windows 8.1

Don't know if anyone else has downloaded this windows update, but I would advise against it.

I am in the middle of a battle with the OS and am trying to contact Microsoft to see if I can get assistance. It takes forever now to open any program since I've installed it and I can't find an answer to fix it or revert back to win 8.

I may have to restore to factory settings again just to get my computer to operate as it should. I called Microsoft and they have an option for a call back so I used it and if I don't hear from them this evening then tomorrow I'll just call and do the waiting game until I can talk to someone.

My Dell is warranteed but when I called them I was told that they didn't support win 8.1 and I would have to call Microsoft.

I couldn't even get IE to open so I'm logging here using Firefox.

If I ever get through and receive any kind of a workaround or if I have to restore my system to factory defaults I'll post here again.

Just beware about win 8.1.

When the option came up to upgrade, I checked the app compatibility and found that my old Office 2000 wouldn't work with 8.1, so I declined. Nothing wrong with the version I have!

I've upgraded to Windows 8.1 Pro as have three friends and none of us has had a single problem. In fact our computers are running better than ever. Did you buy the computer with Windows 8 or did you upgrade from another OS?

I certainly hope you get some resolution from Microsoft. I'm sure it's frustrating.

Yeah, Microsoft is no longer supporting Office 2003 and below. I'd keep my old version too!

If you decide to go back to factory defaults, copy any files you want to keep to an external drive first.

I was wondering about this myself. My pc came with Win 8 so might give it a go. If it causes a problem I'll just be up a creek. Saying this, it won't limit or change the warranty on the pc will it?

No, it won't, Terri. Your PC came with Windows 8 installed on it, so you know you have driver support. I'm still not sure if oldman upgraded from an older OS or if he got the computer with Windows 8 already on it.

I hope when - or if - he hears back from Microsoft, we find out what they say the problem is.

EDIT: Oldman, I did a search for your problem in the Microsoft forums and it appears you're not alone. Here is the link to the search results. Not many answers, but there was mention to updating video card drivers if needed.

After 8.1 update, computer slow down

What brand of PC do you have, Terri?
The company that made your PC may not support Windows 8.1, but they should still support the hardware.

Windows 8.1 didn't do a thing for my computer, and has slowed the boot time. Other programs may also be slower to respond, though I don't know how much of that is due to prefetch being reset, meaning it may clear up in time. Unfortunately there is no easy way to go back to Windows 8.

If you go back to factory defaults, you lose any game activations you have. Same if you re-image (unless the image was taken after the games were installed and activated).

If you have a brand name computer that came with Windows 8 installed, it's probably a tweaked version of Windows 8 that's been customized for that particular computer model. This can cause problems when using a Microsoft update -- especially a large one like Windows 8.1.

Windows 8.1 gives you the option of booting to the Desktop with a Start button -- but that Start button only takes you to the Start Screen with the big ugly squares full of stuff you don't care about, not to a real Start Menu. I haven't noticed any other change between Windows 8 and 8.1 other than the slowness.

Installing Windows 8.1 did not allow Still Life to run. Still Life didn't run in Windows 8 either, but I was hoping Windows 8.1 would improve compatibility. No such luck. What's interesting is that Inland got Still Life to run on the preview release of Windows 8, yet it doesn't work on the final version. It may be due to the lack of comptibility mode options like WinNT or 2000.

Thanks Drac. I'll give it a try. I trust it does all the d/loading automatically.

After buying a laptop this summer with Win 8, I upgraded to 8.1 with no problem at all on October 17th.

All is good since and enjoying it.

Good luck John.

Chief

Jenny100. Thanks for the info. I was d/loading Win 8.1 and after reading your post I hit cancel, I do not need any problems because I would have no idea how to fix them.
I was d/loading it on a Cyberpower PC. Again, thanks!
Terri

Jenny, Terri's computer is one built by Cyberpower. Your computer must be completely up to date before you will get 8.1 in the Store. I had to update something before I got it. Otherwise, it was all automatic.

My boot times are similar if not faster and everything is running great. However, I think they sold people a bill of goods with the supposed Start button. It's no different than pressing the Windows button. I love having the little down arrow in the start screen where I can access all my apps with one click. I usually just use the search function to find something, but that little arrow is pretty handy.

I got a third party Start button, but find I really don't use it much any more. I much prefer the right click down in the left hand corner if I'm in the desktop. I've customized the Modern/Metro start screen to only have what I want to see and have grudgingly grown to really like it.

My computer WAS completely up to date.
And unfortunately the install was all too automatic.
I was planning to download the update while I wasn't using the computer for a while and had time to download. Before installing it I wanted to read if there were problems. Instead it had already begun installing by the time I got back to check on it.

The computer is home-built.
It still got slowed down by installing Windows 8.1 -- and no useful improvements that I can see. Some people where I work actually downloaded Windows 8.1 to get the Desktop default and the Start button back -- and people were laughing about how the Windows 8.1 Start button just puts you back at the Start Screen that people installed 8.1 to get rid of.

If I had it to do again I wouldn't "update" to 8.1. The most obvious change was that the daisy desktop wallpaper that was one of the few things I actually liked about Windows 8 was changed to a hidous orange and yellow abstract thing. I had to go online to find the original wallpaper. I had to do a few other configurations to get it usable again -- to get it back to where it was before installing 8.1 (albeit slightly slower).

So no I wouldn't recommend the 8.1 update to anyone unless they have some particular love for the Start screen and it's designed-for-tablet-not-desktop interface.

I'm reading about so many different experiences on line too. I did the download overnight and it was simply waiting for me the next morning - it did not start automatically.

Maybe they changed it because of complaints.
Whether they did or not, I still wouldn't recommend updating.
IMO it needs a lot more fixing before it would be worth it.

Well I finally got through to Microsoft and it was a waste of time as I figured it would be. All the tech could come up with was to send me a repair disk for 8.1 with no guarantee that it would fix the problem. I decided rather than wait without a computer for the time it would take to get a disk in the mail that I would just go ahead and bite the bullet.

I have restored my computer to factory settings and am in the process of reinstalling all my programs which will take a while. I have a 500 GB external back up drive which holds all my personal files so rather than be selective I just saved everything that I even thought I might possibly want. (My user file ain't small)

Anyway I've read that some are having no trouble and then there are others. I just happen to be one of the others I guess. (story of my life )

The only problem I'm having is Malwarebytes. I bought the program and can't find my activation message and also can't find anything on their site to look it up. I sent them an email and maybe I'll get an answer.

Everything else so far I've been able to reactivate when necessary and save my "save games" so all in all I am beginning to see that proverbial light at the end of the tunnel.

What a nightmare... That's what I've been reading too. Most people are having no problems at all, but a significant number are having issues like yours and a host of other problems. Obviously, the update wasn't fully cooked before they sent it out.

I know someone else who had to do a reinstall and Malwarebytes sent her the activation key when she couldn't find it.

That pretty much sounds like my original experiences with Windows 8. I couldn't wait to get it off my system. I had similar issues with licenses and such, but a few emails got them straightened out.

It'll take some time, but you'll eventually get it back to normal (whatever that is for Microsoft these days).