Russ Harvey Consulting - Computer and Internet Services

Windows 8.1

Support ended January 10, 2023

I no longer develop this legacy resource.

 

The Editions | New Features | Windows 10 Upgrade

Windows 8's touch screen was a new feature that reduced productivity for many mouse and keyboard users.

Microsoft's Windows 8.1 Support Ended

Microsoft's support for Windows 8.1 ended January 10, 2023. Windows 8.1 is unsafe to use and will become increasingly so.

While you could continue to use a PC running Windows 8.1, without continued software and security updates, your PC will be at greater risk for viruses and malware. We recommend upgrading to a version of Windows that is still supported.
— Microsoft

You Need to Find an Alternative NOW

You can't continue to run Windows 8.1 with it connected to the Internet. You need to:

The various options are discussed in Replacing Windows: Upgrading when support ends.

Window 8.1 was released on October 17, 2013.

Windows 8 Support Expired Earlier

Windows 8 was released on October 26, 2012. Support expired January 12, 2016 although Windows 8.1 was provided as a free upgrade.

Windows 8 Short-lived

With the release of Windows 10 on July 29, 2015, Windows 8 was, at just over 2½ years, the shortest-lived operating system in Microsoft's history.

Windows 8.1 Documentation Disappearing

Microsoft's support documentation for Windows 8.1 is now placed within the context of “Windows 10: Previous Versions.” Some material may no longer be available.

Microsoft wanted Windows 8 to reflect the future of computing, but in achieving that goal it lost sight of the fact that the majority of Windows users are stuck in the here and now using budget hardware attached to keyboards and mice.
— ZDNet

Moving to Windows 8.1

Windows 8.1 was an incremental upgrade from Windows 8 and was free for Windows 8 users.

One blog described the difference as though Windows 8 was the beta and Windows 8.1 is the final product.

Windows 8.1 “Makes it Usable”

In short, Windows 8.1 takes Windows 8 — which really was an abomination for mouse-and-keyboard Desktop users, and only slightly better on tablets — and makes it usable.

 

The irony, though, is that almost all of the changes made to Windows 8.1 were originally pointed out two years ago by beta testers of the original Windows 8 Preview.
— ExtremeTech

PC World's Deep inside Windows 8.1's hidden new features provides some insights including the new Start button.

In Woody Leonhard's reviews of the final release he notes:

It's a hell of an upgrade when the two top-priority security changes help protect you from Microsoft.

View the CNET Windows 8 Pro review.

Privacy Concerns

There are some significant privacy issues as well.

Close Windows, Open Doors

Microsoft has shelled out a mind-boggling estimated $1.8 billion to convince the public that it needs Windows 8.

 

Why the record-breaking marketing deluge? Because a slick ad campaign is Microsoft's best shot at hiding what Windows 8 really is; a faulty product that restricts your freedom, invades your privacy, and controls your data.
— Free Software Foundation

One example is an “advertising ID” is built into Windows 8 that follows you everywhere.

Microsoft also installed optional updates to Windows 7 and Windows 8 users (KB3075249, KB3080149 and KB3068708) that provide the same telemetry data to Microsoft as is found in Windows 10.

Spybot Anti-Beacon

Spybot Anti-Beacon allows you to make significant choices about your privacy settings including many that are hidden or not easily altered. It immunizes your computer so you can check then reset your privacy settings after rebooting your computer (particularly after a Windows Update).

Secure Boot

Windows 8.1's new secure boot was marketed as a way to protect you from malware. It has the potential to prevent you from installing any operating system except Windows 8 or 10 on your computer.

Microsoft ID Log-in

You need to use a Microsoft ID to log into Windows 8.1 if you want to take advantage of many of its newer features, including the Microsoft Store and live icons.

This conveniently allows you to bring up your desktop and personal content on any Windows 8.1 computer.

However, this also means that your data is being stored “in the cloud” where anyone can access it if they break your password. More significantly, you no longer completely control what happens to your personal information or how it is used.

Windows 8.1 “Phones Home”

Windows 8.1 reports to Microsoft what is installed on your computer. This gives you the ability to duplicate your desktop on another Windows 8.1 computer, but also creates a privacy risk.

Microsoft's Kill Switch

Finally, because Microsoft knows what is being installed on your computer they can remotely delete any application. If only used to remove bootleg copies that's one thing. What if it's used to force you to use a Microsoft app instead of a third-party app — or worse.

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Windows 8.1 Editions

Windows 8.1 features pretty much the same editions as Windows 8 did.

There are three primary editions of Windows 8.1 (only the first two are suitable for PCs and tablets powered by 32- and 64-bit x86 processors):

Windows RT was abandoned with Windows 10.

Downgrade Rights

Microsoft originally allowed downgrades from Windows 8 Pro but with the end of Vista and Windows 7 downgrade rights are no longer relevant.

Can You Run Windows 8.1?

Windows 8.1 system requirements aren't too high, so a relatively new and powerful computer will be able to at least meet the minimum requirements. However, you'll need additional resources to run programs and may find that you have an unpleasant experience with minimal hardware.

System Requirements

Microsoft lists the following Windows 8.1 system requirements:

You'd best look at new hardware if you want to optimize your experience with Windows 8.1. It is designed for newer computers running UEFI- rather than BIOS-based hardware (boot environments). See the general notes about Windows hardware requirements for more about this.

Upgrade Advisor

The Windows 8.1 and 8 Upgrade Assistants: FAQ has been replaced with the Upgrade to Windows 10: FAQ.

