Slightly OT: Is the Windows 8.1 update still avaliable
N-RArts
Posts: 1,606
I didn't know where else to ask.
I installed Windows 10 to my laptop. The laptop became much slower with turning off and loading. So, I decided to revert back to 8.
My taskbar, tray icons and Start aren't loading. The clock is freezing. Long load times. Using the Windows button makes desktop icons disappear. The only thing that reverting back to 8.1 has fixed is the shutdown time (faster than Win 10). I can barely use any apps (including Daz), because everything become unresponsive.
Obviously something has gone wrong and, I think the only way that I'll be able to make it better is to reset the laptop. However, my laptop didn't work too well with Windows 8, and installing 8.1 fixed quite a few problems. So, is the 8.1 update still avaliable?
Any help is gratefully recieved. ^^
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Comments
According to Microsoft, Windows 8 updates will be available until the January of 2023.
Source: https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/13853/windows-lifecycle-fact-sheet
https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-download/windows8
If you have Windows 8 the Windows 8.1 Upgrade is free and can be installed manually or via Windows Update. Or do you mean 'available for purchase' ?
Another option would be to install fresh Windows 10 now that you have the digital license (Windows 10 must be activated), it should get rid of the problems you described. You probably upgraded from Windows 8.1 and it's never a good idea to keep some old stuff under the hood. You only needed to upgrade to Windows 10 once, so your PC got the digital license, then you can do a fresh install from Windows 10 media: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-download/windows10
Note: If you want to install from USB you might need a 8GB stick, for some download the recommended 4GB isn't large enough I think (don't remember which download exactly).
Thanks for the replies ^^
I didn't think they would be because of Windows 10. But, that's good to now. Thanks ^^
I meant by update, as I thought that was the only way of downloading it.
I really don't know... I really liked Win 10, but I was worried that the laptop wasn't running windows 10 very well because of its age (the computer is 4 years old.
I am starting to clear out and back up files. The things that are bothering me the most are: downloading all of the OS updates again, re-downloading all of my Daz content again (because it's several Gigabytes) and, that a re-install will cause even more problems...
My laptop is 5 years old & it runs Windows 10 better than Windows 8.1 and Windows 7. However, Windows Edge is not an improvement over Internet Explorer 11 and since that is the most used program on a computer for most people they think Windows 10 is not as good.
Also, some people don't like auto-updates for Windows patches and security fixes or the Windows Store and the active tiles that feed data to Windows apps. That's no different than iOS and Android though and one may turn all those things off as well.
If you really need to install Windows 8.1 see here: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-download/windows8
Of course you will need your product key
It's actually a relief to read a good comment about Windows 10. I've read a lot of scary stuff (other users experiences), before I updated to Windows 10. I don't (didn't) use Windows Edge, I prefer Chrome (possibly Firefox - at a push).
I'm not 100%, but I think that I am going to try it with Windows 10 (first). At the moment, I'm still moving stuff and I haven't downloaded the Software (yet).
Oh wow! I didn't know that. That make things a lot easier. Thank you for pointing that out ^^
Oh... Well, I'm sure there is some way of getting the product key. I'll have to look into it. Thanks for the link ^^
If Windows 8 came preinstalled on your computer the product key may be on a sticker on the computer or may have been on a 'certificate' that came with the computer
I had issues with my computer when it updated from Win7 to Win10, I saved all my user directories and files off C: onto another drive then did a fresh install of 10. It's ran fine ever since :)
Belarc Advisor will list every software key on your computer, including the OS.
Another vote for persisting and getting 10 installed.
Your problems may have been partially caused by going from 8 to 10 without 8.1 in between.
My current laptop is nearly 6 years old and my current workstation is almost 4 years old now. Both are running Windows 10 just fine. Age of the computer has no bearing on how well Windows 10 will run. I'm confident that your problem is not hardware-based. It's environmental, meaning that it has much more to do with the backleveled Windows 8 or the apps that you have on it now.
Hopefully you backed up your system before starting the upgrade. If so, it should be easy to restore your system. Do that, then upgrade to 8.1, back everything up again, then make the jump to Windows 10. Or as some have suggested, just do a clean install. I'm sure you won't have any trouble.
I have four middle aged machines. One with Win7-Pro and three with Win10-Home. I've had only minor trouble installing Win10 on one machine (needed to do it over). Running Win10 and applications on Win10 has not been a problem except for the culture shock & learning curve. However, I still don't like the new EDGE web browser. During installation I'm careful to either catch the install dialog where it asks me to set default programs, or if I miss it, I'll bring up the administration dialog that lets me establish InternetExplorer as the default browser. Then I put an IE icon on the task bar.
