bMicrosoft Windows 8.1

by Ching-Wan Yip

Last Updated: October 25, 2013 3:06 PM

First published: Oct 17, 2013

released: 2013/10/18

Pros

Miracast wireless display built-in - e.g. Netgear PTV3000
more tile sizes, customize, don't auto add to start screen
swipe up for all apps
start button (not start menu), right click to shutdown, boot to desktop
taskbar property to sync background of desktop and start menu
new app window sizes - up to 4 apps for 2560 or high resolution. 1920 only support two apps by default, change to small font size allows three, multimonitor
81 devices limit in Store
down arrow hint how to open all apps, tips on how to swipe in left and right
new core apps
- reading list
- alarm
- calculator
- sound recorder
- health & fitness
- food & drink
new Windows 8.1 only apps http://blogs.windows.com/windows/b/windowsexperience/archive/2013/10/15/right-from-the-start-apps-for-creative-expression.aspx
- Fresh Paint (new 8.1 version) http://apps.microsoft.com/windows/en-us/app/1926e0a0-5e41-48e1-ba68-be35f2266a03
- Movie Moments http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-8/movie-moments-app-faq
- Surface Music Kit (requires Music Cover) http://apps.microsoft.com/windows/en-US/app/f08c6781-dec8-47e5-a845-1fad916163e2
- NetFlix http://apps.microsoft.com/windows/en-us/app/netflix/d8d75bb2-c5cd-44f2-8c26-c1d1ae5b13fa
- Facebook
new Mail - http://arstechnica.com/information-technology/2013/10/review-in-windows-8-1-mail-is-finally-usable-on-tablets-and-desktops/

Meh
- bing smart search
- new touchscreen keyboard
- skydrive integration
- work folders
- updated store, IE 11, camera, photos, music, video, maps, news, sport, weather, finance, travel, people, calendar (scan?)
- animated background, lockscreen slideshow
- new PC Settings
- better sync
- no more messenger -> Skype

Cons

no more nudging in start menu, right click or long press to customize. nudget pull up all apps
Computer -> This PC - why?
Recycle Bin property list's "Empty Recycle Bin" and "Pin to Start" order reversed - why?
show network connection data usage not in each connection right click menu, in settings charms, takes a lot more clicks to get to. it also reset the counter, can be back for days/weeks even you reset before upgrade
Chinese Simplified Microsoft Pinyin IME no longer has SimpliFast features like IMEPad (handwriting recogniztion, radical list etc.), no control of character set. Japanese and Korean IMEs still have the old features.

installing language pack KB2839636 http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2839636 zh-CN_LP 137,00MB (RT version is 293.00MB for some reason) make no difference
tell you to sign in to microsoft account and discourage signin to each app separately instead for install/update
device encryption needs TPM2, smart connect, connected standby etc. http://arstechnica.com/information-technology/2013/10/windows-8-1-includes-seamless-automatic-disk-encryption-if-your-pc-supports-it/
various install failures

Specific Devices

Microsoft Surface Pro

Microsoft Surface RT

handwriting recognization doesn't work at first, suddenly work again later

RT recovery image http://www.theverge.com/2013/10/21/4861538/surface-rt-recovery-image-windows-rt-8-1-update-issues

Lenovo

Windows 8.1 "support" center - coming soon - Last Updated : 30 Sep 2013, yikes

http://support.lenovo.com/en_US/detail.page?AliasID=WIN8.1-INDEX&rd=1

Windows 8.1 Upgrade Capable Systems

http://support.lenovo.com/en_US/research/hints-or-tips/detail.page?DocID=HT079684

Windows 8.1 Upgrade Guide

http://download.lenovo.com/lenovo/content/windows8-1/upgrade/ideapad/index_en.html

pending Enterprise license approval

Lenovo ThinkStation D20

pending Enterprise license approval

Asus Taichi DH21

tablet mode does not work, blank screen.

temporarily work around

close lid, put to sleep, turn it back on. auto-rotate still does not work that way.
install old VGA driver, uninstall (P4G gives error on reboot) and reinstall ATK software, reinstall/repair close lid utility, re-check autorotate

http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/windows8_1_pr-hardware/cant-get-the-screen-to-auto-flip-to-the-second/40af92bd-ca9a-4c41-ada0-139d72c15309?msgId=c1a7fd33-8f75-4044-8460-9fa69afb046f

system touch settings error after upgrade

need to reinstall wireless and bluetooth (and another device, that message disappeared later and not archived) - BT not available at intel site, download from asus http://www.asus.com/support/Product/Download/TAICHI21/

Sony VAIO Pro 13 SVP132A1CL

several drivers updates now said need to be updated before install Windows 8.1 upgrade (not well planned, release AFTER users already upgraded) very unhappy customers

http://esupport.sony.com/CA/p/model-home.pl?mdl=SVP132190S&template_id=1&region_id=3&tab=download#/downloadTab

http://community.sony.com/t5/VAIO-Software-Other-Operating/INSTALLED-Windows-8-1-before-bios-update/m-p/205845#M10348

e.g. VAIO Control Center Update
Release Date 10/18/2013
Version 6.0.20.09270/6.0.19.09270/6.1.12.09270/6.2.11.09270/6.3.6.09270
File Size 21.41 MB
This utility installs an updated version of the VAIO® Control Center software to add support for the Windows® 8.1 operating center and resolve an issue where the VAIO Event Service may not function after entering sleep mode, shutdown, or a restart of the computer will cause the brightness function to not operate properly.

