Windows 8.1 RTM feedback

theoracle

theoracle

Adept
As Windows 8.1 RTM is out for sometime now, I decided to do a fresh install of Windows 8.1 RTM (downloaded from MSDN) on my laptop. Sharing my experience on this :) .

I used my Win 8 upgrade key which I bough last year along with the promo Media center key, for activation.

To do a fresh install with Win 8.1 RTM media and activate using my old Win 8 key I followed the below steps:

Win 8.1 iso doesn't allow you to proceed with installation using Win 8 keys, so the way to install would be.
* Either get a Win 8.1 generic product key (available easily on google), or use a MSDN/Dreamspark Win 8.1 key to start the installation.

* It is advisable to do the installation in offline mode with network disconnected, otherwise MS won't give you an option to create a local user account, and will force you to login using your live id. This will also prevent Windows from activating with the Win 8.1 product key entered.

* Installation process itself was smooth and took less then 10 minutes.

* Once the installation is done and open control panel and proceed with the activation process, it will give you an option to enter a new Product Key. At this stage you can enter your Windows 8 original/upgrade key there, connect the network and proceed with the activation.

* Now once you have activated Win 8.1 with you original Win 8 key, open "Control Panel\Programs\Programs and Features" click on "Turn Windows feature on/off" and select Media center from the list, you need to enter your Media Center License key at this stage and reboot your m/c. Now you are all set to use Windows 8.1.

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Have been using it for last 2 days, these are the post install observation.
  • It seems to take a little bit more time to startup when compare to Windows 8.
  • They have added a start button there, which doesn't have any utility.
  • The start screen doesn't have all installed programs listed there, you have to specifically say Pin it to start screen to put it there. So it is somewhat uncluttered compared to Windows 8.
  • It comes with Internet Explorer 11 preinstalled, although I don't use IE found that they have added support to InPrivate browsing( don't remember if it was there in IE 10).
  • They have added the Shutdown option to the menu which you get by right clicking on the bottom left corner.
  • While installing metro apps, it keeps nagging to you shift from using local user account and start using Windows Live account.
  • Most of my steam games like GTA IV, Civilization etc.. doesn't work with Win 8.1 :mad:. Although Max Payne 3 works fine.
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Please do share you experience with Windows 8.1 :)
 
Definitely worth it. Much smoother and faster than Win 7. Haven't run into any incompatibility issues till now (apart from a PCI-Wifi card. Nothing a google search couldn't solve). No issues with games/softwares etc.
 
Windows 8.1 ****ed mouse settings.

Mouse is too slow and laggy in counter strike.
No mouse fix yet.

Reboot took 3 minutes. Dunno why.
 
Have any one facing the problem of WaterMark "SecureBoot isn't configured correctly"
 

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My laptop had Win 8 preinstalled on it. Am I eligible for the 8.1 update?
I am asking this cause it hasn't yet appeared in the Windows Update section of Control Panel.

Also is Windows 8.1 worth the upgrade? What will I be missing if I opt to stay with Win 8?

Thanks!
 
YKW said:
My laptop had Win 8 preinstalled on it. Am I eligible for the 8.1 update?
I am asking this cause it hasn't yet appeared in the Windows Update section of Control Panel.

Also is Windows 8.1 worth the upgrade? What will I be missing if I opt to stay with Win 8?

Thanks!
Click to expand...
Windows 8.1 Update is via Windows Store ,you can visit windows.com/buy click the "Get the Update" button. Or try searching directly in Windows store..
Honestly according to me there is not much you will be missing out by staying on with Win 8.
The new features in 8.1 that I personally liked was, ability to directly login to your Desktop, avoiding the annoying metro app screen.
There is also a chance that some of the games which used to work with Win 8 won't work in 8.1
 
theoracle said:
Windows 8.1 Update is via Windows Store ,you can visit windows.com/buy click the "Get the Update" button. Or try searching directly in Windows store..
Honestly according to me there is not much you will be missing out by staying on with Win 8.
The new features in 8.1 that I personally liked was, ability to directly login to your Desktop, avoiding the annoying metro app screen.
There is also a chance that some of the games which used to work with Win 8 won't work in 8.1
Click to expand...
All games which used to work on windows 8,work better on windows 8.1..
 
theoracle said:
Windows 8.1 Update is via Windows Store ,you can visit windows.com/buy click the "Get the Update" button. Or try searching directly in Windows store..
Honestly according to me there is not much you will be missing out by staying on with Win 8.
The new features in 8.1 that I personally liked was, ability to directly login to your Desktop, avoiding the annoying metro app screen.
There is also a chance that some of the games which used to work with Win 8 won't work in 8.1
Click to expand...
I checked out the Win store and it said I needed to install some specific update (KB28xxxx)
So after downloading that I can now see the update available on the Windows Store!
Thanks man for helping me out :)
 
I have updated to Windows 8.1. The update was done using windows store. After 8.1, I am facing strange issue with Wifi. Almost half of the time Wifi does not get connected to any wifi network. It comes as connecting and then finally getting failed to connect to any wifi network. If I restart the laptop, it connects smoothly. I know its related to drivers but how to find the appropriate driver?
Windows search is not downloading the updated drivers.
I have Acer Aspire 5920.
Here is the screenshot
http://prntscr.com/22z17b

Please help.
 
honest1 said:
Which laptop you have? I also have windows 7 installed. I dont think that clean install will solve the problem.
Click to expand...

Sony VAIO E15137. One of the most hopeless laptops I have seen. Those bozos have configured it in such a way, that Intel Quicksync is not usable ie. direct GPU out, no IGP.
 
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