Windows 8.1: Two Rough Rollouts in Six Months
Windows 8.1 was Microsoft’s attempt to fix the complaints about Windows 8. It arrived in two big pieces, and both had problems.
The free upgrade through the Windows Store (October 2013)
Windows 8.1 was the first major Windows upgrade delivered as an app-store download instead of a disc or a service pack. For most people it worked. But the upgrade for Windows RT tablets, including Microsoft’s own Surface RT, left some devices unable to start. Microsoft temporarily pulled it from the Store while it worked on a fix and recovery steps.
Lesson: new delivery methods bring new ways to fail. Back up before any major upgrade, however it arrives.
The “Windows 8.1 Update” (April 2014)
Six months later Microsoft released the Windows 8.1 Update (KB2919355), which brought back more desktop-friendly features. Many PCs couldn’t install it, failing with a range of error codes. It also broke update scanning on some business update servers. Microsoft reissued the update and later fixed the server problem. Because future security updates required it, people with failed installs had to keep at it or get help.
Lesson: when an update keeps failing, the cause is usually fixable, but don’t let it slide. A PC that stops taking updates stops getting security fixes.
Still on Windows 8.1?
Microsoft ended all support for Windows 8.1 on January 10, 2023. It gets no security updates, and there’s no extended-update program for home users. Using it online is a real risk. The fix is moving to Windows 11 if the computer supports it, or upgrading or replacing the machine. My computer upgrade guide can help you decide.
Read the rest of the series
- 10 Notable Windows Update Failures, From XP to Windows 11
- Early Windows Update Disasters: XP, Vista and 7
- Windows 10’s Biggest Update Failures
- Windows 11 Challenges and Microsoft’s Response
Need help moving off Windows 8.1?
Call (346) 291-7330 or send a message.
