Have you installed Windows 8.1 Update 1?

This update would have taken place during one of the Windows Updates event (this happened in April 2014 in my computer). The computer properties does not give a clue that this happened. For example the Windows 8.1 Update 1 has been installed but the property page displays this:

However, this update can be installed manually as well, by downloading and installing a set of the following KB articles):

These can be downloaded from WindowsUpdate.com site.

If you search for these files in the Installed Updates window (Control Panel | Programs | Programs and Features | Installed Updates you may draw a blank except for the first two files. Only when you try to install them (this is a scenario in which you do not know that Update 1 has been installed) you would get a message that it is already installed.

However after the update you will notice that when you start the computer it boots to the desktop and not the Metro screen. You can also right click the Windows Logo occupying the place of the Start button in the previous version (Windows 7 and older) you can access a menu as shown:

Actually this is quite useful as it provides link to most of the stuff on the computer.

In the Metro screen you gt contextual drop-down menu for the apps; as well as you can get Power Options and Search without any swiping. This should satisfy the mouse users.

The Pin to taskbar menu item allows you to activate the app you want from the desktop screen.

 

Another thing you may notice is that all apps have a title bar showing the app logo at top left and minimize and close buttons top right. Quite useful too.

 

Window 8 seeks Fed's patronage

At a recent Microsoft Window 8 reception Microsoft displayed Windows 8 for federal audience and it appears federal IT was looking for a secure and innovative platform. The event was hosted by FedScoop in Washington D.C., to more than 250 government and Fed executives.
Windows 8's 8 features that may be most appealing to government are:

* The new 'Metro' interface with touch capability across all foot prints
* The Charms bar hidden but avialable
* The Windows runtime providing a sandbox environment
* Windows to Go, OS on a USB stick with full security
* Windows store for apps distribution
* Access to File History doing away with backup & restore
* Reset and Refresh features to handle troublesome system situations
* Desktop available as an app

Let's hope this will ramp up the sales!!

Read more if you need more...
http://fedscoop.com/microsoft-debuts-windows-8-to-federal-it-community/

Windows 8 RTM is out, go grab it.

Windows 8 was released to manufacturing (RTM) yesterday. It is now available (90 day evaluation) for download from here:
http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-US/evalcenter/jj554510.aspx

There is no technical support for this, you are on your own or go to the forums (http://social.msdn.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/category/windowsapps). After downloading make sure you install it within 10 days. This windows 8 Enterprise (both x64 and x32) cannot be upgraded and will expire after the evaluation period.

The best way to gain some experience with this release is to download and install it on a separate partition. Windows 7 Disk manager can be used to create a partition easily.

Here are the basic system requirements:
Windows 8 works on the same hardware that powers Windows 7:

Processor: 1 gigahertz (GHz) or faster
RAM: 1 gigabyte (GB) (32-bit) or 2 GB (64-bit)
Hard disk space: 20 GB
Graphics card: Microsoft DirectX 9 graphics device with WDDM driver

Let's get ready to install Windows 8 Enterprise. I am going to do it on my Windows 7 Home Premium (x64) running on a Toshiba Satellite P775 laptop. Make sure you back up your data before you take these steps.

If you need measured steps to do it with screen shots, here it is:

Here I am trying to release some space from my C:\drive

To get to see this you need to go Start | Computer and make a right click and choose Manage from the drop-down list. In the Computer Management Screen choose Disk Management.

Right click the highlighted drive (C:) and pick up shrink Volume..

You get to the Shrink C: screen 

Enter the amount you want to shrink. This was my choice.

Hit Shrink button.

Now you are sizzling. You have 292.97 GB free.

Right click this new released space and click New Simple Volume...

New Simple Volume Wizard shows up.

Read the stuff on it. Hit Next. You need to specify the size of this volume (how many gigabits).

I chose about 40 GB (twice the minimum requirement).

Hit Next. Now in this screen you can choose to create the partitioned drive.

I assumed F: drive. Hit Next to get to the Format drive screen.

I gave Windows 8 as Volume label. Hit Next.

Now you have a F:\ drive with about 40GB. Disk Manager screen gets updated as shown.

You are cooking now. The drive appears in the Windows Explorer as shown.

Now you are ready to install Windows 8 RTM