Posted on 10/19/2013 1:06:03 PM PDT by dayglored
The much-anticipated Windows 8.1 update was finally released on Thursday. Since then, however, early reports of bricked devices and lost data from some users indicate that the release may have been premature. In response, Microsoft took its Windows 8.1 update offline until further notice on Saturday.
The Redmond, Wash. company posted the following a message to its website:
Microsoft is investigating a situation affecting a limited number of users updating their Windows RT device to Windows RT 8.1. As a result, we have temporarily removed the Windows RT 8.1 update from the Windows Store. We are working to resolve the situation as quickly as possible and apologize for any inconvenience.... there are, as of this writing, no official instructions from Microsoft regarding the issue, Ulanoff said the company advised him download an ISO file to a USB stick as a possible recovery tool for his device. Unfortunately, when Ulanoff attempted to retrieve the ISO file that Microsoft provided, he was unable to download it.
So far, the problem appears to be limited to Windows RT devices. How long will those who attempted to update their Windows RT devices have to wait for answers? According to Microsoft's website: “We will provide updates as they become available.”
(Excerpt) Read more at mashable.com ...
I updated my Windows Surface Pro this morning and have not had a single problem.
The debacle that is Windows 8 was Microsoft's attempt to break away from the conventional and try something a bit more audacious, plus develop an OS that would utilize new desk top technology like the touch features designed to boost desktop sales. The problem was that the new touch features costing hundreds of dollars more didn't exactly have consumers lining up.
But what was the real impetus behind the less than compelling interest in Windows 8 is the approach Microsoft took to designing the Windows 8 application in what is known as engineering things differently just to be different, despite any additional hardship, steep learning curves it might result from it.
Companies like Microsoft keep on making the exact same mistake over and over and over again as a result of sheer arrogance and hubris. That they know better and just do as you're told, and eventually the vision of Windows 8 might one day shine but then again it might not.
A company like Microsoft, it's design and engineering culture described as derivative at best, seldom gets the opportunity to create a product as successful and universally embraced as Windows 7. But it was merely that they go lucky, damn lucky. It's the best selling Windows OS ever.
So, thinking they finally mastered the art of creating great software embarked on creating Windows 8 in the same clueless, insipid way they do most things.
But guess what? Windows 7 didn't succeed because Microsoft knew what they were doing they just got lucky. Windows 8 proves that point most emphatically.
The last group of words, not even a sentence the prospects for Microsoft does not appear to be was composed when I first began making the comments having lost track of it whereby they ended up scrolling below the reading line and not until after my comments were posted did I become aware of them as being vestiges of the conversation that shouldn't have been part of the posted message.
I hate hate hate Windows 8. I only hate hated Windows Vista.
I miss Windows XP.
I like Windows 7.
I didn’t realize that apple people cannot dump their cache the way I can.
Got a new Windows 8 laptop for my wife. Had to use my I pad to get it running. Neither my wife nor I could stand it. I even tried classic shell which worked for a bit then started having problems with it. I took it back and got a Mac. Not that I am an Apple fan. If Microsoft thinks any enterprise user will use windows 8 they are fools of the first order. Kids can enjoy windows 8. Me, I will never buy another windows machine. The windows 7 gamer I built is my last. Not a fan of iOS 7 on my iPad either.
You are really smart. I have far fewer day ahead of me than behind me and am not going to use them learning a new operating system. Unless of course someone pays me. Enjoy windows 8 ya-all.
chickensoup: > I like Windows 7. I didn’t realize that apple people cannot dump their cache the way I can.
Katnip, you should really try Win7. I hated Vista, and the -default- Win7 desktop setup is nearly identical to Vista's, but you can easily and quickly change it to look and work almost like XP (depending on how you configured your XP desktop, of course). Takes less than 10 minutes; more like 5 after you get practice (I've had to do it a lot of times).
Personally I like to take it all the way back to early XP (actually more like Classic Windows 2000). I've thought about doing a FR vanity thread with instructions about how I revert it, or as a friend called it, "brain-damage it back to the stone age".
Chickensoup, I agree, Win7 rocks. I'm in the process of migrating co-workers, friends, family, etc. from XP to Win7, and once they see that it's really not bad, but actually rather more stable and speedy, they're all happy.
It's maybe not surprising that a LOT of it is about the GUI. Get the GUI right, and the users will queue up around the block for you.
Which cache are you speaking of? Browser? or were you just making a joke on katnip's repetition?
Thank you for that information. When I bought the desk top I asked if I could have their Geek Squad put something besides Windows 8 on it and they said that Microsoft doesn’t allow it and would not support an earlier version. I’m not small computer literate so I went along.
Hmmm.....
I don't wish to spend my time learning a new user interface, unless its demonstrably more useful for my tasks than the one I've used previously. Demonstration takes about five minutes; I figure out whether I like it and can use it, pretty quickly.
