Windows 8.1 Update Finally Available To Download and Install

This Patch Tuesday significant not only for the last updates for Windows XP and Office 2003, but the fact that it brings the first major update for Windows 8.1. The four security bulletins from Microsoft are relatively minor, so the highlight of the updates rolled our today is most certainly Windows 8.1 Update. All Windows 8.1 users will be able to download and the install the more refined Windows 8.1 Update right now. Microsoft is delivering the Windows 8.1 Update through the traditional Windows Update method, rather than through the Windows Store (as it did with the original Windows 8.1 release). Unless you’ve disabled automatic updates in your PC settings, the Windows 8.1 Update should download and install on its own.

Should you update? Yes. A post made yesterday on Microsoft’s Premier Field Engineering blog reveals that the standard Windows 8.1 install won’t receive future security patches or other future updates unless they install the Windows 8.1 update. Most all desktop users will want to move to Windows 8.1 Update as soon as possible as Windows 8.1 Update will install series of packages that provide UI and functionality improvements that are predominately geared towards keyboard/mouse users. For example Windows 8.1 Update now boots to the desktop by default and there is a power and search button located on the top right corner of the start screen. Microsoft also refined the Apps view and made the columns wider, highlights new apps when they are installed to better find them. The one thing that we are getting used to is that when you closed an App on Windows 8.1 it took you back to the start screen. Now it takes you to the previously used App or if all Apps are closed it will take you back to the desktop.

If you’re not sure whether you’re running Windows 8 or Windows 8.1, you can check by going to PC Settings > PC and devices > PC info and looking under the Windows section.