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Question

Windows 8 to 8.1

Jan 19, 2014 9:52AM PST

I have a Aspire V5 122P with Windows 8. Got a message that 8.1 is ready. Went to the Store...appeared to download and "Your Windows 8.1 install couldn't be completed". Looked around the Acer site, downloaded the newest BIOS and "Error. Please update to BIOS V2.06 first for critical secure mechanism changed". Is this directly translated from Chinese? Makes no sense. That's exactly what I downloaded and extracted. Looks like trying to get 8.1 on a computer has been a bummer for a lotta folks. Any suggestions?

Discussion is locked

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Answer
Start by checking the system event log
Jan 19, 2014 10:12AM PST

You can check the rather cryptic system event log. To do that click Start -> Control Panel -> Administrative Tools -> Event Viewer. Once in Event Viewer click on the system log and scroll through the entries looking for those flagged "error" to see if you can find hints as to where the problem could be.
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I have to tell you I've upgraded 6 PCs (3 different brands) from 8 to 8.1 and didn't have any problems. Did you make sure you had all the Windows 8 updates installed before attempting the upgrade?

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Answer
More complications
Jan 22, 2014 1:40AM PST

After writing this, Cnet just 'disappeared' it...hope it doesn't happen again.

I tried a few more times and it finally started downloading. After two hours, "This app wasn't installed." I tried again. After another 1.5 hours, same thing. "This app wasn't installed. Something happened...error 0xc0000005." Thanks for being so specific, Microsoft. In the meantime, I suddenly lost all functioning of my trackpad. Any clues here?

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The 0xc0000005 is a known area.
Jan 22, 2014 1:58AM PST
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Is Microsot indirectly directing us to Apple?
Jan 22, 2014 4:30AM PST

Or Linux? This is gettin' to be a major bummer. I was finally able to download some BIOS updates from Acer - the machine's running faster now and got the trackpad back. Same "This app wasn't installed" with MS signature vague "Something happened".

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Now trackpad and mouse disabled
Jan 22, 2014 4:41AM PST

When trying to update to Windows 8.1 again, same error and now both the trackpad and mouse aren't working...the whole computer is frozen. Did Hal 9000 take over Microsoft...maybe a takeover they didn't tell us about?

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Head to the machine maker's site
Jan 22, 2014 4:53AM PST

And see if they issued drivers and "helper apps" for 8.1. Even today we have to do driver hunts. Here's a rather famous commercial about this area. Microsoft and the industry have a long ways to go IMO.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QPn9OZZpmyA

Well we've moved past Config.sys.
Bob

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Answer
suggestions? why...yes...absolutely
Jan 23, 2014 12:56AM PST
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Is this what I think it is?
Jan 25, 2014 10:45AM PST

Microsoft traitors! What're you guys saying? Leave the monopoly of monopolies?! Well, maybe you're right. I'm gonna pack up all my BS...I mean MS stuff and...whoa, it's too heavy. I'll just leave it there. Maybe it'll be entertaining sometime to look at the old dinosaurs.

In the meanwhile, I went over to Acer, downloaded some new BIOS hoodads and got my machine back. Unfortunately, still need Windows for some high-end software I gotta run. But I'm still getting the "app didn't install. Something happened...error 0xc0000005."

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Many of us have moved over
Jan 25, 2014 1:27PM PST

to Linux. I became disenchanted with windows when activation, followed by genuine advantage was like having a store **** follow you around all the time. I tolerated it though with XP and then installed Vista, which I uninstalled fairly quickly. I tired windows 7 on my daugters' laptops, wasn't impressed. Saw windows 8 and barfed. Finally realized my future computing lay in a different direction and Linux was finally where I wanted it, graphically speaking.

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How to Upgrade to Windows 8.1 From Windows 8
Jan 28, 2014 7:59PM PST