Annoyances of Windows 8 and 8.1

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The first major group of annoyance correction you can make to Windows 8 is to upgrade to Windows 8.1. Windows 8 can be thought of as a bit of a flop much like Windows Vista.

Get Windows 10 popup notification

A popup notification in the Windows taskbar installed by a misleading fraudulent update.

To remove the Get Windows 10 popup notification follow the instructions in KB3035583.

Product Key Problems

Windows includes a process known as "Windows Activation." This process activates your copy of Windows with Microsoft, and they check to make sure it’s a properly licensed copy. It ensures your Windows license key is only being used on a single PC at a time and that thousands of PCs aren’t using the same key. Windows also regularly checks to ensure that your key hasn’t been reported as pirated. This occurs when your computer tries to download optional updates from Microsoft.

When you’re using a non-genuine copy of Windows, you’ll see a notification once every hour. The notification informs you it’s non-genuine and that you need to activate. Your desktop background will become black every hour — even if you change it, it’ll change back. There are also other limitations and annoyances.

If you do actually have a valid Windows key, you can change the product key in Windows. Windows will then activate with Microsoft and remove the limitations.

Windows 8 and Windows 8.1 have different product keys. That is, if you have a Windows 8 license and attempt to install Windows 8.1 with your Windows 8 product key, you’ll receive an “invalid product key” message. You must instead install Windows 8, provide your Windows 8 product key, and then update to Windows 8.1 from within Windows 8.

Changing product key from Command Prompt

Step 1: Open Command Prompt with admin rights. To do so, switch to the Start screen, type CMD and then simultaneously press Ctrl + Shift + Enter keys to run Command Prompt as administrator. You can also go through our how to run Command Prompt as administrator in Windows 8 guide for step-by-step instructions.

Click Yes button when you see the UAC prompt.

Step 2: In the elevated prompt, type slmgr.vbs /ipk <Your product key> and then press enter key to change the product key and activate Windows using the newly entered product key.

For instance, if your product key is 12345 12345 12345 12345 12345, then you need to type slmgr.vbs /ipk 12345 12345 12345 12345 12345 followed by Enter key to activate your Windows 8/8.1.

Download Legitimate Windows 8.1

If you need to install or reinstall Windows 8.1, you can use the tool provided by Microsoft at microsoft.com called Create installation media for Windows 8.1. This is an executable that you download and run to create install media while connected to the Internet. It requires Windows 7 or higher to run the media creation and download program.

If you’re not running Windows 8 or Windows 8.1, you’ll need to enter a Windows 8 or Windows 8.1 product key. You'll also need a product key if you're running Windows 8 and trying to install Windows 8.1 Pro.

  • Windows 8.1 RTM = Release to Manufacturer version.
  • Windows 8.1 GA = Free upgrade from 8 to 8.1

Student discount version: Students with valid .edu email address: purchase and download Windows 8.1 Pro from Microsoft for only $69.99 USD. You'll get a copy of Windows 8.1 in ISO format, ready for burning to a disc or transferring to a USB device.

Private individual: Purchase and download from Microsoft either Windows 8.1 for $119.99 USD or Windows 8.1 Pro for $199.99 USD.

Source: About.com Where Can I Download Windows 8 or 8.1?

Skip past "Sign in to your Microsoft account" screen after installing Windows 8.1

Click the "Create an account" link which will take you to another page with forms to enter your personal information. You don't have to enter the information. At the bottom just click where it says, "use existing account" and then you have successfully skipped what seemed like an impossible obstacle. You have to think like Micro$oft, that is to say, disregard logic.

Disable the Metro interface, boot to traditional desktop

  1. On the Metro screen are many square blocks. Click on the block in the bottom left labeled "desktop."
  2. Right-click the taskbar, click Properties and select the Navigation tab in the resulting screen.
  3. Uncheck everything in the "Corner navigation" area
  4. Check items 1,2,3 and 5 under "Start screen," that is to say, everything EXCEPT "Show the Apps view automatically..."

Legacy Documentation: Old Annoyances Still Persist

Some well documented Windows Annoyances of the past still exist in current versions of the operating system and the resolution still applicable from the older guides. For example, some of the resolutions in our Annoyances of Windows 2000/XP still work in newer versions of Microsoft Windows. Some steps are slightly different but close enough to be of assistance when reviewing the legacy documentation. See all of our Windows Annoyances pages.

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