Upgrading to Windows 8.1 - your experience?

  • Thread starter Thread starter kingrob
  • Start date Start date
Sollie said:
Your local user (in Windows 8) is converted to a M$ user (in Windows8.1). This gives you the ability to have a Skydrive, sure, but I do not want one. Will M$ accept responsibility if they are hacked and passwords or info leaked? Yet this is the default.

Go to charms -> Settings -> PC Settings -> Privacy. All my options were on.

There are more. Unfortunately some were registry tweaks etc and I did not document all. I suggest use Google to search for "Windows 8.1 Privacy", not Bing ;)
Click to expand...

This does concern me as well.

Like I've said, before my SkyDrive worked just fine with a local machine account, now I can't get SkyDrive and other features working without logging in with a Microsoft account.

We are now all domain users on the Microsoft domain, which does not make me happy.

Next thing we know, they're applying group policy on all of us. :eek:
 
Sollie said:
Your local user (in Windows 8) is converted to a M$ user (in Windows8.1). This gives you the ability to have a Skydrive, sure, but I do not want one. Will M$ accept responsibility if they are hacked and passwords or info leaked? Yet this is the default.

Go to charms -> Settings -> PC Settings -> Privacy. All my options were on.

There are more. Unfortunately some were registry tweaks etc and I did not document all. I suggest use Google to search for "Windows 8.1 Privacy", not Bing ;)
Click to expand...

Thanks - switched off a couple of things :D
 
kingrob said:
This does concern me as well.

Like I've said, before my SkyDrive worked just fine with a local machine account, now I can't get SkyDrive and other features working without logging in with a Microsoft account.

We are now all domain users on the Microsoft domain, which does not make me happy.

Next thing we know, they're applying group policy on all of us. :eek:
Click to expand...

All in the name of providing a safer user experience I'm sure :whistle:
 
kingrob said:
We are now all domain users on the Microsoft domain, which does not make me happy.

Next thing we know, they're applying group policy on all of us. :eek:
Click to expand...
Indeed.

Let's hope some government employee does not store your personal data on a Skydrive, even as a backup. Or use the same password as he does for his other accounts.

Personally I will not communicate any security or intellectual property info via the PC I'm typing on now. I've seen passwords posted in Skype (ab)used and no, it was not part of the automated Skype link scanning.

It also begs the question if South African law will suffice in issues relating to privacy? ECT Act, CPA, RICA, newly to be introduced POPI when it comes to a big American corporate?

A bit off topic, but something to think about:
At the risk of sounding neurotic. You may not be important, but the information you may have access to may be. Quite frankly SA government ranks between best to worst, depending on where you look. While the FTC in America may protect a US citizen,the European Commission Europeans, be under no illusion - they will not protect you. Where will you turn locally? Think JHB Metro invoices.

Many times the line between hacking and dubious unproven interception just depends on who you work with and your corporate clout.

Personally, all my own important email passes via servers I control myself while disposable stuff may pass through the other providers.

Interesting read: http://blog.fastmail.fm/2013/10/07/fastmails-servers-are-in-the-us-what-this-means-for-you/

Please do not be led down the garden path with charms.
 
Sollie said:
I upped a Windows 8 to Windows 8.1. My biggest concern was my local account was changed into a Microsoft account. This upgrade is dangerous as far as privacy goes!
Click to expand...

kingrob said:
Like I've said, before my SkyDrive worked just fine with a local machine account, now I can't get SkyDrive and other features working without logging in with a Microsoft account.
Click to expand...

If anyone's still upgrading, when you get to the stage where you're asked to input your account details or make a new account, do the following:

1) Select the option to Create a new account
2) At the bottom left is an option to continue using your regular account (local on the machine)

This allows me to be selective about which apps have my login details and which don't, and Skydrive works on its own without Microsoft invading everything else.
 
SARS E-Filing seems borked on 8.1 as Internet Explorer (11.0.9600.16384) now uses an embedded Shockwave Flash addon.

Anyone able to confirm?

Edit: Update for Internet Explorer Flash Player for Windows 8.1 (KB2886439) fixed the problem.
 
Last edited:
MickZA said:
SARS E-Filing seems borked on 8.1 as Internet Explorer (11.0.9600.16384) now uses an embedded Shockwave Flash addon.

Anyone able to confirm?

Edit: Update for Internet Explorer Flash Player for Windows 8.1 (KB2886439) fixed the problem.
Click to expand...

My youtube stopped working but then a win8 update popped up and it's working fine now
 
my laptop will not upgrade from windows 8 to 8.1, always get stuck somewhere and never finishes -_-
furthest I've been is 52% :(

Trying it with a cleanboot now, left it at work to run overnight.

Lets hope for the best :P
 
No luck stuck on 52% again sigh... so irritating, and microsoft wonders why people pirate when the legitimate means to get it is faulty.

I dont even get any errors!
 
Fatality07 said:
No luck stuck on 52% again sigh... so irritating, and microsoft wonders why people pirate when the legitimate means to get it is faulty.

I dont even get any errors!
Click to expand...

I have the same issue on my Micro Server HP N40L. I am back on win8.
 
NAG - Wesley said:
If anyone's still upgrading, when you get to the stage where you're asked to input your account details or make a new account, do the following:

1) Select the option to Create a new account
2) At the bottom left is an option to continue using your regular account (local on the machine)

This allows me to be selective about which apps have my login details and which don't, and Skydrive works on its own without Microsoft invading everything else.
Click to expand...

Thanks for this

It's really de-emphasised - missed it a couple of times
 
Can Windows 8 activated by KMS channel upgrades to Windows 8.1 without format the harddisk or lose any data and setting?
 
Do I have to be signed in to a Microsoft Account before the store will show up the update?
 
Main thing for me is that I am forced to use my windows live acc, and they have all sorts of stupid rules WRT passwords there, which annoy the hell out of me. I also dislike the start button (waste of screen space imo). Other than that I don't really notice the upgrade.
 
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