Cannot upgrade to Windows 8.1 Pro

Question

XPS-15 L521X running Windows 8 Pro. I have Intel Rapid Storage Manager installed and operating (thinking this may matter). I have tried 4 times to upgrade to 8.1, no-go. It completes the upgrade to the point of restarting after making all configurations (according to the message text), but on restart it goes from Dell logo to blank screen, though I can hear the disk churning, and the mouse shows when I swipe the keypad; mouse also shows a busy indicator. I tried leaving the system alone last night for 6 hours, but when I came back it was still churning on the blank screen. When I shut down the system via power button and re-booted, it restored the original windows 8 and gave me a message that the system could not be upgraded to 8.1.

This is one of those problems; I don't know where to begin. I tried uninstalling my firewall/virus program and that didn't work. At this point I don't care to guess anymore....wondering if someone has some wisdom. I may call tech support and see what they say. I see by others' posts around the internet that there seem to many problems upgrading to 8.1.

nshaffer · Answer

I have the same problem. I tried for 6 or 7 time and nothing hapend. There someone can help us. Thank you. N Shaffer

dptrout · Answer

From looking at other posts on the forum, this is probably a video driver problem, but the solutions on other forums have not been helpful. Links provided by Dell in the solutions are broken and take me nowhere. I am confused why no one will answer this post. Dell?

I have just stayed with 8.0. Because Intel has published updated video drivers in mid Oct, I may try this again, but I am reluctant because so many users are reporting so many problems with disappearing functionalities after installing 8.1. I'm afraid to try - may let things mature a bit. I've been really happy with 8.0.

Another add to my post, want to emphasize that I'm on 8.0 pro (a retail upgrade from my OEM win 8.0 system), upgrading to 8.1 pro. Therefore, a system restore to factory settings will not work for me (a solution recommended on other posts).

I might try reinstalling and when I get the black screen, rebooting into troubleshooting and trying to install the correct drivers (if I could find the drivers), but I have low confidence right now.

Dell - could you point me to the correct drivers for 8.1? can I load those drivers on my 8.0 system in preparation for move to 8.1?

Intel graphics 4000 current driver version is 9.17.10.2932

NVIDIA GeForce GT 640M current driver version is 9.18.13.1100

Can you at least respond with the driver information? Thanks...

Philip_Yip · Answer

Since you have a retail product key try to follow this workaround to get a Windows 8.1 .iso:

http://philipyip.wordpress.com/download-windows-8-1-iso/

Once you get the retail .iso use it for clean installation. Note you may want to use a utility such as Acronis to image the Windows 8.0 installation onto an external hard drive before beginning the clean installation. For more information on both installing Windows 8.1 and also imaging the hard drive see Windows Reinstallation Guide:

http://philipyip.wordpress.com/dell-community-forums/

Windows General

Cannot upgrade to Windows 8.1 Pro

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