Upgrading from Windows 8 to Windows 8.1 allows you to take advantage of all the new features and updates offered by Microsoft for its operating system, as well as the security improvements that allow you to better protect your computer and your data from the threats present in the web. You can upgrade from Windows 8 to Windows 8.1 by downloading and installing the relevant files directly from the Microsoft Store.
Steps
Part 1 of 2: Upgrade to Windows 8.1
Step 1. Before upgrading to Windows 8.1, back up your most important files and apps on your computer
Even if this data is not affected by the operating system update procedure, it is always better to perform a security backup, in order to avoid accidental loss of information in case something goes wrong. Save all personal, sensitive and important data to a hard drive, cloud service, external USB drive, or using the Windows 8 feature called "File History".
Step 2. Check that you have enough free disk space to perform the update
If you are using Windows 8, you will need to have at least 3-4 GB of free space to be able to install Windows 8.1.
- Click on the "Settings" item on the "Start" screen and choose the "Change PC settings" option;
- Click on the "Devices" tab, then click on the "Disk space" option;
- Note the amount of free disk space displayed in the "Free up space on this PC" section, then delete apps and files you no longer need or move them as needed to free up disk space.
Step 3. Connect the computer to the mains
This will prevent it from turning off during the update phase.
Step 4. Temporarily disable anti-virus software for the duration of the Windows 8.1 upgrade
Some antivirus programs can adversely interfere with the update process by preventing the successful installation of Windows 8.1.
Step 5. Go to the "Start" screen and click on the "Store" item
The link to download the Windows 8.1 update is displayed on the main Windows Store screen.
Step 6. Click on the "Upgrade to Windows 8.1" link and choose the "Download" option
The update will be downloaded and installed on your computer automatically. During the update phase, you can still use your PC to perform your daily activities.
If the link to download the Windows 8.1 update is not visible in the Windows Store, it may be because there is some kind of problem inside your computer. In this case, visit the Microsoft website at this address https://windows.microsoft.com/it-it/windows-8/why-can-t-find-update-store, click on the link " Windows 8.1 upgrade problems "displayed in the first paragraph of the page, then choose the option to follow the troubleshooting steps. This will run a diagnostic procedure looking for any kind of problem that may be preventing you from upgrading to Windows 8.1
Step 7. Click on the "Restart Now" button after the Windows 8.1 update is downloaded and the first phase of the installation is complete
The button indicated should appear on the screen after a time between 15 minutes and several hours, depending on the speed of the connection to the web. You will have 15 minutes to click the "Restart Now" button as it appears on the screen, then save any files or documents you are working on and close all open apps. After restarting the system, a series of recommended settings will be displayed.
Step 8. Review the list of recommended settings, then choose whether to select the "Use Quick Settings" or "Customize" option
Some features of the "Use Quick Settings" option include automatically installing Windows updates and setting Bing as the default search engine.
If you do not want to use the quick settings, click on the "Customize" option and follow the instructions that will appear on the screen to customize the configuration of Windows 8.1
Step 9. Log into Windows using a Microsoft account or local computer account username and password
At this point the computer desktop will appear and the Windows 8.1 installation will be complete.
Part 2 of 2: Troubleshooting
Step 1. If the error code "0x800F0923" is displayed during the upgrade to Windows 8.1, try updating the third party drivers and programs installed in Windows 8
This error code means that there are specific drivers and programs on the system that are not compatible with Windows 8.1. For example, if you have installed Apple's iTunes, launch the program and select the "Check for Updates" option to install the latest version of the software available for Windows and fix any compatibility issues.
Step 2. Reset your internet connection or disconnect your computer from the VPN if you get the error code "0x800F0922" during the upgrade to Windows 8.1
This error code indicates that you are having difficulty connecting to the Windows Update service server.
Step 3. Try to restore your PC if you get an error message stating that the Windows 8.1 update cannot be installed on your computer
Normally in this case you need to restore the system files.
- Click on the "Settings" item on the "Start" screen and choose the "Change PC settings" option;
- Click on the "Update and Repair" tab, then choose the "Repair" option;
- Click on the "Start" button visible in the "Reinitialize your PC while keeping your files" section, then follow the instructions that will appear on the screen. After the reset is complete, follow the steps described in the first part of the article to upgrade to Windows 8.1.
