Windows 8.1 Upgrade
We have the option to upgrade from Win-8. How does this install work? Will any documents, pictures, files be wiped out? If you have done this upgrade do you lie it better than Win-8?
Forum Discussion
15 Replies
Tom N wrote:
The 8.1 upgrade is a "no brainer" but it will take some time. You should do all the 8.0 updates before doing the 8.1 upgrade.
After I upgraded to 8.1 I installed Classic Shell.
Classic Shell™ is free software that improves your productivity, enhances the usability of Windows and empowers you to use the computer the way you like it. The main features are:
Highly customizable start menu with multiple styles and skins
Quick access to recent, frequently-used, or pinned programs
Find programs, settings, files and documents
Start button for Windows 7, Windows 8 and Windows 8.1
Toolbar and status bar for Windows Explorer
Caption and status bar for Internet Explorer
http://www.classicshell.net/
-Tom, W3TLN
My Windows 8.1 with Classic Shell- Soemtimes when you buy a laptop the product key is on a sticker on the laptop.> But (Looking at bottom of mine) The sticker is there but no key.. And none in the support documents in the box as I recall.
However there is an 800 number and they have it. 1492 wrote:
Do you still have your product key for MS Office 2013? If so, go to officesetup.getmicrosoftkey.com. You should be able to download Office 2013 install files. This is a Microsoft site.
Thanks for the tip 1492. No I never got the product key, it was just preloaded on this tablet. I suspect I could contact the reman company to get the key but, as I mentioned, I do so little Word and Excel work on this machine (actually, NONE so far in a year... that kind of work is easier with a keyboard for me) that OpenOffice should be sufficient.
And, yes, I DID read that about the "full upgrade" and losing things but since it'd not lost Office during the Preview upgrade I just "assumed".... even tho the warning was there. Not a big deal for me, I just wanted to inform the OP of a possible problem.
I was VERY impressed after the upgrade that all I had to do was click on each app icon to reinstall.
All things considered, it was the easiest upgrade I've ever done.
Phil- First step in any major upgrade is to obtain an external HARD DRIVE and make a full back up (Image) of your existing drive using CD based back up software such as Acronis True Image (What I use) or many many many other programs that are just as good.
THEN you upgrade, IN theory you will loose nothing in the upgrade, but if you do.. RESTORE from backup and do not upgrade again.
If you loose something like Office.. Try Sun open office.. I like it better anyway.
And whatever you do get GOOD Anti-virus and good FIrewall, DO NOT Trust a router to protect you. Phils wrote:
A few weeks ago I upgraded to the actual Win 8.1. I lost Office 2013 and since my tablet was a reman unit, Acer doesn't support it. No, I hadn't backed up Office since the upgrade to 8.1 Preview had gone so well.
Phil
Do you still have your product key for MS Office 2013? If so, go to officesetup.getmicrosoftkey.com. You should be able to download Office 2013 install files. This is a Microsoft site.- Phil: the preview specifically stated that you would lose information if you then went to the actual 8.1 update.
Re: 8.1 preview.
"If your PC was running Windows 8 (before the preview install) you might be able to restore it back to Windows 8 by using PC refresh. Your personal files won't be affected, but apps that did not come with the PC will need to be reinstalled and apps that you installed while using the preview might not be available through the Windows 8 Store. To find out more about using PC refresh, see Restore, refresh, or reset your PC. " - Get 8.1 from the windows store!!!!!!! Allow time for the updates.
- as a caution, be sure to go to Microsoft to down load and not some side show place. if you go side show you may down load some stuff they want you to have and you may not want.
- I did the upgrade months ago to the Win 8.1 Preview on an Acer tablet that was given to me a year ago by a class action settlement. It came preloaded with Office 2013. There were no problems with the upgrade and I liked W8.1P better than W8 (my other computers are Win7 now, with just one XP remaining).
A few weeks ago I upgraded to the actual Win 8.1. I lost Office 2013 and since my tablet was a reman unit, Acer doesn't support it. No, I hadn't backed up Office since the upgrade to 8.1 Preview had gone so well.
I suppose I COULD attempt to regain Office 2013 from the reman company but found it simpler to just d/l and install Open Office. For the amount of Word and Excel work I'll do on the tablet (much less than 1%), Open office will be fine.
I had to reinstall Apps that I got from the Windows Store, but it was just a matter of clicking an icon to reinstall, as the apps I had were recorded.
For your upgrade, just you shouldn't have any problems but I wanted to share the only problem I had.
Phil LynnandCarol wrote:
Thanks all! We have the 500GB external hard drive we use for the backup. I just didn't wanted to create extra work :)
If you aren't already using backup software, I found the SyncBack free version to be easy to set up for scheduled or manual backups to our external drive.
