Today is Windows 8.1 day, now available as a free download for all Windows 8 users . The update can be downloaded and installed in one fell swoop from the Microsoft Store application in the Start menu and not from Windows Update.
Windows 8.1 includes improvements and new features such as the return of the Start button to the Windows desktop environment.
To get a more complete overview of what's new, you can read the article on the 10 main functions of the new Windows 8.1 operating system
In this article we see one where to download and how to install Windows 8.1, both with update and from scratch, that is without making the normal update from the Windows 8 Store.
Those who have an earlier version than Windows 8, if they want to put Windows 8.1 on the computer, need to buy it from the Microsoft site for a regular license.
Windows 8.1 upgrade costs start at $ 119.99 for the normal version and $ 199.99 for Windows 8.1 Pro which is the best and most complete one.
If you buy a new computer with Windows 8.1 installed, you can buy the Windows 8.1 Pro upgrade for $ 100.
Windows 8.1 DVDs are also on sale in some stores and malls.
Here the direct link for Windows 8.1 download .
To see if your computer is compatible with Windows 8.1, you need to run an update assistant that checks the requirements and prepares the computer for Windows 8.1.
Before installing Windows 8.1 Preview, it is highly recommended to backup the complete files and read the FAQ which are also in Italian.
The most important thing in the system requirements is that there is at least 20 GB of free space on the main disk.
Since Windows 8.1 is an update for Windows 8, it is possible to switch from Windows 8 to Windows 8.1 without any contraindications, without losing anything and for free .
All the programs and files on the PC will be retained and also the applications, except some replaced by Microsoft.
If you cannot find Windows 8.1 in the Windows Store, check that the update with the abbreviation KB2871389 has been installed by Windows Update.
For safety, open Windows Update in the Control Panel or in the PC settings from the Start screen, check for new updates and install them if there are any.
Now, after a reboot, you should find the Windows 8.1 update.
Updating is not possible if you are not logged in with your Microsoft account and if Windows 8 has not been activated with a regularly purchased license.
However, if you want to perform an installation from scratch, you can download and create the ISO file of the Windows 8.1 DVD and install it from scratch being careful to keep the license number.
MIcrosoft also allows you to download Windows 8.1 directly, without a product key .
If the product key is rejected during installation, it means that you are using a Windows 8 activation key for Windows 8.1 which, for Microsoft, are different.
On this see how to download and activate Windows 8.1 with the Windows 8 ProductKey and solve the problem.
Those who buy and download Windows 8.1 to update Windows XP, Vista or Windows 7 must pay some attention: nothing is maintained from Windows XP and installation is done from scratch while documents and personal files can be kept from Windows 7 but all programs must be reinstalled.
Follow this guide for clean installation of Windows 8.1 .
If you want to try Windows 8.1 you can download the full version of Windows 8.1 Enterprise which lasts 90 days and cannot be activated later, you will have to reinstall it all over again.
For this reason it would be better to install Windows 8.1 on a virtual machine after downloading the full ISO.
Windows 8.1 is the first major update of Windows 8.
The most obvious change is the return of the Start button on the desktop and a return to the origins that allows you to start the computer immediately in Desktop mode, without going through that Start screen that Microsoft would have wanted as the main interface.
For any questions, write here!
I conclude by reporting the support page help problems updating Windows 8.1 in Italian because it is the most complete guide that can be found on the internet for installing and updating the operating system.
