Windows 8 General Upgrade Troubleshooting

For help with the various errors and other issues that you may see during upgrading to Windows 8, refer to the appropriate section.

Table of Contents:

1. Computer Boots to a Black Screen After Windows 8 Upgrade
2. Secure Boot and Windows 8
3. Microsoft Office 2010 Starter
4. Graphics Control Panel Disappears
5. Dell Webcam Central
6. Antivirus Software
7. Bluetooth Issues
8. DVD Playback Not Supported in Windows 8
9. Windows Media Center
10. Touch Compatibility with Windows 8
11. TV Tuner Card Loses Function
12. Upgrade Installation Versus New Windows 8 PC
13. Intel Rapid Start Causes Blue Screen

Computer Boots to a Black Screen After Windows 8 Upgrade

Some Dell computers may boot to a black screen after upgrading to Windows 8 if their System BIOS has not been updated.

Secure Boot and Windows 8

Problem: Dell logo screen is not seen during initial power-on (POST) on Dell Systems.

Solution: In order to avoid potential problems related to systems not recognizing graphics cards, Dell recommends that customers should not enable Secure Boot in their BIOS prior to upgrading to Windows 8. To disable Secure Boot, restart the computer and tap the F2 key repeatedly at the Dell logo screen. Once in System Setup, locate the option for Secure Boot and disable it, then save your settings and exit to restart the computer.

Microsoft Office 2010 Starter

Problem: Office 2010 appears as a compatibility warning during the Windows 8 upgrade process. If you proceed with upgrade, Office Starter will no longer be available.

Discussion: An Office update is available from Microsoft (KB2553141) that must be installed on the box before upgrade; if it is not installed, Office 2010 Starter is no longer usable.

Solution: Visit the Microsoft Download Center before starting the Windows 8 upgrade process to install the update.

Graphics Control Panel Disappears

Problem: After upgrading to Windows 8, the control panel for your graphics card (Intel, AMD or Nvidia) disappears. Only the built-in Display control panel is available.

Discussion: The new Windows UI overrides the functions of many Windows 7 driver packages. Prior to the release of Windows 8 (October 26, 2012), new graphics drivers will be made available that restore this functionality.

Solution: Be sure to update your video driver from the Dell Drivers and Downloads website before upgrading to Windows 8.

Dell Webcam Central

Problem: After upgrading to Windows 8, Dell Webcam Central effects and other functions are not available or do not function properly.

Discussion: As part of the Windows 8 upgrade process, some files for Webcam Central are not moved correctly to the new installation of Windows.

Solution: An updated Dell Webcam Central software is not available for Windows 10 or Windows 8(8.1), you will need to use Skype instead.

Note: For more information, refer to the Dell Knowledge Base article Dell Webcam and Dell Webcam Central Software Guide

Antivirus Software

Problem: During the Windows 8 upgrade, you are asked to uninstall your antivirus (Norton, McAfee, Trend Micro, etc.) software.

Solution: Dell recommends that you uninstall your antivirus software before starting the upgrade to Windows 8, and then installing the latest version after the upgrade has completed. The latest version of your Dell-installed antivirus software can be found on the My Dell Downloads website. Be sure to record any subscription information for your product (username, password, subscription number) prior to uninstalling the product.

Bluetooth Issues

Problem: After upgrading to Windows 8, Bluetooth Services and other functions of Bluetooth do not work properly.

Solution: Dell will be updating Bluetooth drivers for most systems prior to the release of Windows 8 (October 26, 2012). Dell recommends uninstalling your Bluetooth software before upgrading to Windows 8. After the upgrade is complete, be sure to reinstall your Bluetooth driver from the Dell Drivers and Downloads website.

DVD Playback Not Supported in Windows 8

Problem: After upgrading to Windows 8, you can no longer play DVDs natively in Windows 8

Discussion: Microsoft is discontinuing codec support for DVD playback in Windows 8. Solution: To play DVDs in Windows 8, be sure to install Dell factory-installed DVD playback software such as Cyberlink PowerDVD from My Dell Downloads. If you have upgraded your computer with a third-party DVD drive, be sure to install the playback software that was included with the drive.

Windows Media Center

Problem: After upgrading to Windows 8, Windows Media Center is no longer available.

