HELP!! - Laptop not updating

[DiscoDes]

I have a 6 month old Acer laptop

It flagged up it needed to do a Windows update to 8.1 I think (it was running 8) and I rebooted it this morning and left it while I work upstairs on my work laptop.

I went downstairs at 13:30 and it says it's installing update 3 of 4.

It must have been in this state for the last 4 - 5 hours! Saying "Do not power off" so I have'nt.

It's no slouch i5 4gb SSD+HDD hybrid drive.

I have tweaked Windows 8 a bit by ditching Metro at Start-Up and installing a Start menu.

This was how I foobar'd my desktop, by switching it off after it hanging doing an update and I don't want this to happen with the laptop.

Any suggestions?

[Pepperty]

any use?

If you're using Upgrade Assistant or a DVD to upgrade to Windows 8.1, and the Setup program stops responding, here are some possible causes and things you can try to fix the problem.

Setup might still be working in the background. It can take up to two hours for Windows 8.1 to install. If you've waited two hours, restart your PC to see if it shows the Windows welcome screen.

Your PC might have hardware or drivers that aren't compatible. If Upgrade Assistant didn't complete, check the Windows Compatibility Center for any known hardware or driver incompatibilities. Disconnect all unnecessary external hardware from your PC before running the Windows 8.1 Setup program again.

Your PC might have software that's blocking the upgrade. If you have antivirus software, you might need to uninstall it before upgrading to Windows 8.1. We recommend that you use removal tools provided by the software manufacturer, if available. If you're using encryption software, you might need to suspend it before upgrading.

There might be a problem with the installation media. For best results, install directly from the Windows 8.1 Setup program. However, if you do create installation media to install Windows 8.1, then we recommend you use a USB flash drive rather than a DVD. If you need or prefer to use a DVD, select a slower write speed for burning the DVD—the slower the write speed, the better the chance that the burning process will succeed.

[DiscoDes]

May 1, 2014 14:07:27 GMT Pepperty said:

any use?

If you're using Upgrade Assistant or a DVD to upgrade to Windows 8.1, and the Setup program stops responding, here are some possible causes and things you can try to fix the problem.

Setup might still be working in the background. It can take up to two hours for Windows 8.1 to install. If you've waited two hours, restart your PC to see if it shows the Windows welcome screen.

Your PC might have hardware or drivers that aren't compatible. If Upgrade Assistant didn't complete, check the Windows Compatibility Center for any known hardware or driver incompatibilities. Disconnect all unnecessary external hardware from your PC before running the Windows 8.1 Setup program again.

Your PC might have software that's blocking the upgrade. If you have antivirus software, you might need to uninstall it before upgrading to Windows 8.1. We recommend that you use removal tools provided by the software manufacturer, if available. If you're using encryption software, you might need to suspend it before upgrading.

There might be a problem with the installation media. For best results, install directly from the Windows 8.1 Setup program. However, if you do create installation media to install Windows 8.1, then we recommend you use a USB flash drive rather than a DVD. If you need or prefer to use a DVD, select a slower write speed for burning the DVD—the slower the write speed, the better the chance that the burning process will succeed.

I'll leave it for a couple more hours......................

[Pepperty]

yeah... I go for that, then I pour a few drinks to calm nerves and switch off PC and back on hopefully - while I'm numb!!!

[DiscoDes]

HALLELUJAH!

I turned it off fully then turned it back on convinced it would not work and it's BACK!

IT'S ALIVE!


Woohooo!

Happy Dance!

I was SO convinced it would not re-boot.

[ronaldo]

and after all of that 8.1 dosent seem to work any better than 8

[DiscoDes]

May 1, 2014 14:57:13 GMT ronaldo said:

and after all of that 8.1 dosent seem to work any better than 8

TRUE, no difference as far as i can tell

[VapingBad]

Right click the Windows icon in the bottom left of the desk top: now you have a Shutdown, Restart menu.

[DiscoDes]

May 1, 2014 15:52:35 GMT VapingBad said:

Right click the Windows icon in the bottom left of the desk top: now you have a Shutdown, Restart menu.

I don't have one as I have a 3rd party Start button program installed that gives you a Windows 7 style start menu, with the ususal sleep/shutdown/hibernate options.

[VapingBad]

See the massive usability upgrade your missing but I doubt you'll miss it.

[Super-Shiny]

Little bit of tweaking here and there (no software needed) and i have got windows 8.1 pretty much the same as my good old trusty windows XP setup/looks

[TillyFTW]

just get windows 7

[boyofford]

May 8, 2014 21:15:14 GMT TillyFTW said:

just get windows 7

Think windows 8 runs better to be honest, as in faster. Also does a grand job on lesser hardware, better than windows 7.

After the initial shock I've got used to it, just ignore the stupid tiles, set it to default to desktop and pin programs you mostly use to taskbar. That's what I've done at work with people having to leave xp behind and had minimal problems/stupid questions, thank fully.

[Bluefish]

You poor windows people

[boyofford]

May 8, 2014 22:59:23 GMT Bluefish said:

You poor windows people

Only at work I promise, well and on mrs' computer.