MS Opens Official Windows 8.1 Preview Site

By FaiKee
in The Fast Ring (Insider Previews)

 Share

Recommended Posts

Veteran

FaiKee

Posted
  • Author
Posted

Michael Niehaus explains the channels of win8 upgrade to win8.1 preview and win8.1RTM

http://www.zdnet.com/microsoft-goes-public-with-windows-8-1-upgrade-policies-7000016419/

Microsoft goes public with Windows 8.1 upgrade policies

Summary: Microsoft is sharing more on how existing Windows 8 and Windows RT users will be able to upgrade to Windows 8.1 'Blue' preview and final.

Mary Jo Foley

By Mary Jo Foley for All About Microsoft | June 5, 2013 -- 13:59 GMT (21:59 SGT)

With the public preview builds of Windows 8.1 due out later this month, a number of users are wondering how Microsoft plans to handle the upgrade.

bluesclues

At TechEd North America, officials shared some details on that topic in a session entitled "Windows RT in the Enterprise."

Microsoft officials have said previously that the company plans to deliver the public preview of Windows 8.1, codenamed "Blue," via the Windows Store on June 26.

Microsoft Senior Product Marketing Manager Michael Niehaus reiterated that message in the RT in the Enterprise session on June 4. When the 8.1 preview is available, Windows 8 and Windows RT users will receive a Windows Update notification. That update will trigger the new bits to show up in the Windows Store, where potential testers will be able to read the description and choose whether or not to install.

Once the final versions of Windows 8.1 are available, after their release to manufacturing, those who have downloaded the preview will get the same Windows Update plus Windows Store notification. While their data and accounts will be preserved if and when they choose to install the free, final 8.1 release, all their apps must be reinstalled, Niehaus said.

Even if testers opt instead to roll their devices back to Windows 8 after installing the preview bits, they still will have to reinstall their apps once they move to the RTM version of Windows 8.1.

Update: For those wondering exactly which apps will need to be reinstalled, it depends whether the tester is running Windows on ARM or x868. On Windows RT devices, it's the Windows Store/Metro-Style apps that will have to be reinstalled; for x86-based Windows 8 systems, testers will need to reinstall both their Windows Store/Metro-Style and Desktop apps, a Microsoft spokesperson said.

Windows 8 users who do not install the preview build and opt instead to go straight from Windows 8/Windows RT to Windows 8.1 will not have to reinstall their apps. All settings, data and apps will carry over, a spokesperson said when I asked. Users will be able to decide when and if they want to move from Windows 8 and Windows RT to the 8.1 versions, officials stressed.

Niehaus characterized the Windows 8 to 8.1 upgrade as "a little better" than how Microsoft handled the Windows 8 test build to RTM upgrade. A Microsoft spokesperson said the Windows 8 to 8.1 upgrade would be "comparable" to the Windows 7 to Windows 8 upgrade, in terms of how the upgrade dealt with user settings, data and apps.

Niehaus also told session attendees that Microsoft expects to have a reduced footprint size for Windows 8.1 as compared to Windows 8. He said the team has been working on removing old components, temporary files and improving NTFS compression to free up more space on users' machines. He noted that 4 GB of free space will be needed to install the Windows 8.1 preview builds. And he said that installation of Windows 8.1 will not result in the replacement of the recovery partition in Windows 8.

"If you deleted it, [8.1] won't replace it," Niehaus said.

Grand Master

George P Global Moderator

Posted
  • Global Moderator
Posted

I'll try it out in a VM, I'm sure they'll make a full ISO available for those still on Windows 7 or older. Then I'll upgrade right to 8.1 RTM when the time comes, no way I'm going to reinstall all these apps again.

Grand Master

HawkMan

Posted
Posted

Well I guess it's good that I don't really use metro apps, don't have to worry about them getting deleted. Plus I'll do a clean install anyway.

Metro apps are one thing as they will automatically reinstall and get back their settings. Not feeling like reinstalling all my desktop apps fro the preview and then once again for the final though.

I don't need any of the new stuff in 8.1 enough to bother with the preview, a consistent corner start button that's the same throughout the OS works fine for me. Not got any need for huge start menu icons, don't need to boot to desktop, not seeing the point as the first thing you have to do to use the computer is start an app anyway so, starting at the launcher screen makes sense, besides I "never" shut down/restart anyway.

Grand Master

LittleNeutrino Veteran

Posted
  • Veteran
Posted

There should be an app which can create a tile based on your image, and then execute any software that you want to.

that would actually be a rather cool option to have.

