In general, there are two options for upgrading from Windows 8 to 8.1, the first is that we will update through the Windows store, of course, this method is only suitable for licensed operating systems, any pirated versions will not work. The second method is, although this method is longer and more difficult. We will update through the Windows Store.

If you want to install clean Windows, then there is nothing complicated, just create a bootable USB flash drive or disk.

How to upgrade Windows 8 to Windows 8.1?

First you need to make some preparations. You know what version of the OS you have, if Windows 7, then you can immediately or 8. Naturally, to upgrade to 8.1 you need eight. You can check which version of Windows is on your computer like this:

• Go to “Computer” and at the top, on the taskbar, click “Computer”;
• Click on the button on the right "System Properties".

We went to the required window and see what version of the OS we have. Some users spend hours digging to update to the required version, but in the end it turns out that they already have it, so you need to be careful.

Let's now move on to the update process itself.

Upgrade to Windows 8.1

I won't talk about the advantages of this version of Windows, since you probably already know about them. My opinion is that Windows 8.1 is almost no different from its predecessor, but it’s still worth upgrading.

We need to go to the Windows Store, usually it is located on the taskbar, but if it is not there, then go to the tiled interface of the Start menu and look for the “Store” application there.

If you have the official version of Windows, then you will immediately see offers to upgrade to Windows 8.1:

Just click on it and download. You will have to wait a while, and then the installation will begin on its own.

Problems updating Windows

I encountered such a problem when the store did not offer an upgrade to a newer version of Windows, in this case the problem is easily solved - you need to install all the updates. You need to go to "Windows Update", which is in "Control Panels" — "System and Security".

I advise you to read:

It is possible that the offer is still available in the store, but when you try to download it, a message appears telling you to install the necessary updates. Here you must again go to the “Update Center” and install all the updates.

It seems like everything is simple, doesn’t it? You just click the "Download" button in the store, it downloads and installs, you don't have to do anything else except wait. That's all.

Threats to computer security when using the Internet, incorrect operation, driver and software failures are just some of the possible problems when refusing Windows system updates. However, those who consciously take such a step as disabling Windows updates probably know what they are doing and why. In cases where system updates are not installed due to unwanted reasons beyond the user's control, it is certainly necessary to look for troubleshooting methods. Below we will consider those for the operating system Windows 8.1.

Finding the causes and ways to eliminate them for any problem in the operating system is in any case a risk. And, naturally, this applies to cases when updates are not installed on Windows 8.1. Even having found the right solution, on the way to a successful result we may accidentally make unwanted changes to system settings. Therefore, before carrying out troubleshooting operations with updates, it is not a bad idea to worry about the possibility of rolling back Windows changes. For these purposes you can create:

Any of the above options for system rollback, or creating a backup not using AOMEI Backupper Standard, but using any other third-party backup programs for Windows, will also prevent problems with system updates in the future. These, however, as well as the instability of Windows in general, can be a consequence of the activity of malware. Viruses, network worms and other malware can damage the integrity of system files. An antivirus cannot always cope with the recovery of infected files, therefore, if the cause of problems with Windows 8.1 updates is the activity of malware, the easiest way is to roll back the operating system - to the state of a restore point or backup copy. Ideally, in addition to preventing problems with Windows 8.1 updates, it is advisable to add the presence of a good antivirus in the system with regularly updated databases.

Well, now let's directly begin to consider the causes of problems with Windows 8.1 updates and how to fix them.

1. Enable the update service

The risk of problems with system updates is especially high when using 8.1. These are often preinstalled, at best, with the Update Center disabled, and at worst, with the Center system service stopped. In such cases, accordingly, the Update Center must be enabled and the system service must be started.

Let's check that Windows Update is enabled. Press the keys Win+X and in the menu that appears in the lower left corner of the screen, select “Control Panel”.

In the search field in the upper right corner of the control panel window, enter the key query “Update Center” and launch it.

The update center must be turned on - that is, configured to automatically download and install, download only, or at least just search for updates. If the only problem is that the system has the “Do not check for updates” option preset, there is nothing easier than changing this. Click “Settings parameters”.

And we install the appropriate option.

If the Update Center is enabled, the search for updates cannot be carried out due to the disabled service; therefore, you need to start the latest one. Press the Win+R keys to start the “Run” service and in its window enter:

services.msc

Click “Ok” or Enter.

The system services section window will open. At the very bottom of the list we find a service called “Windows Update”. Double-click to open its properties window.

Using the “Run” button, we start the service.

