Rumor: Windows 8.1 Update 2 Not Mandatory

By Kevin Parrish
published

Unnamed sources have informed ZDNet that Microsoft plans to distribute Windows 8.1 Update 2 on August 12, which is this month's Patch Tuesday. They are also reporting that this update won't be a big deal like Update 1, but will be pushed like any other distributed update. Most importantly, Update 2 will not be a mandatory install.

The report states that Microsoft originally planned for Update 2 to be bigger than it is now and include the new "mini" Start Menu, but the team decided not to include the Start Menu just months ago. It will cram the new Start Menu into Windows "Threshold" (which is currently still called Windows 9) instead, when it launches in Spring 2015.

These same sources tell ZDNet that another Windows 8.1 Update will be highly unlikely; Microsoft plans to toss everything into the Windows Threshold release instead. Rather than unleash a fat update, the company will distribute small monthly fixes and updates until Windows Threshold is released.

Previous rumors claim that Microsoft planned to release Update 3 sometime in Q1 2015. There have also been reports that Microsoft may launch a public preview of Windows Threshold in Q4 2014, although that may actually be a developer preview instead.

Currently, despite the recent leaks, Microsoft isn't saying anything about the Threshold release. Instead, there are rumors that Microsoft may actually provide Threshold for free to Windows XP, Windows Vista and Windows 7 customers. That backs up previous rumors that the new platform will possibly be free to Windows 8.1 customers. Why? So that these customers are on a newer, more secure platform.

So what's going to be in Windows 8.1 Update 2? ZDNet's sources report that it won't be cumulative, and will include minor design changes. We will probably find out the closer we get to August 12.

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Kevin Parrish
14 Comments Comment from the forums
  • canadianvice
    Well, I thought the start menu was coming. Looks like I'm on W7 a while longer then.
    (Yes, I get it, the SS is not the worst thing ever, but it's not conducive to how I use my system)
    Reply
  • ekagori
    Possibly offer "Threshold" for free? Could Microsoft be turning a corner? Wow!
    Reply
  • rocknrollz
    Well, I thought the start menu was coming. Looks like I'm on W7 a while longer then.
    (Yes, I get it, the SS is not the worst thing ever, but it's not conducive to how I use my system)

    Check out startisback for windows8(.1). It gives you the start menu back, and even has the option of using the XP flyout menu. And it is super cheap.
    Reply
  • kawininjazx
    They were starting to make the right strides with Windows 8.1, people were recognizing their computers again, the OS is running great, and now they are replacing it.
    Reply
  • Morbus
    Check out startisback for windows8(.1). It gives you the start menu back, and even has the option of using the XP flyout menu. And it is super cheap.
    Super cheap as in super crappy.

    Software like that should never be paid software. Because that way it's just crappy, and it is: it's sluggish and slow and glaringly non-native. Windows 7 is much better.
    Reply
  • TechyInAZ
    Bummer!! I was really looking forward to that little start screen/menu that was supposed to be in this patch, but oh well.

    Great idea that windows 9 will be free to all xp+ users since if you think about it, Linux upgrades are free, and mac upgrades are only $20.
    Reply
  • canadianvice
    13880377 said:
    Well, I thought the start menu was coming. Looks like I'm on W7 a while longer then.
    (Yes, I get it, the SS is not the worst thing ever, but it's not conducive to how I use my system)

    Check out startisback for windows8(.1). It gives you the start menu back, and even has the option of using the XP flyout menu. And it is super cheap.

    I know about that, but I don't use it on principle. My system should work how I need it to without a bunch of extra addons.
    Reply
  • mr grim
    Check out startisback for windows8(.1). It gives you the start menu back, and even has the option of using the XP flyout menu. And it is super cheap.
    Super cheap as in super crappy.

    Software like that should never be paid software. Because that way it's just crappy, and it is: it's sluggish and slow and glaringly non-native. Windows 7 is much better.
    You have obviously never even used it or even taken the time to see what it is, if you had you would know that it is almost identical to the Windows 7 start menu but with some great improvements and extra options almost anyone would find useful, it uses mostly native Windows 7 start menu code and can also be themed via the msstyles unlike any other replacement start menu.

    As for sluggish, you must have a 10 year old system with a single core CPU and 256mb of memory if you find it slow because it's faster and smoother then the one on Windows 7.

    I have been using Start Is Back on my VM since the first development and have compared it to Windows 7 all the way and now I have made the switch to Windows 8 and use it all the time, it's the best replacement you will ever find and best of all it was created by one man and he gives great customer support and has updated it ahead of all major windows updates to give constant support.

    But why am I telling you all this, you are obviously just a Troll and have nothing better to do.
    Reply
  • ickibar1234
    Yay that it's going thru windows update instead of the store! Do I need update 1 in order to get update 2? I know the article said it wasn't cumulative. Time will tell
    Reply
  • back_by_demand
    Well, I thought the start menu was coming. Looks like I'm on W7 a while longer then.
    (Yes, I get it, the SS is not the worst thing ever, but it's not conducive to how I use my system)
    As an adopter of W8 from first day of release, I can say that using Classicshell (for free) you will not experience any loss of the precious Start Menu, get the benefits of the faster and more secure system and spent less time moaning about not having a Start Menu than it took to install and use one.
    There is an old saying for what you are doing, "cutting your nose off to spite your face".
    Reply