Windows 8.1 Preview Users Need to Update Soon

News
By Kevin Parrish
published

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.

Kevin Parrish
22 Comments Comment from the forums
  • brazuka331
    fair warning
    Reply
  • drwho1
    they should all upgrade to Windows 7.
    that's all.
    Reply
  • mahanddeem
    @drwho1
    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
    Reply
  • Shneiky
    Better interface = faster performance from the human end = higher productivity

    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.
    Reply
  • smeezekitty
    What does Windows 8 have? Faster boot time?
    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
    Reply
  • Cryio
    Windows 8 and more so 8.1 just FEEL so much smoother and nicer than Windows 7. It's not something you can see on Youtube on when another person is using it. Using it daily by yourself you'll see how much more pleasent is to use W8.1 instead of 7.

    And enough with the UI already. It's not complicated at all.
    Reply
  • Shneiky
    8 is maybe pleasant for you for web browsing. It is definitely not pleasant or smooth when anyone is running Maya (or any 3d package) doing a texture (in Photoshop) and pulling textures from a website or his own resources while updating the texture all the time, while having AE or Premier converting separate frames into a movie. Windows 8 is much clunky and slower when dealing with this situation. Not to mention the reason it uses less resources (and boots faster) is that it does not preload a lot of stuff that is necessary for Adobe/Autodesk software. Windows 8 is terrible for multi-tasking. Some of us use our computers to work, to make a living not only for pleasure. And windows 8 is not made with us in mind. We are not the target group, so we stick to windows 7 which works better for our needs. Your ignorance in your blind decision that windows 8 is better is astounding. It might be better for you. Now go on facebook, or Battlefield and let us work.
    Reply
  • lekzero
    Testing 8.1enterprise in domain = more agile than the 7 pro, to perform day to day tasks, remotes acess, map network devices etc., it proved to be better than 7, unfortunately I have to return to 7. As the interface, i don´t like the metro, then I simply activate the desktop and the taskbar and created some shortcuts and new toolbar imitating the previous windows.
    Reply
  • beavermml
    i am using win8.1 for my work and i loved it.. it make my works faster.. i mean if u really use windows for professional work.. u wont be bothered to use start menu ( win7 ) and start screen ( win8 ) 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
    Reply
  • Shneiky
    What about .... no. In no way is typing every time you need to reopen your software better than just clicking down there. And really, use of desktop shortcuts? Eliminates typing completely. As for multi-monitor support - that is just your own personal opinion.
    Reply