arachnaut

stevec
[...  But your difference with Reaktor has me wondering about 8.1.1 - I purchased the upgrade during the initial $49 sale but never installed it.   I did upgrade my general internet PC though, as an introduction to Win8.x    What to do...
 

If that was the update from 7 to 8 you should be aware that it is fairly lengthy process to upgrade to 8.1.1.
 
The download of 8.0 is about 3 GB. Then you need to apply quite a lot of updates for 8.0 to get to the ability to update to 8.1 from the Windows Store. The 8.1 update is also about 3 GB. Then there are about 100 updates to 8.1 before you get to the 8.1.1 update.
 
I've done this a few times for friends - it's very lengthy and tedious.
 
There is a new Media Installer that you can download once you get to 8.1.1:
 
http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-8/create-reset-refresh-media
 
that will allow you to install 8.1 directly in case you need to do that again.
 
Frankly, I just image my OS drive.
 

Thanks, Jim, much appreciated.  I didn't realize the path from Win7 to Win8.1 was quite that extensive.   I'll probably just create a new partition (assuming that's feasible in this case) so I can continue with Win7 as my main OS.   For now.  
 

stevec
 
Thanks, Jim, much appreciated.  I didn't realize the path from Win7 to Win8.1 was quite that extensive.   I'll probably just create a new partition (assuming that's feasible in this case) so I can continue with Win7 as my main OS.   For now.  
 

Just keep in mind that 7 and 8 each may have several 'hidden' partitions. Usually you need GPT drive partition support to handle a dual boot to Win 7 and 8 (to have more than 4 partitions). But there are ways to do this with MBR partitions, it's just something you need to consider.
 
This can get very complicated with UEFI booting.
 
The forums and tutorials at 
http://www.eightforums.com/
can be a great help with this.
 
 
 

"I don't believe in upgrades, I never have, I never will" -Queensryche. 
 
Seriously. Upgrading just brings more problems ...IMO YMMV

hockeyjx
"I don't believe in upgrades, I never have, I never will" -Queensryche. 
 
Seriously. Upgrading just brings more problems ...IMO YMMV

You must be using DOS then. 

I meant upgrading an existing, installed OS John. Nothing wrong with DOS either! Q-Basic 4 Life!

Conclusion of this thread. 
There is really no big life changing difference one way or the other with Windows 7 and 8.1. 
If you have Windows 7... be happy and carry on. 
If you buy or build a new computer you might as well go with Windows 8.1. 
It's cheaper than comparable versions of W7, and no animals will be killed in the process. 
You will be a little more future proof as well. 
I'm am so glad Jim chimed in to re confirm this for me. Jim I trust 100%. The rest of you,,, well depends...:) 
 

johnnyV
There is really no big life changing difference one way or the other with Windows 7 and 8.1. 

 
Win 8 is ugly.
 

slam-dunk for W8.1 (and next year 10) totally disregard the "head in the sand" naysayers

Paul P

johnnyV
There is really no big life changing difference one way or the other with Windows 7 and 8.1. 

 
Win 8 is ugly.
 

How? If you are talking about the Start Screen how long do you dwell there?

Exactly John classic marketing brainwashing... When people think window 8 they think the start screen because they've seen screen shot after screen shot in the marketing and tv commercials. The reality is it's a lot prettier and easier to use than the start menu (and if you disagree you never bothered to configure it), and once you've launched the app it disappears. The rest looks like win 7 unless you decide to use the tablet functionality (if you are you need to read a manual).

If MS marketing (yup them again) hadn't had pushed the start screen so heavily their sales would have doubled IMHO. To some people it looks too alien for them.