2. Troubleshooting using the standard Update Center recovery tool

A disabled Update service, along with other potential sources of problems with updates, can be identified as part of the standard Windows Update 8.1 repair tool. This tool diagnoses the system and automatically fixes problems. To launch it, go to the control panel again (keys Win+X and selecting the “Control Panel” menu item) and in the search field enter the key query “Troubleshooting”. In the search results, click the “Troubleshooting” section.

In the window that opens, in the “System and Security” section, click the link option “Troubleshoot using Windows Update.”

In the welcome window that launches the troubleshooting wizard, click “Next”.

Run as administrator.

After this, the automatic process of detecting problems with the Update Center will begin.

Once completed, the troubleshooting wizard will display a progress report. Detected problems, if any, will be corrected automatically. We will see which of the Update Center problems may have interfered with its full operation in the “Detected problems” column.

Now all that remains is to manually start searching for and installing updates again. You may need to restart your computer.

3. Windows Update Troubleshooter on Microsoft Site

If the standard Update recovery tool does not solve problems with Windows updates, you need to resort to another troubleshooting tool - an additional utility downloaded from the Microsoft website. The software giant for Windows 8.1 has developed something of a universal solution to problems with system updates, in particular, if errors 0x80240016 and 0x80240016 are indicated when trying to install them. When launched, the utility checks all possible causes and automatically corrects problems.

Let's launch it.

We are waiting for the problem detection process to complete.

As with the standard troubleshooter, at the end of the problem detection process, we will see a final window where the found problems will be indicated and a note about their automatic correction.

That’s it – now we manually start searching for and installing updates. If problems arise again, repeat the search and installation of updates after restarting the computer.

4. Solving problems with updates when your computer is infected with viruses

Problems with system updates may be the result of viruses, network worms and other malicious programs. In particular, Windows Update errors such as 0x80240016, WindowsUpdate_8024401C, 0x8024401C, 0x80070490, in most cases arise precisely because of damage to the integrity of system files caused by malware. If malware was discovered on your computer and after that Windows 8.1 updates are not installed, the first step is, naturally, to neutralize the source of the problem. The malware may have entered the system because the antivirus license has expired. In this case, you need to renew your license and run a global scan of your computer. A proven and reliable virus removal tool is the free one. It can be used in parallel with the antivirus installed on the system.

After neutralizing the malware, the next step is to restart the computer and determine whether important system files are damaged (or even destroyed). To diagnose and restore system files, we will use the standard Windows utility “sfc.exe” launched on the command line. The process of its work is described in detail in the article. The process of restoring the integrity of system files is also possible if Windows 8.1 does not boot after being infected by viruses. In this case it will help.

If problems with Windows 8.1 updates persist after restoring the integrity of system files, you can try running the Windows Update troubleshooter downloaded from the Microsoft website, as indicated in step 3 of this article.

5. Restart the update service and remove the update distribution

If none of the methods suggested above for solving problems with Windows 8.1 updates helped, restarting the update service and uninstalling the update distribution package may fix the situation. Update installation files downloaded with errors are not overwritten when downloaded again, and in order for the installation files to be downloaded again, their storage folder must be cleared. But first, let's stop the update service.

Press the keys Win+R and in the “Run” service field enter:

services.msc

Click “Ok” or Enter. In the window of the system services section, as in the first paragraph of the article, we find the “Windows Update” service and double-click to open its properties window. But if in the first paragraph of the article we started the service, now it is necessary, on the contrary, to stop it.

Without closing the service properties window, let's start cleaning the folder where update installation files are stored. This is the folder located along the pathC:Windows/SoftwareDistribution/Download. The easiest way to get to it is to press the Win+R keys and enter the folder path in the “Run” command field.

We delete the contents of the folder.

That’s it – we can reboot and try to start searching for and installing updates.

6. Lack of free space on the system disk

An infrequent cause of problems with Windows 8.1 updates, however, and it can occur is a cluttered C drive. To be sure to exclude this from the list of possible causes, it is necessary that at least 5 GB of free space remain on the C drive.

7. Blocking access to Microsoft web resources with an antivirus or firewall

Another possible reason why updates are not installed on Windows 8.1, in particular, the endlessly long and fruitless process of searching for updates, is the operation of an antivirus or firewall. These, with certain settings, can block access to Microsoft web resources. The easiest way to get ahead of this moment is to disable your antivirus or firewall while searching for and downloading updates.

8. Troubleshooting update issues in Windows Clean Boot mode

If you have tried all the methods discussed above to eliminate the causes of problems with Windows 8.1 updates, and none of the solutions brought positive results, you can use something like a fallback option in the form of Windows 8.1 clean boot mode. You must perform a clean boot of the operating system, as indicated in the article.

