Windows 8.1 Preview Users Need to Update Soon
Microsoft is now warning customers that are still riding the Windows 8.1 Preview and Windows RT 8.1 Preview trains to upgrade to the real thing before they expire on January 15. Customers will not have the right to use the platform after that date, and will likely lose unsaved data.
"Now that Windows 8.1 and Windows RT 8.1 have been generally available for a while, it's time to get all your remaining devices that are still running Windows 8.1 Preview or Windows RT 8.1 Preview to the final GA release before the Preview release expires," the company warns.
For customers who installed the Windows 8.1 Preview or Windows RT 8.1 Preview from the Windows Store, you can update to the final release through the Windows Store. Those who installed a volume license version of Windows 8.1 Preview for evaluation purposes, Microsoft recommends that you install a fresh version of Windows 8.1 Pro or Windows 8.1 Enterprise for ongoing use.
"If you have to upgrade an existing machine, you can do so using volume license media," the company adds. "This can be done by manually running SETUP.EXE from the media, or can be automated by running "setup.exe /auto:data." As with any Preview update, only data and accounts will be migrated; all apps will need to be reinstalled."
Microsoft released Windows 8.1 Preview on June 25. Customers who installed Windows 8.1 Preview on top of Windows 8 will be able to upgrade via the Windows Store. However, those who tried the "beta" by installing it on top of Windows 7 will either need to restore the operating system, or shell out up to $200 for the Windows 8.1 upgrade.
Customers using Windows XP and Windows Vista cannot upgrade directly to Windows 8.1. They will first need to upgrade to Windows 8, and then perform the upgrade to the latest version via the Windows Store. Even those who installed the preview on top of Windows 8 will still need to reinstall all their apps and programs once the full-blown Windows 8.1 is installed.

that's all.
it is stupid to stay and live in the past, you should probably stay on XP or consult a doctor.
Windows 8 (and 8.1) is far better (performance wise) and smoother than 7, I have yet to find something bounds me to stay with 7
so
Windows 7 > Windows 8
It is not living in the past, it is denying to pay for a sh*tty product that takes steps back from the evolution of graphical interfaces. Windows 8 is cool for you hip guys that only do facebook and play games. Windows 8 is awful for multi-tasking. Metro interface considerably slows down the workflow. The 5% performance gains are turned in to a slowdown. On a 300 bucks laptop windows 8 does run faster. But any descent desktop will not display any noticeable difference between 7 & 8. Not to mention Autodesk and Adobe software performs worse on windows 8.
Personally I can live with having my system take a while to boot.
The user interface of windows 8 is regressive. It doesn't matter if it is "not that bad" because 7 and even Vista was better
And enough with the UI already. It's not complicated at all.
everything is just start and type your program to launch it.. or are u telling to click start menu and then click any shortcut in the all program tab etc to start my work when i can just press start ( on keyboard ) and type a couple of key to enter to start the program.
win8 handle multi monitor much more better than win7.. yeah.. that is a plus for productivity
Actually if you know exactly what program you need to open, typing it IS faster. I use the kyb much more than the mouse, mainly because the mouse navigation is slower. However, getting familiar with Win 8/8.1 will help you in IT. I work in IT and recently built a new workstation for myself with a SSD and decided to run 8.1. I have a VM running Win 7, Win Server 2008 R2, Win 2012, and Win XP. I also have my entire SSD & 2nd HDD shared between the 4 virtual machines, so I can access any file I need on any of the VMs. I was a nay sayer for a LONG time, but Win 8.1 is growing on me, especially after you download a Start menu app. It helps...
Pretty sure the article was supposed to read THIS way instead of how it was posted above.
Just aint the same Tom's anymore, way too many typos. Did they fire an editor or something?
Thank You
http://www.fixmycomputerdude.com
a $100 bucks just for the basic edition to a lot to someone on a fixed income
i dont stare at the start menu/ start screen all day.. i use windows to do my work.. not staring at the the metro/moden UI and start menu all day.. like u said, u can just skip the modern UI.. infact u can just pin your shortcut at the taskbar if you want to use the mouse so much..
And tell me why exactly why you can't do that on Vista or 7?
When I hit the "Windows" key it brings up the start menu and automatically focuses the search bar.
I can easily type the name of a program and hit enter and it opens.
Its NOT innovative. The type to open has existed in two windows versions before 8