My Windows 8.1/ 8.1.1 Dilemma

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I am totally confused! I have been following posts regarding the new 8.1.1 change and read where those here have commented no or few problems with the download and its operation. Yet reading Susan Bradley’s comments here, KB2919355 issues being tracked, advises to wait to install. What to do? My other dilemma is do you just let Microsoft download ALL security updates and quit worrying which to install or not? It seems like it’s getting harder to just enjoy computing anymore. It seems to me the more information provided, the more confused I’m getting. Your comments would be most appreciated. :confused:

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If you’re currently running windows 8.1 you will be forced to update to 8.1.1 come next month or you’ll not receive any further updates. MS is/has cancelled support for 8.1 just like it did for XP, pretty much at the same time. That being said, most of us running 8.1 updated to 8.1.1 with no issues, although some have experienced some bumps while trying to install the updates. I’ve not seen the SB article of the update being tracked. None the less, if you want to continue to use 8.1, you will have to update to 8.1.1.

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There are quite a few people who install the monthly Microsoft updates immediately or within a few days of release. I’ve not had a problem doing this for a decade.

Joe

--Joe

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Thank you both for your reply.

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My experience is the same. I committed to Microsoft updates “immediately or within a few days” as well. Sometimes, randomly, I read the docs first.
If you do internet, you need “to trust”, whether it’s Microsoft, Apple, or Linux distributions.
I went to 8.1 after a couple months, and accepted the Update when “suggested”. Took a little more than 2 hours, but it was trouble-free.
My viewpoint on the Win 8 “issue” is apparently uncommon. I have a few good years of personal computing left in me, and economics is an issue – time first, then money. So for me, incremental upgrades are the easiest economically. First of all, I choose 32-bit Vista, and not 64-bit. So for me, moving into 64-bit is the issue, more than upgrading apps that run on Windows.

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If you are using 8.1 right now, updating to 8.1.1 is a no brainer. It’s a pretty smooth process.
Upgrading from W8 to 8.1 is a bit more involved, obviously with a 3GB download and a lengthy setup process,
there is the chance for issues.

Issues with WU are still in the minority.
Many, not all, but many issues with WU can be attributed to “sub-clinical” problems with a user’s computer software environment
that are not readily noticeable. In which case creating an image before hand won’t do much good, unless a solution can be found.

Sometimes a clean install is needed.
If anybody has any delusions that the “clean install” is “passé” these days, you’d be wrong.

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I gave up trying to moderate WIndows updates about a year ago, I just let them install automatically. I also check periodically for additional (non-automatic) updates, those I do check over because they can include crapware like toolbars. So far I have not been bitten!

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My desktop computer shipped with Vista when Vista was just released, so it’s an old box, but I have consecutively upgraded to Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows 8.1, and now 8.1.1, all without a hitch. Each upgrade has been an improvement. I think Windows 8.1 is a terrific OS with powerful features that set it above Windows 7 — File Explorer and File History, just to name two of many. And contrary to what a lot of people say, it does have a start menu; it’s just in a different format (tiles), but everything is there. I don’t know what all the complaining has been about.

Regarding applying security patches, I don’t go the automatic route. When they are released each month, I first apply those that Susan Bradley gives the green light. Then a couple of weeks later I apply all the rest, except for any that have been reported as problematic. It’s not all that time-consuming, and I’ve never had a problem with applying patches. Right now I am completely up to date on patches and updates.

Fafner

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My desktop computer shipped with Vista when Vista was just released, so it’s an old box, but I have consecutively upgraded to Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows 8.1, and now 8.1.1, all without a hitch. Each upgrade has been an improvement. I think Windows 8.1 is a terrific OS with powerful features that set it above Windows 7 — File Explorer and File History, just to name two of many. And contrary to what a lot of people say, it does have a start menu; it’s just in a different format (tiles), but everything is there. I don’t know what all the complaining has been about.Fafner

Ditto here

Rich

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I’m with Joe, I usually just install everything and hardly have had any issues. I don’t do it immediately, though, I wait a few days for the next scheduled imaging day, so that I can take a full image before applying updates. With that and the fact that I have System Restore activated, I know I have two different possibilities to recover in case of problems. In the couple circumstances where updates did create problems, using System Restore was enough to get everything working again. In such cases, it has been easy to identify the problem updates and avoid their installation, until the issues with the updates are solved by Microsoft.

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It’s amazing reading Techspot revealed that many people are unable to Update to Win 8.1.1. On one of my computers it installed without a hitch, BUT, the other took 3 whole days and multiple fixes before I found the right combination that finally allowed the update.

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I think I upgraded to Win 8.1.1, but the System screen just says win8.1 Pro.
Is this right?