Already in clean boot mode, you need to run the Windows Update troubleshooter downloaded from the Microsoft website and follow the same steps that were discussed in paragraph 3 of this article.

9. Also keep in mind that often the cause of Windows Update 8.1 not working correctly is damage to the system component store

You can restore a damaged component store very simply using the command DISM.exe /Online /Cleanup-image /RestoreHealth, .

Windows 8.1 automatically installs important updates as soon as they become available. You can also set Windows Update to automatically install recommended updates and notify you when they are available.

Additionally, you should specify that Microsoft Update must be turned on in order to download updates for other Microsoft products. Optional updates, such as language packs and updates from Microsoft Update, are not installed automatically.

What happened to the Windows Update website?

The www.windowsupdate.com or update.microsoft.com websites are no longer required to use Windows Update. Instead, all actions related to the Windows Update service can be performed in the window Computer settings.

And then Update and recovery.

How to enable automatic updates in Windows 8.1

If automatic updates were not turned on when you first started your computer, you can change your settings at any time in Windows Update.

To enable automatic updates

1. Change your computer settings and then the button Update and recovery.
2. Click or click Change how updates are installed.
3. In the section Important updates select the appropriate option.
4. In the section Recommended Updates check the box Add recommended updates in the same way as important updates, and then click the Apply button.

Should I check for updates?

If you use automatic updates, you don't need to check for critical and recommended updates. Windows Update will check for updates and install them when they are ready.

If you do not use automatic updates, you must check for updates yourself at least once a week. Important updates are typically published once a month. However, updates may be released at any time.

Regardless of your settings, some updates are not installed automatically. This includes optional updates and updates that require you to accept new terms of use. When these updates are available, Windows Update will display a message indicating that they are ready to install.

To check for updates

1. Launch Windows Update by quickly sliding your finger from the right edge to the center of the screen (if you're using a mouse, point to the bottom right corner of the screen, move the mouse pointer up) and click Settings → Change your computer settings and then click the button Update and recovery.
2. Click Check now, and then wait while Windows searches for the latest updates for your computer.
3. If updates are found, click the button Install updates.

Read and accept the terms of the license agreement, and then click Finish if required.

Note Note: Some updates may require you to restart your computer to complete installation. Before starting, save and close all files and applications to avoid losing any data.

How much does automatic Windows update cost?

Windows Update is free. However, depending on how you charge your Internet connection, you may be charged based on traffic volume or the time it takes to download updates.

How to find out what updates have been installed

Windows Update stores update history so you can check which updates were installed and when they were installed. You can also remove selected updates from this list, but this should only be done for valid reasons.

To view update history

1. Launch Windows Update by quickly sliding your finger from the right edge to the center of the screen (if you are using a mouse, point to the lower right corner of the screen, move the mouse pointer up) and click Settings → Change your computer settings and then click the button Update and recovery.
2. Click View update history.

Do I need to restart my computer after updating?

The system will inform you on the login screen whether you need to restart your computer to complete the installation of updates: the option offers an immediate reboot and the option to postpone until later, up to 3 days.

If you are away from your computer for an extended period of time, Windows will automatically restart your computer to complete the installation of updates.

To study it, I immediately wanted to upgrade it to Windows 8.1. Now I will tell you how to do this and what problems may arise.

Now I will tell my story. For testing, I immediately downloaded Windows 8 enterprise, but no matter what I did, the new version did not appear in the store. As I understand it, in order to update corporate Windows, you need to pay money...

Enraged, because I spent 2 hours and decided to install the professional version.

Here's what I did to update Windows 8 to windows 8.1:

1. Download and install the KB 2871839 update. You can download it by selecting the required version.

2. After installation and restarting the computer, it is best to go to internet explorer and write in the address: ms-windows-store:WindowsUpgrade

A store will open where you can download it. See below.

What to do if Windows 8 does not appear in the store?

You may encounter that .

If the store still does not have Windows 8.1, then you may have an outdated cache; you can clear it by entering the WSReset.exe command in the Run command (Win + R) or by entering it in the search in the right pop-up panel.

And also try to disable antiviruses, firewalls and all unnecessary programs for a while.

How to upgrade windows 8 to windows 8.1?

Here's how it's done according to the standard:

Go to Start (if you haven’t followed the link ms-windows-store:WindowsUpgrade) and select the store.

A sign will appear with information about downloading Windows 8.1. Click download.

The download and installation will begin.

Then it will ask to reboot. Let's reboot.

After launch, we agree to the license.

Select standard parameters. If you need to change, click configure.

If you do not have a Microsoft account, then click Use an existing account.

After these steps, Windows 8.1 will appear.

With these simple steps you can upgrade Windows 8 to Windows 8.1.

