest with you.

If you think about it you are overwriting your computer's OS and the primary job of AV is to prevent compromise of the OS.

[Den]

Latest problem, my laptop will no longer connect to my homehub 4 even though it's sitting along side it. On the trouble diagnostic it says Wifi doesn't have a valid IP configuration.   

[psp83]

Latest problem, my laptop will no longer connect to my homehub 4 even though it's sitting along side it. On the trouble diagnostic it says Wifi doesn't have a valid IP configuration.   

Try resetting the TCP/IP stack

Press Windows Key + X.
Click Command prompt (Admin mode)
Type 'netsh int ip reset c:\resetlog.txt'
Press Enter.
Reboot the computer.

[psp83]

I'm not really surprised it did that to be honest with you.

If you think about it you are overwriting your computer's OS and the primary job of AV is to prevent compromise of the OS.

I'm happy for it to do it but it should at least tell you.

But I think it did it because I had 2013 version and didn't fully support 8.1, I had 2014 on my laptop and it didn't remove the AV.

[pctech]

That's why then.

It prob didn't generate a prompt as MS didn't want to be bombarded by calls from the non tech savvy public.

[Den]

Turned on my laptop and now it can access the Web even though I have not changed anything. Microsoft cure (turning off and then back on again seems to work again)   

[Simon]

 

[Den]

I want to upgrade on my second desktop as it failed twice. I have turned off Defender and installed Bullguard, got rid of classic shell and tried and failed to update my Geoforce video card. But I can't find the update for Windows 8.1 on the Microsoft store any more. Any thought how to find it would be great?   

[Den]

OK now its re-appeared on the Microsoft store so I will try again. 

[pctech]

Here's the official download page for Nvidia if you need it Den http://www.geforce.co.uk/drivers