Windows 8.ane is here and brings many new and improved features. The update is free for current Windows 8 users, it'south available from the Windows Store, and the installation process, if not quick, at least is piece of cake. If you would like to kicking to the desktop, take reward of the improved SkyDrive integration, or run multiple apps next to each other with the new dynamic Snap characteristic, you lot should consider upgrading.

Just in case you don't similar Windows 8.1 or run into issues, notation that the only fashion to roll back to Windows 8 afterwards upgrading to Windows 8.1, is to restore a previously made system image. Unfortunately, a Windows 8 system image can only be restored to Windows eight, meaning you lot will demand Windows 8 installation media. Fear not, nosotros outline the entire Windows eight.1 upgrade and downgrade process here.

Why Should You Upgrade To Windows viii.ane?

The complimentary Windows eight.one upgrade introduces new features and long awaited improvements.

Microsoft has made several changes to the user interface (UI). Not only does the Outset screen no longer get chaotic with tiles when you install new apps, yous can likewise share your desktop wallpaper with the Start screen, which makes the transition from one view to the other more natural. If you're a multitasker, you will love that you lot can now snap more than ii apps to display next to each other and dynamically alter how much screen space each of them takes up.

Dynamic Snap

The most significant novelty is the deep integration of SkyDrive, offer native and costless cloud storage, accessible throughout the operating arrangement and syncing files across devices.

Windows 8 SkyDrive Integration

To the displeasure of many users, Microsoft decided to pull SkyDrive's "Fetch" characteristic in Windows eight.1, but you can replace Fetch with tertiary-party applications, for instance with TeamViewer.

TeamViewer Sync Files

In Windows 8.1 you can finally boot to the desktop. Many users were also anticipating the return of the Showtime button, but were hugely disappointed to observe that information technology's merely a shortcut to the Showtime screen. If you're 1 of them, check out what y'all can do with the Win+X Bill of fare & Editor instead.

Win+X Menu

In summary, you should upgrade to Windows 8.1 if you would similar to enjoy the following cardinal features:

  • boot to desktop

  • native SkyDrive integration

  • dynamic Snap multitasking to run multiple apps side-by-side and resize them

And there are more new or improved features you might exist interested in:

  • improved Postal service app, including elevate-and-drop support and a toolbar to sort letters

  • universal search of apps, settings, and files

  • new modern style apps similar Reading List or Food & Potable

  • an improved version of modern Net Explorer 11

  • Tutorials; evidently Windows eight.1 is still not intuitive, at least there is assist at present.

Read This Before You Upgrade To Windows eight.1

If you are eager to take advantage of Windows viii.1'due south new features, hold on for a moment. Y'all can not roll back the upgrade and return to Windows 8 in case you do non like it! The but way you tin "downgrade" from Windows 8.1 to Windows viii, is if y'all prepared a system image earlier you upgrade.

What To Prepare Prior To Upgrading

Run a Windows Update and install all important updates before you lot upgrade. Yous won't be able to run into the Windows eight.1 file until all key updates have been installed. Next, make sure you have sufficient storage space on your system bulldoze; the upgrade file is betwixt 2 and 4GB. After you cleaned up, create a backup of your files. Amend notwithstanding, if you lot want to be able to downgrade or restore your system in example something goes wrong during the upgrade, create a organisation image.

Yous can restore, refresh, or reset Windows eight, but the selection to create a fill-in of your information or a total organization image is kind of hidden. In Windows eight, open the Charms bar and do a Search for recovery in Settings. The choice y'all are looking for is called Windows 7 File Recovery.

Windows 7 File Recovery

This feature was added so you could restore backups made in Windows 7. Windows 7 File Recovery might seem familiar. Indeed, it looks the same every bit the Windows 7 Fill-in and Restore feature. Not only does it await the same manner, information technology as well works the aforementioned way, meaning information technology has retained the capability to create backups and system images. And so become ahead and create that Windows eight system epitome, which is your only chance to restore your personal Windows 8 setup, later an upgrade to Windows 8.1.

Windows 8 Backup And Restore

Since Windows 8.1 won't allow you to restore a system paradigm of Windows eight, y'all will accept to re-install Windows viii before restoring your system epitome.

