When will I see the Windows Pro 8.1 upgrade?

Thanks for that info & your time. Greatly appreciated.

I see the Windows 8.1 Pro update available in Windows Store, but it never fully downloads.  For the past 2 weeks I've tried to download it.  It gets to ~ 45% complete, then stops and starts over.  I've rebooted the pc many times.  Anyone with same frustrations?

I have an XPS 8500 with windows 8.0 and I get the same problem with downloading Windows 8.1 Upgrade from the Microsoft store.

I get 48% and the download restarts over again.

I would think Dell would provide the Windows 8.1 upgrade since Dell installed Windows 8.0 on my PC.

Windows 8.1 is free, so Dell should support the upgrade. At least that's my thinking. Maybe I'm asking to much.

I am not sure what the Metro tile is?

Microsoft are letting you upgrade from Windows 8.0 (Core) to Windows 8.1 (Core) for free. They will charge the same to go from Windows 8.0 Core to Windows 8.1 Pro.

Hi natakuc4;  if so, where do we find the 8.1 Core download?

As mentioned the download depends on two things.

This depends on a few things. First OEM vs. Retail:

If Retail then follow the same instructions to get the Windows 8.1 Professional .iso with the exception of the product key you use for the downloader. You must use a Windows 8.0 (Core) product key opposed to a Professional key and a Core generic product key.

If OEM there is no download; the OEM version of Windows is the version of Windows 8.0/8.1 that is included preinstalled on your Dell computer. Microsoft do not support the OEM version of Windows and have not allowed Dell to provide a download link to a .iso for installation purposes. Thus the "only" option for clean installation is to contact Dell in order to obtain a Reinstallation DVD/USB from Dell. For a system which came with Windows 8.0 Microsoft have blocked the Windows 8.1 installer from accepting Windows 8.0 product keys so Dell will have to hence provide Windows 8.0 installation media which is really inconvenient for the end user in terms of repair installs. It also means users have to all use the inconvenient store to get back to Windows 8.1.

Unofficially there is talk about getting a Windows 8.1 retail .iso from MSDN/Technet to use for clean installation. Then using a Windows 8.1 generic core product key to allow installation. There is talk about finding your embedded Windows 8.0 product key using the Windows 8 Product Key Finder: http://www.softpedia.com/get/System/System-Info/Windows-8-Product-Key-Viewer.shtml or RW-Everything http://rweverything.com/ however the second utility does not seem to work correctly in a Dell system http://www.nextofwindows.com/how-to-retrieve-windows-8-oem-product-key-from-bios/. Finally then changing product key or entering the product key via command prompt and then activating the OEM product. I have not tested it out as I do not have a Windows 8.0 OEM system. The main problem users have is where to obtain the MSDN .iso as most users do not have MSDM/Technet subscriptions and hence download from unofficial sources.

I forgot, you get 5 stars

Thanks for the reply. It makes sense as I thought this might be the case.

I ordered the Windows pro 8.1 retail with the key for $105.00 This should do the trick.

"Happy New Year"

I ordered the Windows pro 8.1 retail with the key for $105.00 This should do the trick.

Yes, absolutely it will do the trick.

Unfortunately, that appears as if it were the plan from the start; get customers to throw up their hands in frustration and shell out ~100 bucks for a retail copy of Windows 8.1. Frankly, I'll probably wind up doing the same thing if I ever experience issues that can't otherwise be resolved or simply want to do a clean install of 8.1

Happy New Year! 

hello;  This worked for me today.  I called Microsoft at 1-800-642-7676.  I had trouble installing Office 2013.  The level 1 tech exhausted all his ideas and passed to level 2 help desk.  They called be back in the 2-hour window I specified.  Level 2 tech took control of my PC, then after a few hours, decided Office 2013 would not install due to Windows 8 issue.  As we all know, Dell DOES NOT supply a Windows product key.  You cannot find it anywhere.  I called Dell multiple times asking, and their solution was to sell me one-year of tech support of $240.00.  I declined (of course).

The Microsoft Level 2 tech, said no issue with Dell OEM version of Windows 8 OS.  he asked his supervisor for a new Product ID key.  He re-ran WIN 8 install, entered in the new product ID and the OS activated!  Then the Level 2 tech installed Office 2013 without issue.  Then he asked, "is there anything else I can help you with".  He started working on this at 11:15am today, and finished at 2;30pm.  

I'm absolutely so pleased with Microsoft's support.  Never expected in today's day and age you could get this high level of service for FREE.  Yes, Microsoft never asked me for a dime.

Lucky and Happy!