Windows Store doesn't let me upgrade to 8.1, says I am not administrator
Hello, I am trying to upgrade my Windows 8 to Windows 8.1 with Windows Store. But Store refuses to let me download, saying I do not have administrator rights. I am with an administrator account and a ms account login. But it still doesn't let me. I
put UACs at minimum. I tried creating a new admin account, same problem. With the integrated account Administrator, which was desactivated, I can't access Store at all. I did all the updates, I ran a MS FixIt utility to checkproblems with Windows update,
it fixed nothing.....
How can I upgrade to Windows8.1? Actually my question should be, how do I give myself the rights to do it?
I am really not happy of not having rights on my own machine.
Thank you for your help. I am really lost here :)
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Edited by
NoraDimi
Sunday, January 26, 2014 12:37 PM
January 26th, 2014 10:51am
Has anyone found an answer? Having same exact issues on my new Dell XPS Touch 27
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Proposed as answer by
KBernardi
Wednesday, January 29, 2014 5:33 PM
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Unproposed as answer by
Jessica_DeenMVP, Moderator
Wednesday, February 05, 2014 7:28 PM
January 29th, 2014 3:35pm
Just disconnect the ethernet cable- it will fix it!
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Proposed as answer by
Tchn4te
Thursday, March 06, 2014 4:26 AM
January 29th, 2014 5:34pm
Try this it worked for me
First, find where all the updates for windows are listed. Go to Control Panel ---> Programs. Then under Programs and Features, you'll see a link called "View Installed Updates". Under Microsoft Windows, scroll until you find
KB2871389.
Uninstall it, and then accept the prompt to reboot your computer.
Now, login under your account (that has admin privileges) and then go to the corner until the floating menu comes up and choose settings. From settings choose change PC settings at the bottom. Then, click on "windows
update" at the bottom of the right hand side of your screen. Check for updates now and it will take a few minutes, but they will find one (KB2871389). There
is a message telling you that it will download automatically in a few days, but ignore that, click on the link for one important update, and choose install now (or some such thing).
Log in on an admin account, go to the store, choose the 8.1 update, and now, no admin problems.
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Proposed as answer by
HStar123
Wednesday, January 29, 2014 6:38 PM
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Marked as answer by
Jessica_DeenMVP, Moderator
Wednesday, February 05, 2014 7:29 PM
January 29th, 2014 6:36pm
This worked. Thank you!
February 1st, 2014 6:54pm
Worked. Thanks!
February 1st, 2014 11:06pm
Your welcome! Its such a relief when it works. Found it on another forum and shared it here
February 1st, 2014 11:24pm
Your welcome! Its such a relief when it works. Found it on another forum and shared it here
February 1st, 2014 11:24pm
Try this it worked for me
First, find where all the updates for windows are listed. Go to Control Panel ---> Programs. Then under Programs and Features, you'll see a link called "View Installed Updates". Under Microsoft Windows, scroll until you find KB2871389.
Uninstall it, and then accept the prompt to reboot your computer.
Now, login under your account (that has admin privileges) and then go to the corner until the floating menu comes up and choose settings. From settings choose change PC settings at the bottom. Then, click on "windows
update" at the bottom of the right hand side of your screen. Check for updates now and it will take a few minutes, but they will find one (KB2871389). There
is a message telling you that it will download automatically in a few days, but ignore that, click on the link for one important update, and choose install now (or some such thing).
Log in on an admin account, go to the store, choose the 8.1 update, and now, no admin problems.
I had exactly the same problem and this worked a charm!
I was unable to install 8.1 despite using my Admin account, but this fixed it.
But I worry for anyone who doesn't have tech knowledge, because this is the last thing in the world anyone would consider trying.
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Proposed as answer by
Kent.Faulkner
Thursday, July 03, 2014 2:35 PM
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Unproposed as answer by
Kent.Faulkner
Thursday, July 03, 2014 2:36 PM
February 5th, 2014 8:11pm
I just look this up and i dont find this file on my computer at all. Any other ideas. I also have a dell, Insp, 17 7000. Its new and got it less then 4days ago.
