Downloading Win8.1 issue

Anyone else having an issue downloading the 8.1 update? I figure the servers are overwhelmed? Keeps saying "Something happened and install did not complete". It never download anything to begin with.

 

I am sure since first posting of the update the servers are severely swamped. It would be nice instead of saying something happened it would say what happened and or what stage it was dropped out on etc...............

 

Forgive my ignorance, but where do I go to download the 8.1 update?

 

It took darned near an hour to download and install, but it worked just fine for me. No errors on the download.

David, go to the Windows app store, and it'll be the first tile on the store's main menu. It's not in the "updates" section, which is where I first looked.

 

Windows 8.1 Upgrade: Step-By-Step | Windows 8 content from Paul Thurrott's SuperSite for Windows

 

It took me a few attempts but it finally downloaded and installed.

John.

 

It didn't like my clone install on my Elitebook 2760p, didn't want to install due to something about the system partition, so I clean installed Windows 8 and now upgrading to 8.1 On the bright side, it will be a clean upgrade. I haven't even bothered with all the drivers, gonna install that stuff when 8.1 is installed. It is downloading slowly...

I want an iso, I have to more installs to upgrade and seriously, I don't want to have to download the file every time, I have a bandwidth cap. A Canadian bandwidth cap... (or in other words, ridiculously small).

 

I'm glad you explained. I was like "a polite, denim-wearing bandwidth cap?"

 

Lets just say that what buys a 250 GB cap in the US buys a 75 GB or 100 GB cap in Canada. I got a pretty decent connection at 15/10 though so there's that at least, MS servers were excruciatingly slow in the afternoon on the other hand. It was downloading much faster this morning when it failed.

 

Oh there's no iso available? That's disappointing, I want to just do a clean install from the get go.

 

There's a way to download the installer through Internet Explorer, but I don't think that there's a true .iso available and I have no idea if the installer lets you make bootable media. Someone else will have to answer that.

 

With your help I was able to find the 8.1 update link in the Store and install it successfully the first time without any problems. At work we have a Dell Inpsiron small slim desktop that came with 8, and the update to 8.1 went smoothly. The download of 3.6GB took very long, I didn't time it but it was easily 1.5 hours or more. The internet service is provided by comcast and its not slow. Still this process took the longest and it could have been related to server traffic today.

Also, the reason why I couldn't see the Windows 8.1 update in the Store on my Acer V5 was because I had pending updates in the Windows Updates. After performing these updates, the linked tile for 8.1 appeared. I'll know soon enough if it works on first try like our Dell.


Couldn't the installer be extracted and reused as a clean iso?

Can we assume because OEMs are going to start selling 8.1 computers it would only be a matter of time until we saw an installation iso of 8.1? - - - Sure would save a lot of time!

 

Yeah I agree. If I can't download and save it as an ISO to install later, i'll pass. This must be another parting gift from yours truly, Senor Ballmer.

This doesn't surprise me one bit and just adds consistency to the muck up known as the Windows 8 project.

 

3.6 GB??? Sounds like a complete installation to me. I wonder if it's possible to convert it to an ISO.
Not that I need it, I have the ISO already...

 

It is and just shows how Microsoft still doesn't get it. One botched move after another. They give you the upgrade for free and they treat it as an add-on but the process suggests it's a complete install. Why not offer the option to download and do a fresh install? Oh they do but you have to buy it. Typical MS.

 

Looks like it. There's a Windows.old folder in my C:\ directory. Care to share where you got the ISO from?

Looks like this is where the Mircosoft Store download directory saved the installer C:\$Windows.~BT\ but first view hidden folder, however if you try to run the setup.exe it just gives an error.


Here is where I found the directory of the Store download.
windows 8.1 upgrade download location - Super User

I am going to try creating one of these recovery USB for 8.1 and see if it can perform a clean install.
http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-8/create-usb-recovery-drive

I do believe its just a matter of time until Microsoft releases an official ISO of 8.1 considering all the users asking why they didn't release it from the get-go!

 

There is, but you must have a Windows 8.1 key to download the Windows 8.1 ISO.
Upgrade Windows with only a product key - Microsoft Windows Help

BUT... there's a trick (works for now) that lets you download the Windows 8.1 ISO with your legit Windows 8 key:
How to download the Windows 8.1 ISO

Once you have Windows 8.1 downloaded, you will the chance to make a bootable DVD or ISO.

When you go install Windows 8.1, you will need a Windows 8.1 key to bypass the installation screen. Your Windows 8 key will not work here.
However, use the default Windows 8.1 key (a legal key from Microsoft, it does not activate Windows) - 2nd page of that thread. This key will let you bypass the installation.
Once it's done installing, don't connect to Internet, change the key to your own legit Windows 8 key, it should activate.

I have personally tested all that, except the last part - Windows 8 key activation. Feel free to try it and let us know. Thanks!

 

There are ISOs available.

The Windows 8.1 Enterprise ISOs contain the updates but the Pro versions do not.The Pro is the exact same as the RTM.

The Pro ISO made from ESD downloads using the Windows SetupBox.exe and the SetUp box keys.
Core= DWNWP-X7DMK-H9R7B-9627C-YKKGG
CoreN=JCN4V-JQJB7-6B74M-W8PGK-M97PX
Pro=NTRH8-28X7H-23M9W-T8DHF-X2C6M
ProN=3KNJC-Y89QG-2TC2Y-4DB2Y-QJY9C

The created Pro ISOs put on USB or DVD need other keys to install.Then your legit W8 key to activate.
Windows 8.1 Pro:GCRJD-8NW9H-F2CDX-CCM8D-9D6T9

Windows 8.1 Pro (N):HMCNV-VVBFX-7HMBH-CTY9B-B4FXY

Windows 8.1 Enterprise:MHF9N-XY6XB-WVXMC-BTDCT-MKKG7

Windows 8.1 Enterprise N:T4HM-HN7YT-62K67-RGRQJ-JFFXW

Then you need to change to your legit Windows 8.0 key to active Core,Pro and N versions.

Microsoft has made one big mess of this Windows 8.1 rollout by not simply offering ISOs that install with owner legit Windows 8.0 key.

Some people updating through the store cannot use the store after updating.

Other updating issues are being reported.
Windows 8


BTW:all the keys I posted are from Microsoft.

Here's a way to get a Windows 8.1 ISO with your Windows 8.0 key.

Upgrade Windows with only a product key - Microsoft Windows Help
Select the "Install Windows 8" button, download and run it, use your win 8 key.
Stop the download when it begins--I stopped at 1%.
*edit, if that doesn't work, abort it when it says 'estimating'
Go back to that page, and this time select the "Install Windows 8.1" button & run it.
It should skip straight to "Downloading 8.1" without asking for a key, when done, you can create a 8.1 ISO, BUT, you still need a 8.1 default key to do a install... then you switch to your real win 8 key.

That key is shown here Appendix A: KMS Client Setup Keys (remember, this is JUST for install from the ISO!)
Then, follow directions on that page and use To install a client setup key, open an administrative command prompt on the client, type slmgr /ipk <setup key=""> and press ENTER. with your real key once installed.

EDIT:I've done this and it works.</setup>

 

Ok guys, getting an ISO file for clean installation is a mess! I'll do the installation with the good old floppy way;

 

Torrent. who cares where it comes from, as long as the SHA1 value is correct.

Here are the SHA1 values.

 

Each Win8.1 ISO created using Windows8-Setup.exe / WindowsSetupBox.exe mehod /unique (SHA1) better not share.....