Windows 8.1 - Again

Windows 8 just isn’t as user friendly as Windows 8.1. For the short time I had it installed, it seemed to be much better, at least until I wanted to install something.

So I decided to try again. This time I made sure I had all of the current Windows updates. I thought I had done that the last time, but maybe I didn’t, so checked twice to be sure.

I downloaded Macrium Reflect and installed it.  I made the Restore disk and made the backup to external media.

AskLeo has tutorials for Macrium Reflect, you can view them here, Macrium Reflect 1: Downloading and Installing, Macrium Reflect 2: Creating Rescue Media, and Macrium Reflect 3: Creating a Backup Image.

Once my backup was made I went to the Windows Store, downloaded and installed Windows 8.1 again.

It did seem to go faster this time. That may have been because most interested folks had already downloaded it, but maybe it was just my imagination. After it downloaded and installed, I had to set everything up again, just like any new install for Windows.

After it finished the entire process I checked for updates, but there weren’t any. I decided to install a program to test it and the install went just fine. So far it seems Windows 8.1 is running as promised by Microsoft.

This computer is not new. It is a Compaq that came with Vista and I got it for the sole purpose of using it as a test machine. I tested the beta for Windows 7 and the preview for Windows 8. I also tested the Windows 8.1 preview.  Since I downloaded and paid for the final release of Windows 8, I probably won’t test anymore  Windows versions on this pc, but then, who knows, I just may if the computer is still working when the next one comes out.