February 9th, 2014 7:47pm
Hi there, thanks for the information. I have just got a brand new Dell PC and was having the 8.1 problems. Followed the above and it cured the problem straight away.
Really nice to have a solution described in easy to understand language.
February 19th, 2014 1:41pm
February 21st, 2014 4:48am
This worked for me. Thanks so much for the info
February 22nd, 2014 1:48am
This answer helped me. Thanks!
February 22nd, 2014 11:42am
Thanks!
I searched for a very long time and tried various things but this worked perfectly for me :)
February 22nd, 2014 3:21pm
This worked. I don't know how you knew it would, but it worked! Thank you!
February 23rd, 2014 10:16pm
Does someone know why this works? Is it because the patch was installed (by Dell) before the user was created?
February 24th, 2014 3:17am
I can not find that file do you have another suggestion?
February 25th, 2014 5:54am
I too cannot find this update in my logs. I just bought a brand new Dell 15 3521 and would love to update to 8.1.
February 26th, 2014 5:36am
Thanks so much worked great
February 27th, 2014 5:28am
After digging through half a dozen forum threads trying to find an answer to this Administrator block on the 8.1 upgrade, this worked for me exactly as HStar123 said it would.
February 27th, 2014 1:36pm
This worked perfectly for me. Thank you so much!
March 3rd, 2014 1:17am
...followed your instructions and was able to install windows 8.1 .....thanks
March 8th, 2014 6:01am
Try this it worked for me
First, find where all the updates for windows are listed. Go to Control Panel ---> Programs. Then under Programs and Features, you'll see a link called "View Installed Updates". Under Microsoft Windows, scroll until you find KB2871389.
Uninstall it, and then accept the prompt to reboot your computer.
Now, login under your account (that has admin privileges) and then go to the corner until the floating menu comes up and choose settings. From settings choose change PC settings at the bottom. Then, click on "windows
update" at the bottom of the right hand side of your screen. Check for updates now and it will take a few minutes, but they will find one (KB2871389). There
is a message telling you that it will download automatically in a few days, but ignore that, click on the link for one important update, and choose install now (or some such thing).
Log in on an admin account, go to the store, choose the 8.1 update, and now, no admin problems.
Help! This didnt work for me. I uninstalled it and restarted laptop but when I did the windows update and tried to install update it gave me an error 80070103. what can I do?
March 11th, 2014 1:16am
Worked! Thanks
March 11th, 2014 4:11am
Worked for me too! Thanks. I also have brand new Dell Inspiron laptop and had admin issues. Was able to upgrade to Windows 8.1 after uninstalling and reinstalling ms windows update KB2871389.
March 11th, 2014 4:23am
Thank you, thank you, thank you! This worked like a charm for me as well! And your instructions are crystal clear so it only took a few minutes to do. Thanks again so much!
March 12th, 2014 4:10pm
What worked for me was creating another user account, logging in as the new user then back in as the 1st user (do this twice). The 2nd time I logged back in as the 1st user it let me download 8.1
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Proposed as answer by
gamma_7
Wednesday, July 02, 2014 10:34 AM
March 18th, 2014 12:35am
THIS WORKS!!!!!!!!!
Thanks a lot for the quick an easy fix.
March 21st, 2014 2:38am
perfect also for me thanks
March 21st, 2014 2:55pm
You are a genius. Thank you, thank you, thank you! I'm not worthy.
March 23rd, 2014 7:19pm
This did not work for me. After I deleted the update and went to MS. Selected download and it sat there with the little window screen with the shopping bag handle and never proceeded to the next screen. I have been trying for a month to get the update.
I have a Dell Inspiron 15 3521.
March 25th, 2014 1:10pm
Just wanted to let everyone know that this worked for me as well! I recently purchased a Dell Inspiron 15, and ran into the same problems as everyone else seems to be having. I was so frustrated that I am not a "true" admin, or whatever. But anyway,
this is a safe solution. Thank you so much HStar123!
