Windows 8.1 – have I bypassed it?

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Sorry for the non-specific thread title, I couldn’t think of a concise description of my problem.

I bought my wife a new laptop for Xmas. So she would be able to use it right away I set up Win 8 and some of her favourite software in advance of the big day. So far so good. Then, a few days ago, she took it into work and started it up. The screen showed a blue banner right across the middle offering a free Windows 8.1 upgrade and a button to go to the App Store. She wanted to work, not upgrade Windows, so tried every way to get rid of the banner, eventually giving up and getting out pen and paper.

Back home, I took over and the only option seemed to be to accept the upgrade. Windows nicely informed me I could continue working and it would inform me when it needed my help. So off it went, downloading stuff for hours at the limit of my broadband connection (I recall something about a 32Gb download!). Meanwhile, I settled down with a good book. Then I went to bed. The laptop decided to go to sleep too.

Since then, no notifications. The laptop is still running Win 8. Windows Update had a little kick, installing 1 small important update to Win 8. I’ve restarted a couple of times since, still Win 8.

So have I successfully put off Microsoft’s attempt to foist Win 8.1 on me? or will it burst into life one day and mess up my wife’s working day? Any ideas? Anyone else get this blue band of death?

Ian.

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It is my understanding that due to quite a few download problems it was pulled from the store. However you can get Windows 8.1 Update from here

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It is my understanding that due to quite a few download problems it was pulled from the store.

Who says?

However you can get Windows 8.1 Update from here

How?

Bruce

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However you can get Windows 8.1 Update from here

How?

Bruce[/QUOTE]
I’m still running 8.0 on my desktop. Clicking on that link opens a page that has an option (scroll down near the bottom) for the free update from 8.0 to 8.1, and a big Update Now button. Clicking on that button opens the Store on my PC, and the offer for the free update to 8.1 is right there, big as life.

Always create a fresh drive image before making system changes/Windows updates; you may need to start over!

We all have our own reasons for doing the things that we do with our systems; we don't need anyone's approval, and we don't all have to do the same things.

We were all once "Average Users".

Computer Specs

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Ian, hello.
I was once offered that update but not desiring it, my way out was to hit the Win-key, I got back to the Start menu, then proceeded as per normal, from the Start menu. I have not seen this offer since. Jean.

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Hi Jean. A bit of googling suggests other users had the same issue as my wife. The windows key gets you back to Windows and you can do stuff, but the banner remains in the front of everything. And with a blue bar covering a third of the screen you can’t do much.

After reading the articles on Windows Secrets I’d rather not have Windows 8.1, so the current situation is fine. But I expect sometime my wife will be asked again to install it.

As an aside, the more I see of Windows 8 the less I like it. And I was a supporter at one time.

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Hi Jean. A bit of googling suggests other users had the same issue as my wife. The windows key gets you back to Windows and you can do stuff, but the banner remains in the front of everything. And with a blue bar covering a third of the screen you can’t do much.

After reading the articles on Windows Secrets I’d rather not have Windows 8.1, so the current situation is fine. But I expect sometime my wife will be asked again to install it.

As an aside, the more I see of Windows 8 the less I like it. And I was a supporter at one time.

Actually I am feeling a bit like you, but about 8.1. Running 8.1 now and I am disliking some instability. Wireless networking regularly disconnecting, random wake from sleep and hibernation issues, even with latest drivers. I have been happier with 8 before this, which ran almost without issues.

There are a few good things about 8, but the picture has been clearer before, tbh.

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I haven’t seen any wireless issues in 8.1 but I have seen some wakeup issues as well.

Jerry

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I was having random reboot issues with 8.1. I thought it might be graphics related or wifi card related, but I haven’t been able to tie it down to anything specific.

I’m currently giving 8.1 another run right now. So far no problems. We’ll see though.

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I’ve not had any problems with Windows 8.1 on two desktop systems but both are wired and do not sleep. On my wife’s notebook her wireless connection is better with 8.1. With 8 it would just drop. She had to turn airplane mode on and off to restore it without rebooting. Still happens with 8.1 but much less frequently.

Joe

--Joe

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The only issue I have had with Windows 8.1 is that sometimes the video whacks out. It doesn’t happen much, and it is easy to get it back to normal, so I haven’t yet taken the time to see what is going on.

I never saw this issue in Windows 7. I did a clean install of Windows 8.0. I never saw the issue there, but I didn’t have Windows 8.0 for very long.

Also, there was a program that was not compatible with Windows 8.1, which I uninstalled.

Group "L" (Linux Mint)
with Windows 10 running in a remote session on my file server

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If your PC has the OS requirements and the correct type of CPU – running W8/8.1 is not a problem. My HP Notebook and main comp both run Wireless Internet/Printer without any hassles.

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