Solution: Microsoft is discontinuing in-box support for Windows Media Center with Windows 8 Professional. To upgrade to the Windows 8 Media Center pack, you will need to upgrade using the "Add Features" option in Windows 8. For customers taking advantage of the Windows 8 Upgrade Program, you will be required to pay for this upgrade. For customers who upgrade outside of the Upgrade Program at full price, the pack will be a free add-on.

Touch Compatibility with Windows 8

Problem: After upgrading to Windows 8, some older touch-enabled systems may have erratic touch behavior.

Discussion: Some older Dell computers that used touch technology provided by N-Trig may experience degraded function of their touch screen. This is due to the in-box driver for Windows 8. The affected systems are the Latitude XT, Latitude XT2, Latitude XT3, Latitude ST Tablet, XPS L502X, XPS L702X, Studio 17, Precision M4600 and Precision M6600.

Note: Not all systems noted have been tested for support of Windows 8. Be sure to check the Dell Computer Support for Windows 8 Upgrade page for information on if your computer supports an upgrade to Windows 8.

Solution: N-Trig is providing support for their touch technology for Windows 8 through Microsoft's support website. Be sure to update your drivers for touch before upgrading to Windows 8.

TV Tuner Card Loses Function

Problem: After upgrading to Windows 8, the TV tuner card in the system no longer has a default program.

Discussion: Windows Media Center is the default program associated with the TV tuner card with Windows 7 systems. Microsoft is discontinuing in-box support for Windows Media Center with Windows 8 Professional. Systems affected by this change are the XPS One 2710, Inspiron One 2330 AIO, Inspiron One 2020 AIO, Inspiron One 2320, and the Vostro 360.

Solution: To regain use of the TV tuner card, customers will need to upgrade to the Windows Media Center pack after upgrading to Windows 8. To upgrade to the Windows 8 Media Center pack, you will need to upgrade using the "Add Features" option in Windows 8. For customers taking advantage of the Windows 8 Upgrade Program, you will be required to pay for this upgrade. For customers who upgrade outside of the Upgrade Program at full price, the pack will be a free add-on.

Upgrade Installation Versus New Windows 8 PC

There are several functions that will not be available to upgrade computers, compared to a new, factory-installed Windows 8 computer, listed below:

• Dell Store inside of Windows Store not visible to upgrade computers
• Secure Boot: Only works with systems that have the UEFI 2.3.1 (BIOS)
  • Brand New Windows 8 PC - need BIOS update and clean install (assumes Win7 load was based on legacy/CSM BIOS)
  • Upgrade computers - Not available due to ROM space limitations and lack of BIOS code.
• Fast Boot: UEFI 2.3.1
  • Brand New Windows 8 PC - need BIOS update and clean install (assumes Win7 load was based on legacy/CSM BIOS)
  • Upgrade computers - OS loader performance improvements will be seen, but not full end to end performance improvement.
• Beautiful/Seamless Boot (one display resolution transition): UEFI 2.3.1 (BIOS)
  • Brand New Windows 8 PC - need BIOS update and clean install (assumes Win7 load was based on legacy/CSM BIOS)
  • Upgrade computers - Improvements will be seen after BIOS hand-off, but not full end to end improvement.
• Measured Boot: TPM & UEFI 2.3.1 (BIOS)
  • Brand New Windows 8 PC - need BIOS update and clean install (assumes Win7 load was based on legacy/CSM BIOS)
  • Upgrade computers - Reduced measurement capabilities due to old HW and lack of UEFI 2.3.1 BIOS support
• Auto Provisioned TPM: TPM and UEFI (BIOS)
  • Brand New Windows 8 PC - need BIOS update and clean install (assumes Win7 load was based on legacy/CSM BIOS)
  • Upgrade computers - Not available with older TPM hardware
• eDrive (if present): eDrive-compliant HDD & UEF - Compliant eDrive needed
• USB 3.0 speed/boot: USB 3.0 controller & UEFI boot support - USB 3.0 HW needed
• Bluetooth battery/power savings (if present): Bluetooth 4.0-LE
  • Brand New Windows 8 PC - Available
  • Upgrade computers - Not available with pre-BT4.0 HW

Intel Rapid Start Causes Blue Screen

Problem: Disabling the Intel Rapid Start Technology in the BIOS produces a black screen and ultimately a blue screen that indicates system failure.

Solution: Do not disable Intel Rapid Start Technology in the BIOS.