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Proposed as answer by
ryu457
Saturday, July 19, 2014 7:32 PM
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Unproposed as answer by
ryu457
Saturday, July 19, 2014 7:32 PM
March 27th, 2014 5:12pm
Hello,
I followed these instructions but upon going into "View Installed Updates" under Programs and Features I do not see
KB2871389 listed. Any ideas? This is driving me crazy.
March 28th, 2014 5:04am
I am having the same problem. I cannot find that update. What the heck?
March 28th, 2014 5:06am
Thank You
April 4th, 2014 9:25pm
I also have a new inspiron 15R. Same issue -- I have an account that can generate other accounts, but am not an administrator. Also I checked this account, which is the first account on the system, that is / is not administrator can't generate
other accounts that are administator
I deleted KB2871389 -- was told to reboot -- and the system is just sitting there saying 'preparing to configure Windows -- do not turn off your computer.
Will give it another minute -- then I will have to turn off the computer and see if I can recover
April 5th, 2014 3:40am
Although I got the message, after executing this fix, 'update failed to ...." the removal alone had done enough to make the update to 8.1 download.
Rethink Microsoft
April 6th, 2014 3:10am
If you have a Dell machine, also note this issue with the pre-installed backup and recovery software
http://www.dellbackupandrecovery.com/en-us/Index.html
No mention of this on most forums but this did the trick for me.
April 7th, 2014 3:45pm
Thanks Hstar123 and Moderator,
This does indeed work! I don' know what you do for a living Hstar123... but I would like to take lessons from you on Windows!! Don't know how you knew this unless you work for MS...Anyway thank again!
April 11th, 2014 7:40pm
Thanks A million this finally worked for me. I have Dell laptop and this is just what I needed. Thanks!!!
April 18th, 2014 9:54am
Worked for me too on new Asus - thank you
April 21st, 2014 2:35pm
Thank you :) it's working now
April 21st, 2014 5:03pm
There is no KB2871389 on my computer. Nowwhat?
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Proposed as answer by
Twilight Laptop Repair
Thursday, May 01, 2014 8:02 AM
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Unproposed as answer by
Twilight Laptop Repair
Thursday, May 01, 2014 8:02 AM
April 22nd, 2014 12:56am
This just worked for me also. Thanks for posting. New Dell just out of the box, like some other posters.
April 25th, 2014 4:07am
I just brought home a new Dell XPS 12 and had the same problem. It would not let me update to Windows 8.1 advising I was not logged in as the Administrator, even though I was. This post is correct that you need to find KB2871389 and uninstall it, and accept
the prompt to reboot. The difference in my experience is when I went to the floating menu's 'Settings' option and chose 'Change PC Settings'...and clicking on "windows update" on the bottom of the right hand side of my screen it did run for several minutes
but did NOT return a message that I needed to update anything. It also did not return a message that I needed to download BK2871389 in a few days. Instead I just went back into the Windows Store and selected the download for 8.1. When I did
that I no longer got a message advising I could not download windows 8.1 because I was not logged on as the administrator. The program is now installing without any problems. THANKS MICROSOFT, NO WONDER EVERYONE HATES WINDOWS 8!!!! It is
a miracle I found this post. I have to assume the bulk of users out there are having this same problem. Why haven't Microsoft addressed this by now? It is April 27, 2014. This is ridiculous. That said I love my Dell XPS 12, sure
am missing Windows 7 though!!!!!!!!!!!!
April 28th, 2014 1:51am
For people unable to find this KB installed on their system, they can download and install it by going to the article here: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2871389
Scroll down to the "More Information" section and you will see three packages to choose from . Most people will have x64(64-bit) systems, but to be sure of which you need (x86, x64 and x64 for Server):
1. Move your mouse to the corner of the screen until the floating bar appears > click the Search magnifying glass
2. Type in Control Panel > a tile will appear on the left of the screen > click the Control Panel tile
3. Click System and Security > click System
4. On the window now presented, look at System Type > you will see whether you are using a 32-bit (x86) or 64-bit (x64) version.
Choose the download (on the KB article page) that matches your system type and install it. Be careful not to use the server version unless you are running Windows Server 2012.
May 1st, 2014 8:00am
Thanks Nora, its really works!.. Excellent resolution!
