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Resolved Question

Is Update from 8.0 to 8,1 free and how do I find it?

by Dec 18, 2013 11:25PM PST

I recently bought my wife a Windows 8 machine. She has a Win XP.. I have a Win 7 (I love both of these).

Win 8 is TERRIBLE!.. If I WANTED and oversized TABLET I would have BOUGHT one. The ONLY redeeming (somewhat) feature of this system is the option to create a 'desktop-styled interface that STILL has no 'start button, no way to list the programs that I have installed and add icons to that desktop. I KNOW that I HAVE to be missing something but this system is totally FRUSTRATING to use.

Is Win 8,1 any IMPROVEMENT? If SO... can the upgrade be downloaded for FREE or is it just another CASH COW ? SO tired of pouring money down this bottomless pit of 'keeping up with the current tech'!

Discussion is locked

oldad1955 has chosen the best answer to their question. View answer
12 Posts
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Best Answer

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Yes 8.1 is an improvement and you can copy shortcuts to the
by Jan 14, 2014 3:56AM PST

desktop. You can also send applications to the taskbar.

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-8/create-keyboard-shortcuts-to-open-apps

Yes you can upgrade for free. If you go to the Windows store the update will be right there. If you don't see it you need to run all the updates to Windows 8 then the upgrade will appear in the store. Although Alienware doesn't seem to support 8.1 if you have one of their laptops.

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Answer
Re: 8.1
by Forum moderator Dec 18, 2013 11:43PM PST
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Start8 is $5, but Classic Shell is free.
by wpgwpg Dec 18, 2013 11:47PM PST

I've used both and settled for the free Classic Shell because I had to put it on several PCs I support.

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For those that want support?
by r. proffitt Forum moderator Dec 19, 2013 12:01AM PST

I'm encountering folk deeply concerned about support. I'm unsure what the motivation or fear is but may have been conditioned that free ware is something less and open source is from heretics.
Bob

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I Use a few Open Source programs
by oldad1955 Dec 19, 2013 12:09AM PST

and have had no problems whatsoever that I can determine. I don't think I'm allowed to name them but many 'free' programs are just as effective as commercial and if I'm careful during installations I am usually able to avoid installations of unwanted 'add-ons'. Those unwanted 'add-ons' are also prevalent in installing commercial products.
Thank you for your reply.

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Thank you for the link!
by oldad1955 Dec 19, 2013 12:19AM PST

I may use it soon but I just finished reading from a link on using Win 8 and may try to learn as much about that before trying the upgrade. The problem is that I hardly ever USE my wife's new Win 8 machine. It's a Gateway desktop connected to a large 50 in 'smart' TV and I use a wireless keyboard and Mouse with it but the TV is 15 ft away and trying to read the text without zooming to 250% is tiring. I use the same setup on My Win 7 machine but the room is smaller (bedroom sized) and it is perfect for the PC use and also my PS3 system.
I think my frustration with the wifes' is just that I have not been able to use it long enough to actually LEARN the system. Maybe I can fix that.
Thank you for the assistance and the link.

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Answer
You just go to the store.
by Dec 24, 2013 11:03PM PST

If your Windows 8.0 has all the updates the upgrade to 8.1 will show in the store. If you don't see the option to upgrade you are missing an update in 8.0.

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What now?
by jaybird23238 Jan 14, 2014 12:22AM PST

I have applied all updates, but I'm still unable to locate the 8.1 update.

Now what do I do?

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You have to go to the Store
by wpgwpg Jan 14, 2014 12:29AM PST

Don't ask me why MS did it this way, but you can only do the free update by going to the store. Bring up the charms and type Store in the search box. To the left you'll see a whole bunch of icons, one of which will say Store. Click on that and you're off and running. Bear in mind that this is a biiiiggg update which will download around 2 GB, then go through about a 30 min. install process involving several reboots. If you have a fast Internet connection, it's not so bad, but if you don't, I hope you have a lot of patience! At home I have a 20 Gbps download speed, but I support 4 sites that only have 1.5 Gbps. At 1.5 Gbps it took just over 6 hours to do the downloads. Shocked

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(NT) Correction, I should've said Mbps, not Gbps.
by wpgwpg Jan 14, 2014 12:38AM PST
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They did that
by orlbuckeye Jan 16, 2014 9:51PM PST

way because everyone else is and will save costs for media and hopefully that is reflected in price of software.

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Do you have an Alienware?
by orlbuckeye Jan 14, 2014 3:59AM PST

It seems there is a problem with Alienware and I think it is the Nvidia drivers. They don't sell their laptops with 8.1 yet. So i would contact the pc vendor and check if 8.1 is compatible.

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