worst so far is

http://forum.notebookreview.com/sony-owners-lounge-forum/720737-official-vaio-pro-13-owners-lounge-svp13-2013-a-213.html

if you let screen dim, it will not come back, have to hard reboot. VAIO Control Center update seem to fixed. (even it didn't show in control panel, programs as updated)

external display resolution seem to be wrong also. Doing 1080p mirror over Miracast, still said 720p

several device manager problems

Intel SATA driver (for 8.1) 12.8.0.106 2013/10/16 update said platform not supported. If download RST from Intel directly, or brute force copy out installer from temp folder, same thing. won't install Series 8 chipset driver, stuck on Microsoft Standard SATA AHCI Controller PCI\VEN_144D&DEV_A800 . May be it need to install Intel Chipset software (and BIOS firmware update?) to fix it?

       Scanning all active devices
       Scanning x32\iaAHCIC.inf (Name: AHCI32, Version:  12.8.0.1016)
       No section match
       MUP OS bits: 0x92A8
       Scanning x32\iaStorAC.inf (Name: RAID32, Version:  12.8.0.1016)
       No section match
       MUP OS bits: 0x92A8
       Scanning x64\iaAHCIC.inf (Name: AHCI64, Version:  12.8.0.1016)
       Section with the best match: INTEL.NTamd64.6.2
       Device: PCI\VEN_8086&DEV_3B29&CC_0106 (Intel(R) 5  Series 4 Port SATA AHCI Controller)
       Device: PCI\VEN_8086&DEV_3B2F&CC_0106 (Intel(R) 5  Series 6 Port SATA AHCI Controller)
       Device: PCI\VEN_8086&DEV_3B22&CC_0106 (Intel(R) 5  Series/3400 Series SATA AHCI Controller)
       Device: PCI\VEN_8086&DEV_1C02&CC_0106 (Intel(R)  Desktop/Workstation/Server Express Chipset SATA AHCI Controller)
       Device: PCI\VEN_8086&DEV_1C03&CC_0106 (Intel(R)  Mobile Express Chipset SATA AHCI Controller)
       Device: PCI\VEN_8086&DEV_1D02&CC_0106 (Intel(R) C600  Series Chipset SATA AHCI Controller)
       Device: PCI\VEN_8086&DEV_1E02&CC_0106 (Intel(R) 7  Series/C216 Chipset Family SATA AHCI Controller)
       Device: PCI\VEN_8086&DEV_1E03&CC_0106 (Intel(R) 7  Series Chipset Family SATA AHCI Controller)
       Device: PCI\VEN_8086&DEV_8C02&CC_0106 (Intel(R) 8  Series/C220 Chipset Family SATA AHCI Controller)
       Device: PCI\VEN_8086&DEV_8C03&CC_0106 (Intel(R) 8  Series Chipset Family SATA AHCI Controller)
       Device: PCI\VEN_8086&DEV_9C02&CC_0106 (Intel(R) 8  Series/C220 Chipset Family SATA AHCI Controller)
       Device: PCI\VEN_8086&DEV_9C03&CC_0106 (Intel(R) 8  Series Chipset Family SATA AHCI Controller)
       MUP OS bits: 0x36D50
       Scanning x64\iaStorAC.inf (Name: RAID64, Version:  12.8.0.1016)
       Section with the best match: INTEL.NTamd64.6.2
       Device: PCI\VEN_8086&DEV_2822&CC_0104 (Intel(R)  Desktop/Workstation/Server Express Chipset SATA RAID Controller)
       Device: PCI\VEN_8086&DEV_282A&CC_0104 (Intel(R)  Mobile Express Chipset SATA RAID Controller)
       MUP OS bits: 0x36D50
       E Win32 exception occurred!!
       Error code: 0x4E24 (20004)
       Error text: ''
       Extended error text: 'Error in device matching'
       Debug info: 'Setup.cpp (190)'
       Showing dialog: FINISH

Intel Smart Connect Technology 4.2.41.2499 2013/10/14 update also failed during reboot, the installer got suspended, subsequent updater found it and undo it. unknown device ACPI\INT33A0\0. probably iSCT w/o driver.
an Unknown USB Device (Device Descriptor Request Failed) type 43 failure

these "work"

Intel HD Graphics 10.18.10.3304 2013/10/16
Intel Collaborative Processor Performance Control (CPPC) Driver Update-1.0.0.1013 2013/10/10

action center only show two need to be updated

Intel Wireless Bluetooth 4.0 + HS Adapter Update 3.1.1307.0362 2013/10/11. Won't install if device off, come back with non-sense error
Intel Dual Band Wireless Update 16.5.1.6 2013/10/10 Wireless is still weird afterwards, keep getting that takes longer to connect warning, and limited connectivity message even actually connects "fine". the charm also has a huge font now. 6205 has the same problem as 7260, but not the 6235, weird
Metro apps sometimes crashes