May 3rd, 2014 5:11am
Thanks a million!!! This worked for me. It is nice to have control over my machine.
Rose
May 4th, 2014 1:39pm
Awesome. It didn't find the new update after I uninstalled it, but it FINALLY allowed me to download 8.1
May 5th, 2014 1:34am
my friend has the same issue and I told him about your instructions. and as of this moment, he said it seems like it's downloading. He didn't get that admin. rights message. He said it will take a little while for him to know if it will download all
of 8.1.
but both him and me want to thank you so very much for your instructions because it did eliminate that message he was getting about him needing admin. rights, especially when he is the admin. and now it allowed him to start the downloading process.
if I can get back to this link, I will give you an update about the completion of the updating.
thanks again.
bruce and bruce
May 6th, 2014 7:47pm
Hi,
I tried removing KB2871389 in the windows installed programs. But now, i'm not able to open the windows update in the windows app store. yet, i dont have any problem in opening other apps in the
app store
Thanks
in advance
May 8th, 2014 6:46am
Hello,
I followed these instructions but upon going into "View Installed Updates" under Programs and Features I do not see
KB2871389 listed. Any ideas? This is driving me crazy.
Hi
Yeah, that's exactly what happened to me,
Its driving me crazy too. Im only young, the stress is getting to me really badly. I need clearer instructions please
May 14th, 2014 5:56pm
I too had the administrator problem. I uninstalled and reinstalled the update and now when I try to do the 8.1 download it tells that it couldn't be completed and to try again. I tried 3 times. What do I do now? I spent five hours at best buy today with
a Microsoft tech and he had no idea, not even about this specific update. Ugh.
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Edited by
Dominguez0808
Friday, May 16, 2014 2:16 AM
May 16th, 2014 2:16am
Same thing as a lot of posters above: Cannot download to Windows 8.1. I tried uninstalling and reinstalling BK2871389, as mentioned above. I am logged in as administrator.... Have logged out, switched user and OF COURSE it says I have to have be logged in
as administrator to download 8.1. Good grief, Charlie Brown (or in this case Bill Gates??? lol)
Neither of my computers will update to 8.1. Different brands, ones a laptop, one a desktop. It doesn't seem to matter.
The Windows store doesn't even work for me. I click on it, it flips around, it bounces back......BTW, I don't use the tiles, I use Classic Shell (dot Net). Highly recommended.
Wouldn't bother me so much that I cannot update but I get those annoying prompts every few days to update to 8.1. If they can prompt me to install it once or twice a week, week in and week out, why can't they just automatically install the darn update instead???
...We had it all figured out with XP, now Windows 8 screws that all up. It was so much easier with going to MS website and getting the updates. Why can't we simply do that for the 8.1 update?
May 22nd, 2014 1:45am
I tried this all was going good until I went to the store using admin account and the little green dots were running across the top of the page I thought it was downloading but then a note popped up saying I can not do this with the default admin, now,
I have never heard of this before, what is going on, how do I take care of this one. I am using a Samsung gamer laptop.
May 25th, 2014 6:43pm
Worked for me! Thanks. On restart it said it couldn't remove the update and reverted. But it did work.
May 28th, 2014 5:20am
do you got any answer if you please tell me
May 30th, 2014 2:59am
ok i tried this, it went to the reboot and everything but now when i open the app store it wont open, it worked before i did all of this and now i cant do anything, :( help!!! oh and please ;)
June 12th, 2014 9:41pm
ok i tried this, it went to the reboot and everything but now when i open the app store it wont open, it worked before i did all of this and now i cant do anything, :( help!!! oh and please ;)
Hi Dawnb75,
I too was unable to open app store uninstalling and rebooting but after installing the new update, it started working perfectly fine.
And the above mentioned method worked perfectly for me.... Thanks a ton Hstar :-)
June 13th, 2014 8:50pm
thank you very much for this solution, i was having the same problem and after one call and then being switched from 4 different compartments at HP and one call to canada i finally got my senses and did a search for this problem and this was the first
website that popped up and your solution worked , i deleted the updated did a search for updates and downloaded the two that popped up and then went to to the store to upgrade and it freaking works. thank you very much martin
June 17th, 2014 5:21pm
THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU, A MILLION, NO, INFINITY TIMES THANK YOU, IT WORKED LIKE A CHARM. THANK YOU !!!!!!!!!!! YOUR A GENIUS!!!
