Microsoft Releases Windows 8.1
Microsoft has finally listened to the cries of Windows 8 users and released the much awaited update to Windows 8.1. The October 17 launch happens close to the 2013 holiday season for users that experienced slower learning curves after purchasing an earlier Windows operating system.
Windows 8.1 Features
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Microsoft developers finally took the Start Button back to the taskbar, included a better and faster browser “Internet Explorer 11,“ and updated the built-in apps to work smoothly with the new software build. Windows 8.1 also features a better integration to the SkyDrive feature so users can access files and other media easily on different Windows 8.1 and Windows RT 8.1 devices. Users can boot directly from the desktop and they can now use the Start Screen background as desktop wallpaper.
How well Microsoft did in attempting to merge PCs and tablets in a span of one year after the launch of Windows 8 still remains to be seen. Noticeable changes in the software build include a “metro-style” feel to the apps and with the settings which you can use without jumping back to the screen desktop. More good news about this latest software release is that it is available as a “free update” from the Windows Store if you are already using Windows 8 or Windows RT.
A few days after the update was released, Windows RT users reported their computing device failed to boot after applying the update. Microsoft has reported that the cause was an incomplete firmware update that occurred during installation. In most cases, a reboot resolves the problem but some customers experienced setup and boot configuration damage when an upgrade was attempted.
If you suffered this issue on your Windows RT device then there’s a useful recovery solution which you can download from the Microsoft website. Simply go to the free update screen at the Windows Store and click the “Get the update” or the “Update now” button available here.
Microsoft has already solved this glitch on the Windows RT 8.1 update and Microsoft is encouraging customers to update their device through the Windows Store. Updates to Windows 8.1 and Windows RT are available again as free downloads. If you are using Windows 8 or Windows RT 8.1 and you are signed in to your computer using your Microsoft account then you should see the free update as a prominent item when you open the Windows Store. If the free update does not appear on the Windows Store app of your Windows 8 machine then you could be using a version of Windows 8 which does not support updating from the Windows Store.
What if You’re Upgrading from Windows 7
If you are using Windows 7 and you want to upgrade to Windows 8.1 or Windows RT 8.1 using the free update from the Windows Store, take these steps. First, get Windows 8 or Windows RT 8.1 installed on your computer. Once everything is set up, you can sign in to your Microsoft account from your PC, and then you can get the free update. You can then sync your files from Windows 7 to Windows 8, and from Windows 8 to Windows 8.1, so you can preserve the data you want to keep.
Learn about the latest Windows 8.1 news, the coolest tutorials, and the hottest tips that will help you master the new Windows 8.1 operating system, at windowstechies.loc!