Updating the Surface Pro Tablet from Windows 8.0 to 8.1
10/23/2013
This morning I updated the original Surface Pro Windows 8 Tablet from Version 8.0 to 8.1 Last night, I gave a presentation about Tablets in Education so I was holding off updating the Surface Pro until this event was over. Now that it is over, it is now time to do the update. Windows 8.1 is a FREE update for all existing Windows 8 customers, now numbering over 120 million strong.
Yesterday was “Tablet Day” in the news as Microsoft officially began shipping the new and improved Surface 2 and Surface Pro models with Windows 8.1, Nokia also introduced a couple of new Windows 8 tablets and Apple updated the iPad line of tablets. There are now many choices in the tablet space for educators and Windows 8 tablets offer great value with many benefits not available found in other models, (cough, USB port, cough).
I updated the Surface RT last week and found that Windows 8.1 is a great improvement so I am looking forward to also having the 8.1 update on the Surface Pro.
Of course, my first step was to make a backup of all my files BEFORE I began the update, just in case J When was the last time you backed up your files?
Another reason I delayed this update is that this Surface Pro is becoming my main computer and I have A LOT of x86 applications installed including the expensive Camtasia program I use for screencasting. I was not worried about the update on the Surface RT as much, worst case, I could reinstall all my apps from the Windows Store, but for x86 applications on the Surface Pro I would need to completely re-install from the original media if something went wrong during the update. As usual, I made sure that the system was up-to-date with ALL the latest updates and firmware.
Here we go!
7:52am
I went to the Microsoft Store and sure enough the Windows 8.1 update was displayed prominently on the first page of the Store and I selected it to install the free 8.1 update. I made sure the electrical adapter was plugged-in to the Surface Pro and began the update at 7:52am CST and the update process started. The Download began….
I went to the Microsoft Store and sure enough the Windows 8.1 update was displayed prominently on the first page of the Store and I selected it to install the free 8.1 update. I made sure the electrical adapter was plugged-in to the Surface Pro and began the update at 7:52am CST and the update process started. The Download began….
8:26am
The download took 34 minutes to complete. Once completed the Surface Pro rebooted for the first time.
The download took 34 minutes to complete. Once completed the Surface Pro rebooted for the first time.
8:27am
After reboot I see the message “Setting Up”
After reboot I see the message “Setting Up”
8:30am
“Setting Up 75% complete”
“Setting Up 75% complete”
8:37am
Another reboot.
Another reboot.
8:38am
“Setting up a few more things”
“Setting up a few more things”
8:40am
“Getting Ready”
“Getting Ready”
8:41am
I get the License Terms Agreement and select “I Accept”
I get the License Terms Agreement and select “I Accept”
8:41am
I select “Use Express Settings” - Next
I select “Use Express Settings” - Next
8:42am
I get the message to sign into my Microsoft account – typed in my Password
I get the message to sign into my Microsoft account – typed in my Password
8:42am
“Help us protect your account”
“Help us protect your account”
I get a prompt to send a text to my cell phone to verify my account on this device. This number was setup when I first setup the Surface Pro for two-factor authentication.
8:43am
I received the code on my cell phone, typed in code on the Surface Pro – Next
I received the code on my cell phone, typed in code on the Surface Pro – Next
8:43am
Get the message “SkyDrive is your Cloud Storage” - Next
Get the message “SkyDrive is your Cloud Storage” - Next
8:44am
“We are setting some things up for you”
Screen color changes from blue to green to purple to red as this process completes.
“We are setting some things up for you”
Screen color changes from blue to green to purple to red as this process completes.
8:45am
“Taking care of a few things”
“Taking care of a few things”
8:46am
“Let’s Start”
“Let’s Start”
8:46am
Finished!
I am at the “Start Screen” for the first time, already signed-in and ready to go!
Finished!
I am at the “Start Screen” for the first time, already signed-in and ready to go!
Not bad, 54 minutes from start to finish, including the time to download the Windows 8.1 update on the Surface Pro, not bad at all. For reference, the Surface RT took 2 hours to complete the 8.1 update.
All apps are there, when I went to the Desktop for the first time I got a compatibility box pop-up telling me my VPN client would need to be re-installed.
The first time I started Word 2013 it went through the initial Office setup process that took about 1 minute to complete.
The first time I started Word 2013 it went through the initial Office setup process that took about 1 minute to complete.
The free space on Drive C: went from 36.5GB free before I did the update to 44.2GB free after the Windows 8.1 update, a net gain of 7.7GB! This gain did not include the space to be gained if I deleted the Windows.old folder as I want to keep this folder around for a bit longer to make sure everything is working properly.
First thing I did was make the Desktop tile the largest tile on the Start Screen. It is starting to feel like home already.
Tom Grissom, Ph.D.
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