God willing, I'll spend the remaining time He grants me on this Earth, enjoying what I know and can do, and increasing my knowledge and abilities in ways that are enjoyable and productive. Learning a new user interface might be one of those things, if the net result is greater happiness and productivity.
Five minutes with my first iPad (never have had an iPhone) convinced me that the iOS user interface was highly navigable and quite intuitive. No one had to explain anything to me, no help, no manual, no nothing required.
Five minutes with Win8's Metro convinced me that MSFT had gotten a bad batch of nose candy or something worse. I found very little to like.
So I will stay with Win7 wherever I can. It's rock solid and does what I want, rather than the other way around.
FWIW, Apple can be pretty hard-nosed and intransigent about doing things their way, too. In my experience, they're usually right, so I'm willing to put up with it, but I do wish they allowed a higher degree of configuration customizing.
Good luck FReeper. It is a pleasure. Hope your days are long and happy.
If you can eventually get used to Win8, the availability of Geek Squad service may be the better tradeoff. But if you want to consider alternatives, here's a story for you.
Microsoft appears to be playing the same game with the lagging Windows 8 as they did with the lagging Vista. That is, they have to show high numbers of OS copies and licenses sold -- that's how they make their money. They do that by REQUIRING their hardware vendor partners to put the new (unloved) OS on all new machines, and drop support for older OS versions. The Geek Squad was likely just parroting that line because they have to.
But in fact, there's usually a way around it. For example, when Vista was in free-fall and PC sales were dropping due to the "You must have Vista on your computer" requirement from Microsoft, the first fall-back was some vendors supplied a free copy of XP with the purchase of a new Vista computer, if the customer asked for it. Sales picked up, because customers were willing to go to the trouble of stripping Vista off and installing XP. Then after a while, a few customers asked, "Hey can you guys install XP on this for me?" and while the initial answer was, "No", the pressure built up and the retail stores started offering a "Downgrade Service" at customer's request.
You can guess what came next. New computer is pre-installed with XP. But what about Vista? The customer HAD to accept -- and pay for -- a copy of Vista, along with the computer with the "free" copy of XP installed.
Why? Because Microsoft had to show high numbers of Vista licenses sold. They actually cared less whether people were using it, than whether they paid for it and tossed the Vista CD in the trash when they arrived home.
SO-O-O-O.... my prediction is that Windows 8 will follow this same pattern. It may already be the case -- Microsoft is getting really shy about talking about the actual number of "Windows 8 computers" that are really running Windows 8. But the internet services who track these things based on actual usage are reporting that Win8 USE is really a lot lower than the number of licenses sold would suggest.
So don't be afraid to look for ways to get Win7 on your desktop computer. You probably can't get a free copy, since you've already bought the machine and don't have any sales leverage with the vendor. But you might be able to tie it to another purchase soon, or perhaps just belly up to the bar and beg. :)
The first thing, however, is to make sure Win7 will run on your hardware, with your peripherals. It almost surely will, but it's worth a thorough check to make sure the drivers all exist. Microsoft has been known to coerce peripheral vendors to REQUIRE the new operating system drivers, so that the "Downgrade" scheme costs some desirable functionality. Evil? Maybe not quite, but it's effective, so beware that trap. If you're not sure what I mean by "drivers" or don't want to deal with it, find a friend who can do 30 minutes of web research for you. The information is out there -- you're hardly alone in your situation. Good Luck!
Question: What brand of mouse do you use for your laptop? If it'd not Microsoft I'd suggest switching to one and may very well resolve your mouse problem.
I'll second that suggestion. Microsoft makes great-functioning mice. I'm not fond of their physical styling, but I will say that the damn things just work. They're the gold standard for Windows mouse operation, no surprise, they wrote and maintain the default mouse drivers.
Windows 8.1 bricks RT devices? How can they tell?
Aww, they’re not that slow are they?
I agree. I have 8.1 running on a desktop and laptop and everything is actually quite good. The key for me was adding Start8 and telling it to boot straight to the desktop. It's really just like using my XP except with more options, a fresher look and greater speed.
LOL
Personally I like to take it all the way back to early XP (actually more like Classic Windows 2000). I’ve thought about doing a FR vanity thread with instructions about how I revert it, or as a friend called it, “brain-damage it back to the stone age”.
______________________________
Do it. I imagine it would be well appreciated. And I would marry you.
Browser. I empty the browser cache before and after visiting FB and I have no FB following me and trying to sell me things on other sites.
My tech savvy friends with macs empty their browsers (they say) and FB follows them all over the internet.
Freedom is another word for nuttin’ else to loooooose....
I’ll start writing it tonight. That’s the best offer this single guy has heard in a while... :)
Just BTW, ... Off-grid, 114 acres, big earth-beamed house, spring water, wild turkeys in the front meadow, nearly no bugs, and yes Upstate New York has winter, on its way in fact. 7 full cord of hardwood split and stacked for the masonry stove... Homebody? Pretty much, yeah... Though I do enjoy dinner out, albeit it requires venturing into Ithaca, most liberal city within a thousand miles...
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