The only time I run into the EDGE browser is when I have to work on someone else's machine. I still don't like it. It's clumsily simplistic.
My newest desktop machine is about 4 years old, then the other two desktops are 6 years old, as is the laptop. They're all HP's.
I forgot to say that's if you've been using DIM (not sure about Connect), and haven't set it to delete the zips after installing content.
After quite a few hours (4-6), I've finally finished the reset, installation (Win 10) and clean up of my laptop.
It seems to be behaving itself. Microsoft Edge became unresponsive. It does bug me that it happened, but, now that I've downloaded my usual browser, I won't have to go near Edge again. :D
Now I just have to sort all of my content and add programs.
Thanks for the advice everyone. ^^
FWIW, I'm going to put Windows 7 Pro on my laptop. It started with 8.1, that I bought....I made the huge mistake of putting Windows 10 on it and have now had it over a month, so I can't revert back to my paid Windows 8.1 Pro version and because I have the OS on an SSD and the programs on a separate regular hd, I'm getting the freezing that some ppl are reporting. I guess I could thank God for small favors, since my laptop actually boots (some people can't even get that far since the Anniversary update), but I've reach the end of my patience. Between the freezing, the wondering if every update that gets applied might hose my OS install, the spying, the ads, the constant curve balls Microshaft will be throwing with every big update (like not being able to turn off Cortana now), I'm done playing. When I can no longer use Windows 7, I'm either going to Linux or I'll run the latest Windoze in virtualization. 3D Coat has a Linux version, Silo has a Linux version, I can get Photoshop CS2 to run fine in Wine and Blender runs better in Linux than it does in Windows. If none of that seems to be a solution by then, I'll by a darn Mac ;). At least I know what I'm getting into with them.
Depressed and disillusioned "almost ex" Windows user.
For someone who asked how they can find their product key: Belarc Advisor will give you your key.
Laurie
Am I the only person on the planet who has never had a problem/issue upgrading from any version of Windows to a later version? (Of course, I usually replace (read: wear out) my computers before they've had a chance to go through two successive versions of the OS, but still...!)
I'm starting to feel a little..., well, snubbed!
I did a clean install of Windows 10 and everything was fine UNTIL the Anniversary update. Since we can no longer refuse updates, customize anything or even turn off the ultimate snooping tool that is Cortana (not to mention the telemetry about the use of your machine that goes back to MS)...yeah, not a fan of Windows 10. They can keep it ;).
Laurie
I did a clean install of Windows 10 and everything was fine UNTIL the Anniversary update. Since we can no longer refuse updates, customize anything or even turn off the ultimate snooping tool that is Cortana (not to mention the telemetry about the use of your machine that goes back to MS)...yeah, not a fan of Windows 10. They can keep it ;).
I do also turn of Google Now, which Google allows you to turn off :). WHY we can't turn off something that I consider spying I'm not sure, but it doesn't mean I have to play along. LOL
Laurie
Don't feel snubbed Ken - I have never had a problem with Windows upgrades either but like you I go through Computers before two new OS versions are released :)
If I understand correct, you upgraded from Windows 8.1 Pro, so this would be Windows 10 Pro then. The Pro version has an option to move any feature updates (like the anniversary update) some months into future, so that there is enough time to fix all bugs before it will be delivered to you. This option is included for professionals/companies who rely on working systems for their business, and it is not included with Home versions. Only security updates will still be installed when released, so I highly recommend this option to minimize risk of malfunction if you have Win10Pro and don't need access to the 'new shiny toys' from feature upgrades.
If you purchased Windows 8.1 Pro and have your serial you can always reinstall that version. It's just the backup folder that got deleted from your hdd after few weeks, which is why you cannot revert automatically to it anymore. Eventually activate via phone if it does not do online automatically (you might have to confirm by pressing a button you're only using one version on one computer, you won't even talk to an actual person there, just another computer). I recommend downloading latest Windows 8.1 media creation tool before reinstalling, and build a new installation media (DVD or USB) so you get the latest build with most hotfixes included.
I was under the assumption that if you have Win10 installed for more than a month then you may not revert back to the serial you used for your previous version of Windows. Is that NOT true? Because if it's not true, I'm going back to Windows 8.1 at least. Still a bunch of spyware, but less so and I can at least customize that how I want and it doesn't have that annoying Cortana.
Edit: found out I can go back...just have to do a clean install (which I would anyway). Woot! Bye Windows 10! :P
Laurie
Another advantage of Win 8.1 over Win 7 is it will get security updates until 01/2023 while Win 7 reaches its EOL 01/2020. After that date it is highly recommended to not go online with any of those.
So, that means Windows95 is right out then?
Back to 8.1...what a relief. No more weird freezing either :)
Laurie