Windows 8.1 Preview Forcing System Crash Every Two Hours

[Aztech]

As of Jan 15 2014 Microsoft are forcing users (idiots like me) who downloaded the Windows 8.1 Preview to download the final version. This is a 3.8 gigabyte download. As a reminder to do this Microsoft have made the preview version crash your PC every two hours. They use the word restart, but what it does is crash.

Between Microsoft's servers and local line speeds I have found it impossible to download the software in the two hour gap before Windows crashes and I have to start over again.

Also, in their infinite wisdom/arrogance you are not able to roll back the 8.1 preview to Windows 8 either.

I feel like I'm stuck between a rock and a sewage farm.

End result is Microsoft have hijacked my 100% legal and licensed PC and are holding it ransom by crashing it every two hours with no warning and no opportunity to save my work.

How can this even be legal?

 

[Rocket-Boy]

Yeah the shutdown should be stopped when you are downloading the update.
Its a bit of a tricky one.
I wonder if there is a hack you can do to temporarily stop it.

 

[Pho3nix]

As of Jan 15 2014 Microsoft are forcing users (idiots like me) who downloaded the Windows 8.1 Preview to download the final version. This is a 3.8 gigabyte download. As a reminder to do this Microsoft have made the preview version crash your PC every two hours. They use the word restart, but what it does is crash.

Between Microsoft's servers and local line speeds I have found it impossible to download the software in the two hour gap before Windows crashes and I have to start over again.

Also, in their infinite wisdom/arrogance you are not able to roll back the 8.1 preview to Windows 8 either.

I feel like I'm stuck between a rock and a sewage farm.

End result is Microsoft have hijacked my 100% legal and licensed PC and are holding it ransom by crashing it every two hours with no warning and no opportunity to save my work.

How can this even be legal?

Think that part is in a grey area.
Start the download in the MS Store and it will carry on from where it left off previously. Might take a couple tries but it will work.
Or ask a friend or download at work..

 

[Aztech]

Think that part is in a grey area.

How do you figure? I have an OEM licensed Windows 8 Pro machine. The only thing unlicensed is the Windows 8.1 Preview. I'd happily uninstall it and go back to Windows 8 (or even better, Windows 7) but Microsoft "forgot" to include that functionality.

 

[Pho3nix]

How do you figure? I have an OEM licensed Windows 8 Pro machine. The only thing unlicensed is the Windows 8.1 Preview. I'd happily uninstall it and go back to Windows 8 (or even better, Windows 7) but Microsoft "forgot" to include that functionality.

The highlighted bit is my point. Windows 8.1 preview isn't licenced bud and it was mentioned and consumers were warned that updating to the preview would mean they would have to clean install when the retail version came out.
I did make a bit of a mistake as I'm not entirely sure Windows 8.1 preview can be updated via the store like WinRT but you can always "crack" the installation or install a good download manager that can resume.

 

[mr_norris]

I know this is a bit of a mission, but if you have a genuine Windows 8 key, why not reinstall Windows 8, then upgrade to 8.1 through the store?

I went that route :/ It's a mission, but it got it working.