Windows 8 wasn't the greatest success for
Microsoft, but the much anticipated update,
Windows 8.1, is now available either
electronically or through traditional physical
discs in retail outlets. Here's a look at how to
get your Windows 8 system ready and the
process of upgrading to Windows 8.1 through
the electronic update now available in the
Windows Store.
• Prepare your Windows 8 system
Before jumping in to the upgrade there's a few
things you'll need to do before installing.
1. make sure you have all of the latest updates for your system via Windows Update. Even if you have your system set up to receive automatic updates, it's best to run it manually to ensure you have all of the latest ones.
2. Create a back up of all important documents,
pictures, videos, etc. You don't necessarily need
to create a system image, though it wouldn't
hurt, but make sure everything important is
backed up on an external drive, network location,
or DVDs. If you have File History set up, just run
it before proceeding with the update. If you
have a service like CrashPlan that's constantly
running in the background, you should be good
to go.
• Download and Install Windows 8.1
Now it's time to update and get your new
version of Windows. Hit the Windows Key to get
to the Start screen and select the Store tile.
Next click on the Update to Windows 8.1 for free
(you can't miss it, it's the first thing you'll see
in the store). The next screen will give you a
brief preview of what new features Windows 8.1 provides. Click Install.
Now just wait while the update is downloaded
and installed. This is a major update at around
3.5 GB for the 8.1 Pro edition, so the amount of time it takes to download will vary depending on
your connection speed and how busy Microsoft
servers are. However, you can continue to use
your system while this download it taking place.
If you have the option of a wired Ethernet
connection rather than Wi-Fi, I'd recommend
using it to provide a much more reliable
connection for faster download speeds and to
reduce the risk of getting disconnected during
the install. Also ensure you're connected to
mains power to avoid potential power problems.
When it's done, you'll receive a message that
your computer needs to be restarted. Finish up
any work you're doing and save it because from
this point until it's done, you can't user you
computer. It will restart several times while the 8.1 update is being installed.
You'll see a series of different screens showing
you what is going on during the installation.
You're almost finished. Agree to the software
terms of service.
There will be a few more screens displayed
letting you know what Windows is doing, like the one below, which is getting modern apps ready that were already installed.
Success! You're all done. You have the latest
version of Windows on your system and you start digging into the cool new features it has to offer.
• Wrapping Up
After installing the 8.1 update, I recommend
running Windows Update right away. There's
already updates for the final version, one of
which is the General Availability Rollup.
If you are running the 8.1 Preview version, when you update, you'll need to reinstall all of your modern apps and desktop programs. One nicety of the upgrade is your modern app tiles will display on the Start screen. Then all you need to do is click the tile to download them.
Finally, after you have Windows 8.1 set up and
ready to use
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