Grand Master

-T- Member

Posted
  • Member
Posted

I hope there's an option to disable the start button. My taskbar does not rest on the bottom and therefore i would not like to have a button in a random position to access the start screen

This topic is now closed to further replies.
 Share
Go to topic listing

  • Posts

    • Mafia: The Old Country expansion Man of Honor announced, brings back Salieri from original

      By leonsk29 · Posted

      Most boring game ever. Repetitive, empty, predictable, and full of cliches. Total waste of time and money, IMO.
    • Mafia: The Old Country expansion Man of Honor announced, brings back Salieri from original

      By LoneWolfSL · Posted

      Mafia: The Old Country expansion Man of Honor announced, brings back Salieri from original by Pulasthi Ariyasinghe During Summer Game Fest, 2K and Hanger 13 brought out a new Mafia: The Old Country trailer, revealing the game's first expansion. Named Man of Honor, this is slated to add two new chapters to the Enzo storyline that the game follows. There is an iconic character returning to the series with this expansion, with players set to run into Ennio Salieri, the future Don of the Salieri crime family. Fans of the original Mafia, or its Definitive Edition remake, may remember that name as one of the biggest characters in the storyline. This expansion is set prior to his rise to being the kingpin in the City of Lost Heaven. "Set in Sicily during the winter of 1905, Enzo Favara has proven himself a reliable soldier of the Torrisi crime family in the months since his initiation," says the studio about the new chapters. "Now, the Don entrusts him and Cesare with a delicate assignment of assisting Ennio Salieri, a man of honor recently released from prison and intent on reclaiming what is his." Working at Salieri's side, players will be heading into fresh environments as they return to the role of Enzo as a high-ranking soldato. The studio also promises brand-new weapons, fresh vehicles, and charms to collect in this expansion. Moreover, the expansion will add new content to the updated Free Ride mode. Alongside new collectibles and locations, this will add more challenges to beat alongside Salieri, which are described as runs that will "test the skills of even the most elite mafiosi." The Mafia: The Old Country Man of Honor story expansion will release on August 14, 2026, across PC, Xbox Series X|S, and PlayStation 5. It will cost $10 for owners of the base game to jump into.
    • Nearly 70% of Steam users now run Windows 11

      By moog19 · Posted

      Try installing Logitech Options
    • Telltale returns with The Wolf Among Us, re-revealing the sequel and a new remaster

      By LoneWolfSL · Posted

      Telltale returns with The Wolf Among Us, re-revealing the sequel and a new remaster by Pulasthi Ariyasinghe Telltale Games, the studio known for its episodic games from the 2000s, had a surprise appearance at the Summer Game Fest showcase today. The studio has gone through a collapse, an acquisition, and a revival but has largely gone silent in recent years. Today's sudden announcement was for the popular The Wolf Among Us series, with news about the sequel and a remaster dropping. Set after the events of the 2013-released title, the sequel will bring back Biby Wolf for a new adventure in Fabletown. This town of fairy tale characters is becoming unstable, with Snow White not being able to keep order as before. "When a brutal series of crimes threatens to fracture the fragile balance holding Fabletown together, Bigby Wolf, sheriff of Fabletown, finds himself drawn into a dangerous conspiracy that reaches deep into the city’s criminal underworld," says the studio. "As suspicion spreads across the city and powerful forces work against him, Bigby must uncover the truth and decide what kind of sheriff - and what kind of wolf - he is willing to become." At the same time, Telltale also announced The Wolf Among Us Remastered, bringing back the classic with a fresh coat of paint. This will include all five episodes from the original game plus over an hour of extra content that will offer behind-the-scenes videos, cast interviews, image galleries, and deleted scenes. The remaster will also have updated visuals and improved UI elements and accessibility features, alongside upgrades to the animations, audio, and frame rates. Telltale has been working on this project for almost a decade now, but if the new release schedule holds, fans will be able to jump into The Wolf Among Us 2 sometime in 2027. As for The Wolf Among Us Remastered, this is slated to release during this holiday season.
    • Nearly 70% of Steam users now run Windows 11

      By Snake Doc · Posted

      I use a Linux laptop every day. I have tried to switch to Linux on my gaming PC which has a 5070 ti. It was not a great experience

  • Recent Achievements

    • Rookie
      moog19 went up a rank
      Rookie
    • Mentor
      grik went up a rank
      Mentor
    • Dedicated
      JKR earned a badge
      Dedicated
    • One Year In
      CHUNWEI earned a badge
      One Year In
    • Conversation Starter
      FBSPL earned a badge
      Conversation Starter

  • Popular Contributors

    1. 1
      +primortal
      488
    2. 2
      PsYcHoKiLLa
      270
    3. 3
      Skyfrog
      76
    4. 4
      Steven P.
      68
    5. 5
      FloatingFatMan
      63
    Show More

  • Tell a friend

    Love Neowin? Tell a friend!