Windows 8.1 is an update to the Windows 8 operating system. The official release of the updated eight took place on October 17, 2013. Starting from this date, all users of licensed Windows 8 OS can update their operating system to version 8.1 completely free of charge through the Windows Store. The new operating system from Microsoft can be obtained in its “pure form” on physical media (DVD) or downloaded as a virtual ISO image (if you have an MSDN subscription), but this can be done on a commercial basis.

Today, the official cost of Windows 8.1 in Russia is 5,990 rubles for the regular version (aka Core) and 9,990 rubles for the professional edition (Windows 8.1 Pro).

Windows 7 users can buy and download the 8.1 update and update their system immediately using the update assistant, or they can delay the process and update later using an ISO disk or USB drive. The update itself is not available to owners of XP and Vista; Microsoft recommends that all users who want to switch from the above operating systems to Windows 8.1 purchase the Windows 8.1 installation DVD and perform a clean installation of the operating system on their hard drive.

If your computer or laptop was running Windows XP or Vista and you would like to run Windows 8.1, make sure your PC meets the minimum system requirements before purchasing the DVD and installing the system. This will ensure that your computer will work correctly with the new Windows 8.1 OS. In addition, it would not be amiss, if possible, to find (on the Internet or using special diagnostic programs) information about the hardware component of your PC, check for updated drivers and make sure the equipment is compatible.

System requirements for Windows 8.1 are presented below:

• Processor: clock frequency 1 GHz or higher;
• Memory (RAM): 1 GB for 32-bit (x86) system and 2 GB for 64-bit operating system;
• Hard disk: 16 GB for 32-bit and 20 GB for 64-bit Windows 8.1;
• Graphics: Microsoft DirectX 9 enabled device with WDDM driver

For those users who already own the original Win 8, simply download and install the Windows 8.1 update from the Windows Store without paying a penny. Please note that version 8.1 is available as an update; you cannot perform a clean installation and activate Windows 8.1 with a Windows 8 key. If you want to install windows 8.1 using a key from windows 8, then nothing will work out for you; you need to buy an installation disk, even if you have previously purchased a license for eight. But you can update your system absolutely free, and you will not be required to provide any keys or other information that is necessary for activation.

Windows 8.1 is not an update in the usual sense (meaning the Service Pack), as such, but a truly full-fledged operating system that has significantly transformed the image of the innovative Microsoft Windows 8 system, which was unambiguously received by users, presented in a little less than a year (October 26, 2012) before the release of a large-scale update, which is 8.1.

The very process of updating to 8.1 through the Windows Store allows you to verify that this is truly a new software product, which involves a complete reinstallation of the operating system. This process will take quite a long time, comparable to a clean installation of Windows 8, but as a result we will get a completely new operating system, which has been improved and finalized by the Microsoft team in accordance with the wishes of users.

So, let's look at the process of upgrading from Windows 8 to Windows 8.1.

If your computer or laptop (other mobile device) runs Windows 8 or Windows RT, then you can download the update for free and upgrade your operating system to Windows 8.1 (Windows RT 8.1).

It should be noted here that not all editions of Windows 8 support a free update to 8.1 through the Windows Store.

Updating through the Windows Store is not supported for: Windows 8 Enterprise, Windows 8 Pro (using KMS activation), operating systems that were installed using the MSDN ISO and activated using a Multiple Activation Key (requires installation using a similar ISO image from MSDN) .

With the exception of the above Windows 8 releases, the free update is available for download through the Windows Store to all original 8 users.

Just in case, before starting the update process, create backup copies of files and documents that are important to you, although all files and applications will be saved when upgrading to Windows 8.1, but it is better to do this in order to avoid unforeseen situations. Make sure (if you have a laptop or tablet computer) that your computer is connected to a power outlet, as a power failure during installation may negatively affect the further performance of the operating system. It is also recommended (but not required) that you be connected to the Internet while installing the update.

Before installing the Windows 8.1 update, you must have the latest important and critical updates installed on your PC from Windows Update. Otherwise, you simply won't find a link to upgrade to Windows 8.1 in the Windows Store.

