Thank you for being a valued part of the CNET community. As of December 1, 2020, the forums are in read-only format. In early 2021, CNET Forums will no longer be available. We are grateful for the participation and advice you have provided to one another over the years.

Thanks,

CNET Support

Question

Do I really need 8.1?

Jan 28, 2014 8:59AM PST

I've had Win8 on my Dell laptop for a year now and finally am feeling as though I am using it with ease (rather than with dread). I do very basic work on my laptop, web browsing,streaming music, but no videos, gaming, etc. Why would I need 8.1? I am fairly certain that I would screw something up with either the installation or something else and I don't want to fear the laptop any longer!

I apologize to all of you who are competent with technology and think this is silly. I'm late to this and am simply not comfortable with the new stuff for a while (oh, how I would love to have my XP back!).

Discussion is locked

- Collapse -
Answer
Why not 8.1
Jan 28, 2014 9:06AM PST

it's nothing more than an update .

Fixing problems in Win 8 like Win 7 did with all the updates

Go For It.

Digger

- Collapse -
Answer
I've put upgraded to 8.1 on 6 PCs with no problems.
Jan 28, 2014 9:42AM PST

I doubt if upgrading to 8.1 would cause you any problems, but on the other hand I don't know of any reason you'd have to install it either. You can continue to get maintenance for Windows 8.0 and stay with it if you wish. There're numerous reports that 8.2 (also being called U1) upgrade will be coming out in April, and reports are that it's going to bring back the old style start button and menu. Of course you don't have to wait for MS to get that, you can download the free Classic Shell and do that any time you wish.

- Collapse -
I am still a bit wary...
Jan 28, 2014 11:25AM PST

maybe I will, but wait until I'm having a really good "computer mojo" day. I've just begun to feel comfortable with updating Windows and maintaining my laptop and don't want to screw anything up.

I already got the old-style start button and menu from iObit, and that was great since I realy missed that format.

- Collapse -
Remember to back up your system before upgrading
Jan 28, 2014 11:43PM PST

Before making any significant change to your system, you should back up your system to an external hard drive. I use Easeus Todo Backup Free, but CNET has a lot of backup program reviews at
http://download.cnet.com/windows/backup-software/?tag=contentBody;sideBar .

Some of these are free (last time I checked there were over 300), some have free trials (over 1000), and some are purchase only (over 200).
-
External hard drives are best for backup. You can get a 500 GB one for around $50 and a 1 TB one for around $60. You can also buy a 32 GB flash drive for under $20. It's the best insurance you can ever buy!

- Collapse -
Answer
Windows 8.1 makes the
Jan 29, 2014 10:18PM PST

Windows Store visit much better and someday you may want to add a new streaming application. Also the stores apps are automatically updated while in 8.0 you have to manually update apps. I would say their are advantages to Windows 8.1 that make it that you DON"T need to upgrade but if you know the advantages you would WANT to upgrade.