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I have updated to 8.1.1, and the system screen says what you see. Perhaps because it’s not 8.1.1 bit rather 8.1 update, it’s just that most people refer to 8.1.1. If you start a Metro app and it appears on the task bar on the desktop , then you have 8.1.1. There are other indications as well.

Eliminate spare time: start programming PowerShell

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What you downloaded in the Windows Store on Windows 8 was the OS upgrade to Windows 8.1.
What you downloaded within Windows update is the update to 8.1 that we erroneously refer to 8.1.1, just to make it seem less confusing.

One is an OS upgrade (completely optional), but the other is an update (needed for future WU support).

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I just updated to 8.1.1 without a hitch. Working just fine. Thanks guys!

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Although I upgraded two Vista era machines (they are now running 8.1 with all updates) there was one which didn’t measure up (CPU-wise).
So certainly not everyone is able to upgrade their Vista era hardware to the latest Microsoft OS.

RockE

Image or Clone often! Backup, backup, backup, backup......
- - - - -
Home Built: Windows 10 Home 64-bit, AMD Athlon II X3 435 CPU, 16GB RAM, ASUSTeK M4A89GTD-PRO/USB3 (AM3) motherboard, 512GB SanDisk SSD, 3 TB WD HDD, 1024MB ATI AMD RADEON HD 6450 video, ASUS VE278 (1920x1080) display, ATAPI iHAS224 Optical Drive, integrated Realtek HD Audio

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I have “automatically downloaded and updated” all versions of windows (XP through Windows 8.1.1) over the last “many” years without a single hitch (I do, nevertheless, make a full system/data backup once a week; just in case!!)

(I hope this post doesn’t turn out to be a “poster’s curse”!!)

My Rig: AMD Ryzen 9 5900X 12-Core CPU; ASUS Cross Hair VIII Formula Mobo; Win 11 Pro (64 bit)-(UEFI-booted); 32GB RAM; 2TB Corsair Force Series MP600 Pro 2TB PCIe Gen 4.0 M.2 NVMe SSD. 1TB SAMSUNG 960 EVO M.2 NVME SSD; MSI GeForce RTX 3090 VENTUS 3X 24G OC; Microsoft 365 Home; Condusiv SSDKeeper Professional; Acronis Cyberprotect, VMWare Workstation Pro V17.5. HP 1TB USB SSD External Backup Drive). Dell G-Sync G3223Q 144Hz Monitor.

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I can recall only two times that I have had problems with Windows updates:
* When I upgraded to IE 11 (or 10?) — the browsing experience got bumpy after that, so I uninstalled the update, and it reverted back to my previous version of IE. Problem solved.
* When I upgraded Windows from 8.0 to 8.1 — things went from smooth sailing (8.0) to a bit bumpy (8.1) after that, and there were some issues, so I restored the backup I made right before doing the upgrade. Problem solved.

I can recall one other problem in my computing experience — a company I worked at used an old, legacy accounting program. One morning many users reported that their accounting program no longer worked. I uninstalled the three Windows updates that had autoinstalled the night before, and the problem disappeared. (I didn’t try to identify the specific update of the three.)

In short, I have my computer set for auto updates. I have for a very long time. This is what I have found to be the best solution for me.

Group "L" (Linux Mint)
with Windows 10 running in a remote session on my file server

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If you are a subscriber, the latest edition of the Windows Secrets Newsletter also offers some advice for a “trouble-free” installation. See “When the Win8.1 Update installation goes awry” in Issue 430 of 2014-04-24

My Rig: AMD Ryzen 9 5900X 12-Core CPU; ASUS Cross Hair VIII Formula Mobo; Win 11 Pro (64 bit)-(UEFI-booted); 32GB RAM; 2TB Corsair Force Series MP600 Pro 2TB PCIe Gen 4.0 M.2 NVMe SSD. 1TB SAMSUNG 960 EVO M.2 NVME SSD; MSI GeForce RTX 3090 VENTUS 3X 24G OC; Microsoft 365 Home; Condusiv SSDKeeper Professional; Acronis Cyberprotect, VMWare Workstation Pro V17.5. HP 1TB USB SSD External Backup Drive). Dell G-Sync G3223Q 144Hz Monitor.

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Got a link for the trouble-shooter please, Drew?

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I really hate doing it, but I also end up setting my computers to “Install updates automatically (recommended.)”, and for the same reason that you do, analyzing updates is a full time job for those who do it for Enterprise networks, and I just don’t have the time.

But you say “Microsoft downloads a lot of crap that they apparently don’t test, and it will break your computer”

True, but if you increase the size of storage that you have for Restore Points, so that you always have them going back for a reasonable amount of time, you can go back to before the last patches were installed, and then you can change to “”Check for updates but let me choose whether to download and install them”, until you figure out which one broke your computer.

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Good evening, Drew. How are tricks ?

