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Resolved Question

Question about reinstalling Windows 8

Jul 22, 2014 5:38PM PDT

So I have an old Windows 8 disc, and I'm thinking of reformatting my drive.

But, I heard a while ago that non-Windows 8.1 Update 1 users will not receive updates anymore.

The thing is- I got my installation disc some two years ago and it contains Windows 8, not Windows 8.1 Update 1 and now I'm afraid I won't even get the option to install the .1 update.

Sorry for the noobish question. I don't want to reformat my drive and be stuck with Windows 8 without updates.

TY

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popadil has chosen the best answer to their question. View answer

Best Answer

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Nope
Jul 22, 2014 11:08PM PDT

Nope. It just means that updates that came AFTER 8.1Update 1 won't be available to people who haven't installed Update 1. All updates prior to that will still be available on Windows Update. It would be kind of a stupid decision on Microsoft's part to implement a policy where people can't even reinstall the OS on their system without losing access to the latest security updates. Imagine the revolt in a Fortune 500 company where the IT department is likely wiping drives clean and reinstalling Windows when one employee leaves the company and another joins and needs a computer.

The tech "media" does a pretty poor job of explaining these things, not that Microsoft makes their job easy, so it's no wonder people like you get confused by it.

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Answer
The update to Windows 8.1 is in the
Jul 22, 2014 10:50PM PDT

store but you won't see it until all the Windows 8.0 updates are completed. Those updates are through the Windows update. The upgrade to 8.1 will appear in the store and you can upgrade it. Then once you have 8.1 you can update to 8.1 update 1. All the updates that get you to the point where you receive future updates are available. Microsoft put it out there that if you don't do the update you won't receive future updates.

Think of the update process as being sequential. You have to have the past update to do the future ones but the past are still available. I imagine there are PC's in stores now with Windows 8.0 on them and not Windows 8.1 let alone update 1.