Windows 8.1 Preview for RT

[inteller]

watching the BUILD keynote I can see why it is 8GB more, cause it brings 8GB more stuff.

 

[dkp23]

Wait so if i have 10 gb left and the preview takes up 8 gb, i will only have 2 gb left? uhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh...

I have a 32 gb

 

[stephen_az]

Service packs have never added this many things to a version of Windows before. I'm sorry, but that is a completely incorrect statement.

I think you need to do some research to learn more about what changes are coming in Windows 8.1.

There are still unannounced features in Windows 8.1. Microsoft has only publically released certain information about the update. They haven't stated what's included in the entire update yet.

All of the updates in Windows 8.1 are going to enhance Windows RT devices the most. Sure, there are minor improvements for the desktop, but these improvements are dwarfed by the changes made to the metro side of Windows 8.1.
.

Actually, while this is a substantial update, to say SP's have never added this much is silly. Most of these changes are cosmetic and/or UI enhancements. That is a lot of stuff but in terms of substantive changes to the OS itself, it isn't in the same league as the initial XP SP's or Vista SP 1.

 

[stephen_az]

Oh yeah, I remember that from my CompSci course at Uni... definition of a real OS: #1: Must run legacy apps. /s

There is no such thing as a "real OS".

The reason Windows RT uses more drive than an iPad is simple - the Windows OS is more capable because it is shared from Server to Phone. RT includes a massive driver database which supports 420 million devices and of course eats up disk space because of this.

The OS could be made much smaller - Windows Phone is an example where the same Windows actually only uses 1.6GB - less than iOS 2GB - when it is on targeted and specific hardware without a massive driver database.

Windows Phone shares a kernel with Windows 8 but that is all. It is not, however, in any way the same OS.

 

[stephen_az]

Wait so if i have 10 gb left and the preview takes up 8 gb, i will only have 2 gb left? uhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh...

I have a 32 gb

So what exactly is your problem? It is called a preview for a reason. You are not forced to install it. When it goes final it will undoubtedly take no more space after installation and cleanup than the current version.

 

[EDDS]

Has anyone managed to install this on a Surface RT yet? I can't get past the prerequisite installer.

 

[dkp23]

So what exactly is your problem? It is called a preview for a reason. You are not forced to install it. When it goes final it will undoubtedly take no more space after installation and cleanup than the current version.

That is a pretty big problem actually. lets do a preview where you have to remove stuff to make room. Makes sense.

 

[kashk5]

Wait so if i have 10 gb left and the preview takes up 8 gb, i will only have 2 gb left? uhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh...

I have a 32 gb

This is incorrect. You need 10GB free for the installation, but by no means does it take up the full amount of space.

I just finished installing the 8.1 Preview on my 32GB Surface RT. Before the installation, I had a little over 12GB free. After the install, I had 14.4GB free. I just checked Disk Cleanup and there's an additional 2.5GB that can be cleared up from the installation. So the preview actually frees up an additional 4.5GB.

Also, once the preview has been installed (which takes about an hour), Windows is still doing some stuff in the background, so don't freak out if it seems a little laggy at first.

 

[dkp23]

This is incorrect. You need 10GB free for the installation, but by no means does it take up the full amount of space.

I just finished installing the 8.1 Preview on my 32GB Surface RT. Before the installation, I had a little over 12GB free. After the install, I had 14.4GB free. I just checked Disk Cleanup and there's an additional 2.5GB that can be cleared up from the installation. So the preview actually frees up an additional 4.5GB.

Also, once the preview has been installed (which takes about an hour), Windows is still doing some stuff in the background, so don't freak out if it seems a little laggy at first.

Thank you!!

 

[kashk5]

I just wanted to confirm, after running Disk Cleanup, I now have a total of 16GB free. When I started the preview update, I had a little over 12GB free. This means that the 8.1 Preview takes up LESS space than 8.0 does, to the tune of 4-5GB less.

 

[kamikazimunkey]

I'm curious if I'm doing something wrong. I've checked for updates through the store and Windows Update in settings and don't see anything.

 

[inteller]

I just wanted to confirm, after running Disk Cleanup, I now have a total of 16GB free. When I started the preview update, I had a little over 12GB free. This means that the 8.1 Preview takes up LESS space than 8.0 does, to the tune of 4-5GB less.

hopefully what this means is they are gutting out legacy crap that is useless on RT.

 

[kashk5]

I'm curious if I'm doing something wrong. I've checked for updates through the store and Windows Update in settings and don't see anything.

To get the Preview, you have to download a small file from Microsoft's site. After you install that, then your computer/tablet will restart, and then you will be prompted to download the update from the Windows Store.

 

[kamikazimunkey]

Thanks. I figured it out after I posted. Everything I was reading made it sound like it just showed up on Windows Update.

 

[pbankey]

I found the process to be a bit confusing as well. Installing it now though, looking forward to it!

 

[paulmd]

Has anyone managed to install this on a Surface RT yet? I can't get past the prerequisite installer.

I had trouble and found solution here:
Guide: How to fix "This update is not applicable" for Windows 8 Pre - Microsoft Beta - Neowin Forums

 

[dkp23]

Anybody update their RT that had one of the indexing setups for their SDcard? As we all know by now, music/video files dont show up on the app as if they were in one of the music and video files in the windows explorer folder. So there were a number of work arounds whether it was junctioning, creating vhd and others. I did the vhd one so that my files in my sdcard recognizes through the music/video apps.

Did the preview update require to redo these steps?

 

[inteller]

Thanks. I figured it out after I posted. Everything I was reading made it sound like it just showed up on Windows Update.

more than likely that "small file" is what will get posted to Windows Update eventually and will switch the final version of 8.1 on in the store.

 

[AR2186]

Anybody update their RT that had one of the indexing setups for their SDcard? As we all know by now, music/video files dont show up on the app as if they were in one of the music and video files in the windows explorer folder. So there were a number of work arounds whether it was junctioning, creating vhd and others. I did the vhd one so that my files in my sdcard recognizes through the music/video apps.

Did the preview update require to redo these steps?

All you have to do is right click on the SD card in My Computer and click add to Music/Video Library. Windows 8.1 makes it a lot easier. Of topic, what what is the update for Windows RT called, Windows RT 8.1?

 

[ibbyj]

Does this work for all RT devices?

I am looking forward to installing on my Yoga 11!