I just read some of the Secrets information and I quote:

” I reviewed Windows 8.1 Update in the April 3 Top Story. It doesn’t provide any earth-shattering enhancements to Windows 8 or 8.1 “. Says Woody !

Windows 8 ??? Or is Woody back to smoking some funny stuff ? Is that WU KB 2919355 also for my version of W-8 ? Should I try to install this too ?

Have a great evening. Jean.

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Jean,

The Windows 8.1 Update is only available to PC’s running Windows 8.1. If your PC is still running Windows 8 (that is, if you didn’t install Windows 8.1 from the Store), you won’t be offered KB2919355.

If you did install Windows 8.1, then you won’t be offered any future security updates/patches until after you install KB2919355 (the 8.1 Update).

If you still have Windows 8 (the original), you will continue to get security updates/patches until January 2016.

Always create a fresh drive image before making system changes/Windows updates; you may need to start over!

We all have our own reasons for doing the things that we do with our systems; we don't need anyone's approval, and we don't all have to do the same things.

We were all once "Average Users".

Computer Specs

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BB, good day. I am still plagued by semantics in this world and my question was Woody’s statement that it would benefit W-8, sans any .1. He might have meant something else ???
We are in the same boat and paddling in unison. I think that you misconstrued Drew’s lines as to the “choice”, he meant that if you go to .1 you have to go .1 Update too or vice-versa. Said nothing about staying in W-8 as we both do.

I do have a clone of w-8.1, I had removed it as it would not see my Office 2K even if the basic W-8 did honour it. Strange ! I was given recently an Office 2010, I might get the latest W-8.1 back installed and see where I can get using it. Stand-by for further development. Be good, Jean.

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If you are running Windows 8 and decide to update to Windows 8.1 via the Windows Store you will get Windows 8.1 Update.

Joe

--Joe

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Joe, a good day to you. Quote :If you are running Windows 8 and decide to update to Windows 8.1 via the Windows Store you will get Windows 8.1 Update.

I did at one time have 8.1 running here but if you have read my reply to BB, you will know where I now stand in this regard. I am still not refusing totally the .1, nor the .1 Update. More to come if I am left with enough free time at this time of the year. Thanks for following this. Jean.

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**You should take/have both.** <— Not options

Yes, options. I'm still running original Windows 8 on my desktop. Had an issue with one of my preferred programs, chose the program over the update and restored my pre-update image. I will continue to receive support until January 2016.

At any point in time, I can restore my image of 8.1, and see if I can get my preferred program to run. Something in the intervening updates may have taken care of the incompatibility issues; but there's no immediate rush.

Bottom line is, if you're still running the original Windows 8, like it, want to keep it, you'll still get full support until January 2016. Take your time. Windows 9 (or whatever they call it) will probably be out before the end of support for Windows 8.

As many of us have said, there is NO compelling reason to update from the original Windows 8, just as there was no compelling reason to update from Windows 7 to Windows 8.

It is all a matter of personal choice.

Always create a fresh drive image before making system changes/Windows updates; you may need to start over!

We all have our own reasons for doing the things that we do with our systems; we don't need anyone's approval, and we don't all have to do the same things.

We were all once "Average Users".

Computer Specs

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Allo, Drew. >>> “Oft it has been suggested one can take the info offered here in the forum as reliable.”
The information here has been my source all the time. It has enabled me to help others as you do, it might be your income, it is my pleasure.
I still have problems with Woody’s line that it would benefit W-8 though and that prompted my question. I am not yet back to W-8.1 and even more so to Update. This time of the year keeps me so busy that this fine PC is pushed back to secondary interest. I will keep you up on development. Have a great day, Jean.

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I will beg to differ.

Begging won’t change the simple fact that, for Personal Computers[/B] (I’m not speaking in terms of an enterprise environment), as always and forevermore,[/SIZE]

It is all a matter of personal choice.

With my machines I have the choice of running Windows XP, Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows 8.1 Update. Everything that I have done in the past and will be doing in the foreseeable future I can accomplish with Windows XP.

For security reasons, the XP window is closing (there are still a couple of programs that won’t run anywhere else; I just don’t need to be online for them to run), but I have Windows 7 dual booting on three machines. Windows 7 also fulfills all my needs now, and in the foreseeable future. There is no compelling reason to upgrade from Windows 7 to Windows 8.

Yes, everything that I want and need that runs on Windows 7 will run on Windows 8, 8.1, and 8.1 Update. But they still run on Windows 7, and I cannot discern a noticeable difference in performance between the platforms, other than Windows 8 boots faster. But, I don’t shut my machine down, so boot times are totally irrelevant.

It remains a matter of personal choice. We are each free to exercise that choice.

Always create a fresh drive image before making system changes/Windows updates; you may need to start over!

We all have our own reasons for doing the things that we do with our systems; we don't need anyone's approval, and we don't all have to do the same things.

We were all once "Average Users".

Computer Specs

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