June 19th, 2014 7:09am
Thanks! This ended up working, although I had to wait a bit - at first after I re-installed the windows update KB-something, it just displayed a message along the lines of "An error occurred, could not install update."
June 27th, 2014 5:58pm
D8Hj's answer (create a new user, log in as that, then log back in as the original admin account) worked for me too. I didn't want to muck around uninstalling updates, as I have just had a nightmarish time trying to deal with tangled-up updates on
my wife's computer (which was already at 8.1).
I discovered the first time I tried D8Hj's approach that I was logged in as both users. I had to make sure I was logged out of the new (non-admin) account before logging back in to my admin account.
The machine that didn't want to let me upgrade to Windows 8.1 was a fairly new Dell desktop.
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Edited by
gamma_7
Wednesday, July 02, 2014 10:47 AM
July 2nd, 2014 10:41am
Jessica_Deen's suggestion was right on the money! Thanks so much!
August 6th, 2014 6:37pm
Hi thank you.. as suggested I have uninstalled but when I clicked after check for windows update it has searched for updates and display message "you are set to automatically install updates " we'll install 50 important automatically. they'll be installed
during your pc scheduled maintenance. please advise me what shall I do??
Thank you in advance...
August 13th, 2014 3:38am
My laptop has the same problem but mine doesn't have KB2871389, what do I do?
August 19th, 2014 12:28am
Thank you so match for freeing me from the frustration. Having said that this is one of the ways that Microsoft is losing the competition, I have been struggling with a number of issues ever since getting my Windows laptop. The setting of accounts
was also another conundrum. With this experience I won't even consider a Wimndows phone, I will stay with Android.
August 21st, 2014 9:13am
Thank you! It works now. This update has been so annoying to try and install. Hopefully, I won't have to worry about this problem anymore.
August 22nd, 2014 9:29pm
Thank you HStar123
August 23rd, 2014 7:35am
Try this it worked for me
First, find where all the updates for windows are listed. Go to Control Panel ---> Programs. Then under Programs and Features, you'll see a link called "View Installed Updates". Under Microsoft Windows, scroll until you find KB2871389.
Uninstall it, and then accept the prompt to reboot your computer.
Now, login under your account (that has admin privileges) and then go to the corner until the floating menu comes up and choose settings. From settings choose change PC settings at the bottom. Then, click on "windows
update" at the bottom of the right hand side of your screen. Check for updates now and it will take a few minutes, but they will find one (KB2871389). There
is a message telling you that it will download automatically in a few days, but ignore that, click on the link for one important update, and choose install now (or some such thing).
Log in on an admin account, go to the store, choose the 8.1 update, and now, no admin problems.
Totally works ... thumbs up!
September 2nd, 2014 2:19pm
Thank you it work for me!!!
October 5th, 2014 10:46am
Oh thank you thank you thank you!!! It worked :)
October 19th, 2014 10:18am
HI,
I have also battled to install 8.1 and saw your article. I followed all your instructions and windows 8.1 is downloading but very slow. Like in Half hour it only downloaded 1%. I dont think that it is normal downloading time. Can you please suggest something
to help me.
Thank you
October 23rd, 2014 3:32pm
November 13th, 2014 7:30pm
Wow. I have brand new dell xps and have same problem and this fix worked! Amazing and the update was for like a printer fix, anyway follow directions and have heart it works! Thanx.
November 14th, 2014 10:28am
Try this it worked for me
First, find where all the updates for windows are listed. Go to Control Panel ---> Programs. Then under Programs and Features, you'll see a link called "View Installed Updates". Under Microsoft Windows, scroll until you find KB2871389.
Uninstall it, and then accept the prompt to reboot your computer.