There are few advantages of running Windows 8.1 except where your hardware doesn't support Windows 10.

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New Features

Not everything about Windows 8 is bad. PCWorld looks at Windows 7 to Windows 8: The system's biggest improvements.

Quicker Startup and Shutdown Times

Windows 8.1 will start and shut down much more quickly than its predecessors, particularly on devices using the ARM processor. It accomplishes this partly by never actually shutting down. Instead it goes into an enhanced hibernation mode. If you have to actually shut down Windows 8 (e.g., do a cold boot) you'll need to change some things — particularly on a UEFI system.

Touch-Screen Enhanced

Windows 8.1 is optimized for touch-screen enabled devices (like tablets) where sideways scrolling is natural.

Hidden features, reduced discoverability, cognitive overhead from dual environments, and reduced power from a single-window UI and low information density. Too bad.
— Jakob Nielsen: Windows 8 — Disappointing Usability for Both Novice and Power Users

While many believe that the traditional PC desktop is dead, the majority of today's computers continue to use traditional screens, mouse and keyboard. Because even the majority of computers sold with Windows 8 preinstalled are NOT touchscreens, this feature is a liability.

“Start” Screen

Launching Windows 8 lands you in the “Start” screen (Windows 8.1 allows you to choose). Applications are represented by either large rectangles or smaller squares. Regular applications are shown as small icons inside squares like Firefox and Pocomail under the Kindle app on the screenshot at the top of the page.

Screen capture showing the Windows 8 default "touch screen" desktop

Gone is the familiar Start button that appeared with Windows 95. Right-clicking the desktop gives an option to view all items as smaller icons, but this includes even programs you don't want to appear here (the items previously held in a folder within the All Programs menu in the Start menu like the “Microsoft Office Tools” icons).

“Live” Icons

If social media, email and X-box are your primary tasks, you'll love the larger and informative animated “live” icons. These are unique in that they show updates — provided you've logged onto your computer using your Windows Live account (you are using a secure password for that, aren't you?).

While static icons force you to leave relevant applications open on the desktop to get updates, the new larger icons simply take up too much room if you're a power user with dozens of applications installed. Tweaking? Forget it. There isn't much you can do other than choose between a rectangular block or a square.

Having a scrolling list of Facebook updates, emails, photos and more is a distraction.

The Microsoft Store

Windows 8 introduced the Microsoft Store which hoped to grab a chunk of the tablet app market currently dominated by the Apple iOS and Google Android. Windows ran on only 4% of the smart phones on the market before it was abandoned by Microsoft.

… [T]he Metro UI was only an ugly, overt manifestation of Windows 8's deeper mobile ambitions: The birth of the Windows Store and Microsoft's push towards coaxing more revenue out of users via subscription services. Both are still at the forefront of Windows 10.
— PCWorld

Windows RT a “Closed” System

Microsoft blended Windows 8 with their own computer (the Windows 8 RT version can only use software purchased through the Microsoft Store). By controlling both the hardware and the software they hoped to improve the Windows experience and eliminate hardware conflicts (much like Apple did with the Mac).

You also need to use a Microsoft ID to log into Windows 8.1 if you want to take advantage of many of its newer features, including the Microsoft Store and live icons. This allows you to bring up your desktop and content on any Windows 8.1 computer.

More Energy Efficient

Efficient use of the battery is a critical for tablets — these are mobile devices. Windows 8.1 and the Microsoft Store applications are designed to minimize power consumption.

Legacy Desktop Support

While Windows 8 didn't totally abandon the legacy desktop model, it was clearly working to improve the experience for touch devices at the expense of the traditional mouse and keyboard. While this may work for their goal of a unified experience across platforms, the majority of users (and computers in the market when it was released) still didn't have touch capability.

Windows RT is not supported in the upgrade to Windows 10 and is therefore a dead-end system.

Is the PC Desktop Dead?

Windows 8 generated much controversy in choosing to abandon the desktop in favour of touch screens. Somewhat ameliorated by changes in Windows 8.1 it still is an issue for desktop users.

A large live icon showing the desktop is your gateway to the legacy desktop with its regular icons — you can enter the legacy desktop only after the new Start screen loads.

Screen capture showing the Windows 8 legacy desktop

Start Button

Windows 8 disposed of the Start Button.

In Windows 8.1 the Start Button is restored — sort of — and there is better support for traditional keyboard and mouse navigation. The full functionality is not restored, but it is better.

The legacy desktop is like the Windows 7 desktop, except the traditional “Start” button is gone in Windows 8 and navigation using a mouse is more awkward. I found I had to resort to the keyboard for navigation more often.

Control panel items are split between the Windows 8 desktop and the legacy desktop, so making changes (or even finding items) can prove confusing.

Media Player “Optional”

If you prefer Windows Media Player, be prepared to pay for Windows Media Center — unless you're running Windows 8 Pro:

These upgrades no longer appear in the Microsoft store and are now replaced with the upgrade option to Windows 10.

VLC Player

Alternative media players will work fine. I'd recommend VLC Player — a free and open source cross-platform multimedia player, that plays almost all multimedia files as well as DVD, Audio CD, VCD, and various streaming protocols.

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Upgrade to Windows 10

Should you upgrade to Windows 10?

Even in the early days of Windows 10, the recommendation was yes:

[E]ven a wet-behind-the-ears Windows 10 is better than a lame, limping Windows 8.1.
— ComputerWorld

Upgrade if it is available to you:

See Replacing Windows.

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Updated: January 27, 2023

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