Thinking about upgrading to Windows 8.1? Warning: You computer will be unusable for at least 40 minutes

by Robert Johnson
October 17, 2013

Are you thinking about upgrading to Windows 8.1 today by going to the Windows store and starting the download process? Be warned, after you download it there is a mandatory re-start process that can’t be delayed. During the restart process, your computer is 100% unusable. All told, that process took me 40 minutes on my desktop (longer on my laptop).

It would have been nice if Microsoft had warned people ahead of time about this fact as I just kissed a good part of my workday goodbye.

See the screen shot below which showed up on my computer this afternoon after Windows 8.1 downloaded.

A mandatory re-start is part of the Windows 8.1 upgrade process which can’t be delayed. Somewhat ironically, my notice popped up when I was trying to find out if anyone was upset about google’s change in privacy policies.

What happened after that took up 40 minutes of my time.

So unless you want to get fired for being unproductive, I’d highly recommend not starting the upgrade process until the end of the day when you aren’t going be on your computer.

After the re-start started, things went down like this on my laptop.

11 Minutes: A second re-start takes place.
23 minutes: A third re-start.
31 minutes: Windows 8.1 is ready for you to log in and get ready to be used. This process took a little less than ten minutes.

So after blowing 40 minutes, you are into Windows 8.1 and ready to work.

After being unable to use my computer for 40 minutes, I found the following truly bizarre:

1) There was no video or instructions from Microsoft explaining what was new, different etc. with 8.1.

You’d think they’d tell you what you just waited 40 minutes for. If you find and click on “Helps and Tips” app then you can get some information but shouldn’t they start with a brief 3-4 minute introduction. They just made you wait 40 minutes, what’s another few minutes?

2) I found it bizarre that the much discussed start button , which for many is the whole point of Windows 8.1, isn’t there unless you move your cursor down to the lower left hand corner.

Is Microsoft really that stubborn?

Windows 8.1 still doesn’t have the much-loved start button in the lower left-hand corner unless you move your cursor there on the start screen

At last, the much-loved start button appears if you move your cursor to the lower left corner

And people wonder why Microsoft is struggling? This is the best they can do after months of waiting? I’m starting to understand why so many people go out and buy an overpriced Apple computer that just works logically.

For the record, the start button is always there if you are in desktop mode.

The start button is there all the time in desktop mode

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