Now, login under your account (that has admin privileges) and then go to the corner until the floating menu comes up and choose settings. From settings choose change PC settings at the bottom. Then, click on "windows
update" at the bottom of the right hand side of your screen. Check for updates now and it will take a few minutes, but they will find one (KB2871389). There
is a message telling you that it will download automatically in a few days, but ignore that, click on the link for one important update, and choose install now (or some such thing).
Log in on an admin account, go to the store, choose the 8.1 update, and now, no admin problems.
Did exactly as told, but the "change pc settings" at the bottom does not work upon clicking it
November 23rd, 2014 6:52pm
THANK YOU SO MUCH!
December 6th, 2014 5:23pm
This process was the correct resolution. Thank You!
December 20th, 2014 4:20am
thankssss work for me
December 21st, 2014 8:22pm
Try this it worked for me
First, find where all the updates for windows are listed. Go to Control Panel ---> Programs. Then under Programs and Features, you'll see a link called "View Installed Updates". Under Microsoft Windows, scroll until you find KB2871389.
Uninstall it, and then accept the prompt to reboot your computer.
Now, login under your account (that has admin privileges) and then go to the corner until the floating menu comes up and choose settings. From settings choose change PC settings at the bottom. Then, click on "windows
update" at the bottom of the right hand side of your screen. Check for updates now and it will take a few minutes, but they will find one (KB2871389). There
is a message telling you that it will download automatically in a few days, but ignore that, click on the link for one important update, and choose install now (or some such thing).
Log in on an admin account, go to the store, choose the 8.1 update, and now, no admin problems.
Sadly I don't have that update. I am a tech of over 25 years and I am stumped that I can't figure this one out. I am an admin yet I can't do most admin tasks. Time to start experimenting. Hah.
January 2nd, 2015 4:51pm
Time to start experimenting. Hah.
Yes. Use ProcMon filtering on Operation Is WriteFile to find your diagnostics.
January 3rd, 2015 3:40pm
Worked perfectly! Thanks!
January 8th, 2015 2:49am
Hello, I have read through the thread and see we all have the Dell with the same problem. I too tried each item on here including the removal and reinstall of that one named update BUT it did not help. I did make a USB ISO copy of the
Windows 8.1 update and that is the only thing that did work. http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-8/create-reset-refresh-media use this link to download the media you need. This did solve my problem.
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Edited by
ComputerTutor321
Wednesday, March 25, 2015 5:49 PM
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Proposed as answer by
ComputerTutor321
Wednesday, March 25, 2015 5:49 PM
March 25th, 2015 5:49pm
Hello, I have read through the thread and see we all have the Dell with the same problem. I too tried each item on here including the removal and reinstall of that one named update BUT it did not help. I did make a USB ISO copy of the
Windows 8.1 update and that is the only thing that did work. http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-8/create-reset-refresh-media use this link to download the media you need. This did solve my problem.
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Edited by
ComputerTutor321
13 hours 32 minutes ago
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Proposed as answer by
ComputerTutor321
13 hours 32 minutes ago
March 26th, 2015 1:51pm
I checked for this update and I do not have it in my list. Any other options that you know of will rectify this option?
I had 8.1 on my system until I had a virus that caused me to reset my system to factory defaults. I am listed as the administrator and I to wonder if there is something in the bio I may have to change?
May 27th, 2015 4:51pm
Did you ever find out the answer? This is where I am now. Everyone who shows this feature seems to be able to uninstall it to fix their issue and yet I do not have it to uninstall? Help!
May 27th, 2015 4:57pm
Everyone who shows this feature seems to be able to uninstall it to fix their issue and yet I do not have it to uninstall?
Are you sure that you are responding to exactly the same symptom description? E.g. you may have been attracted by the thread title but not be trying to install W8.1 but already have it and possibly even W8.1.2 (aka KB3000850) as well (in which case
the update which was found for the others' workaround would have been buried by that service pack). This is why it is a good idea to start your own thread with your own details.
May 28th, 2015 11:54am
What worked for me was creating another user account, logging in as the new user then back in as the 1st user (do this twice). The 2nd time I logged back in as the 1st user it let me download 8.1
I needed to do this to (well the new account I created was an admin and it worked just logging into that). What a ballsup MS made with this!
July 30th, 2015 7:31am