If, for example, you just installed Windows 8 and would like to immediately upgrade to Windows 8.1 by updating the operating system through the Windows Store, you will find that there is no link to update to release 8.1 in the store. Why is there no link to upgrade to Windows 8.1? The answer to this question is as follows: in order for the update to become available for download from the Windows Store, it is necessary that most of the important and critical updates released on the computer over the year since the official release of Windows 8 are installed. This process, it must be said, is far from immediate, but at low speed Internet connection is very long lasting. In order to shorten the wait until all the updates released for the year are finally downloaded, you can go to Windows Update and find there the update designated KB 2871389, which is responsible for displaying the download link for Windows 8.1 in the Windows Store. Install only this update, and then restart your computer, after which you will be able to download the Windows 8.1 update from the Windows Store. Depending on the version of Windows 8, the update required to download 8.1 may have a different designation, therefore you may simply not find KB 2871389 in Windows Update. In this case, literally type the following in the address bar of your browser: ms-windows-store:WindowsUpgrade. The Windows Store will open, where you should see a huge, relative to other applications, tile with the words “Free upgrade to Windows 8.1”, such as shown in the screenshot below.

The first thing we need to do is download the update, after which we can proceed directly to the Windows 8.1 installation process.

Please note that the download, depending on the speed of your Internet connection and the hardware configuration of your PC, may take from 30-40 minutes to several hours, during this process you can continue to work on your computer without hindrance. This process is identical to the normal Windows 8 application installation mode and occurs in the background.

Once the download is complete, the system will automatically prompt you to restart your computer, after which the update installation phase will begin - much the same as a standard Windows 8 installation, with the exception of some steps.

After restarting the computer, the final stage of updating the operating system to Windows 8.1 will begin. The main points are as follows: you will need to read and accept the terms (if you do not agree with the terms of the agreement, the installation of Windows 8.1 will be canceled and the operating system will be rolled back to Windows 8) of the license agreement for the use of Microsoft software.

Next, we will be offered a list of standard settings for the Windows 8.1 operating system; we will not dwell on them in detail here, just move on and click “use standard settings.”

If you wish, you can change any of these parameters at this step by pressing the corresponding “Customize” button, but it is still better to return to them later after installing the operating system.

Then the setup wizard will prompt us to sign in using a Microsoft account. Just like in Windows 8, in the Windows 8.1 operating system you can use either a local account or a Microsoft account to log in. Thus, at this stage you will need to sign in with a Microsoft account; if you don’t have one, you can create one.

Having and logging in with a Microsoft account when working with Windows 8.1 is highly recommended, since using this method of logging in provides a great advantage over a local account, which does not fully unlock the potential of the new operating system.

If you refuse to use a Microsoft account, you will not be able to synchronize system settings or documents between different computers (mobile devices), fully interact with the SkyDrive cloud storage, and lose the ability to archive photos there, which would allow you to access them wherever you are, download and install applications from the Windows Store and much more.

Next are the SkyDrive cloud storage options. You can accept the default settings; any of the options presented can be configured later using the computer settings after installing the update. If you don't want to use SkyDrive, you can disable these options (not recommended). When you sign in with a Microsoft account, you'll get 7 GB of free storage space to store your files. Additional space can be obtained additionally for money: 50 GB – 780 rubles, 100 GB – 1570 rubles, 200 GB – 3140 rubles per year. It is possible to get additional space in SkyDrive for free, so when you subscribe to office 365 (about 250 rubles per month) you get 20 GB of disk space for free, for a total of 27 GB in SkyDrive for free, which is pretty good.

Before we see the updated Windows 8.1 start screen, you may need to restart your computer one or more times to apply important updates.

Your classic apps and their Start screen settings have been saved, but apps you previously installed from the Windows Store for Windows 8 will need to be reinstalled in the Windows Store under Your Apps.

As for the innovations in Windows 8.1, they affect more the operating system interface than software capabilities. In particular, the settings of the start screen, which replaced the Start button, have become more convenient and flexible. New tile sizes have appeared, and you can now use your desktop wallpaper as a background for the start screen. Now it is possible, using the system itself, to set the display of the desktop when loading Windows 8.1, and not the start screen, as was the case in Windows 8. This can be done as follows: right-click on the taskbar, then click “Properties”, then open the “Navigation” tab ", where we select the appropriate menu item, as shown below.

The “Start” button has also appeared, or rather the Windows logo; when you left-click the mouse, the start screen with tiles opens (in Windows 8 this place was simply not marked in any way), but when you right-click on the logo, a very functional context menu opens.

Using this button, you can quickly access system parameters such as the control panel, task manager, command line, device manager and many others, as well as computer power management settings or, more simply, the shutdown, reboot, and sleep buttons. Windows 8 also includes the updated IE 11 browser, which demonstrates high speed and performance, and which is perfectly combined with the new operating system, opening up wide opportunities for working in an environment not only of desktop PCs, but also of mobile devices.

You can find out about other new features and capabilities of Windows 8.1, and when you get to know the new system in person, the classic Help and Tips application will be very helpful.

designed to clearly introduce and orient the user to the intricacies of setting up and managing the new operating system from Microsoft.