If you do not have Windows eight installation media, yous should create them at present. This is something Microsoft has really made adequately easy. Have your product primal gear up, navigate to this Upgrading Windows page, click theInstall Windows 8 push button, run the .exe file, and after entering your product fundamental select Install past creating media. Meet the entire process with screenshots on the Supersite for Windows.

Finally, to be able to upgrade to Windows viii.one, you must apply a Microsoft business relationship to log into Windows, not a local user account. Chris has explained how to ready a Microsoft account in his article on how to fix Windows 8 for the upgrade.

Switch To Microsoft Account

Upgrade To Windows viii.1

This is the easiest part of this whole endeavor, although not necessarily the quickest; information technology can have more than than 3 hours, and so don't plan on doing anything with that reckoner for a while.

Whenever you can spare the fourth dimension, navigate to the Windows Store on the Windows eight device y'all wish to upgrade.

Windows Store Windows Update

If yous don't see this huge majestic Update Windows tile shown in a higher place, then you lot probably take a few important updates to install. Just go to Windows Update (open Charms bar, search Settings for update, and launch Windows Update), cheque for updates, force pending updates to download and install immediately, and then come back and effort again.

If y'all exercise run across the purple tile, click it, download the Windows 8.1 update...

Windows 8.1. Update

...and initiate the installation procedure.

Windows 8.1 Installation

Your reckoner volition automatically restart several times.

Windows 8.1. Installation Restart

As office of the installation process, you demand to accept new license terms, cull limited or custom settings, sign into your Microsoft account, verify your account with a security code sent to the registered email address, and OK the SkyDrive setup.

Microsoft Security Code

Once setup has completed, you will land on the improved Windows eight.ane First screen. If you upgraded from Windows 8, your files and previously installed applications will nonetheless be in that location. If you upgraded from Windows viii.1 Preview, even so, you'll have to re-install your desktop programs and apps, although the download links for modern apps will be waiting for y'all on the Showtime screen. Enjoy exploring the updated surround.

Downgrade to Windows eight

Are you disappointed in Windows 8.1? Don't like how it works compared to Windows eight or did something go wrong during the upgrade? This is the fourth dimension to use your previously created system image to "downgrade" to Windows 8.

As mentioned previously, you tin't use your Windows 8 system image on Windows 8.1 because essentially, information technology's a different operating system. So this is not a downgrade at all, but rather a very time intensive brute-force system restore. And hither is how you do it...

Get-go, you take to replace Windows 8.1 with a fresh installation of Windows 8 using your original installation media or the ones you created prior to upgrading. In one case you're dorsum in Windows 8, use a Windows 8 recovery disk or restart to recovery options from the Power menu. Hold downward the left [SHIFT] key and select Restart. A moment later yous should find yourself in the recovery environment.

Windows 8 Restart Into Recovery

Within the recovery surroundings, go toTroubleshoot, Advanced Options, and finallySystem Image Recovery. You will need to cull the target operating arrangement; select Windows 8.  Make certain the bulldoze containing the system recovery image is connected, select the image you want to restore, proceed to the Next window, click Terminate and confirm that y'all desire to keep.

Windows 8 System Image Restore

Windows should at present re-image your estimator and if all goes well, you volition be back in your old Windows 8 setup in just under a 24-hour interval. Well, nobody claimed it was fast or like shooting fish in a barrel, only with some wearisome detrous, at least it'south possible.

Concluding Destination: Windows viii.1

No doubt, Windows eight.1 is an improvement. It's more stylish and user friendly than its predecessor. The sad part well-nigh this whole story is that it is virtually impossible for the average user to "downgrade".

Although Microsoft is trying hard to simplify and build a smooth user experience, they keep failing in the details. Users have become used to certain features and still look Windows to be somewhat customizable and controllable. This collides with simplicity and flexibility, which in this case makes preparing for a "downgrade" -- which actually isn't a downgrade, only a total system restore -- such a tedious procedure.

What is your verdict? Is is worth upgrading to Windows 8.i? If you decided to curl back, what was your primary reason?

Turn Outlook Into a Project Direction Tool With OneNote Integration

Read Next