Product Description
Only if you currently have a device running Windows 8.1 ("Core") operating system can you upgrade to Windows 8.1 Pro (Professional) using thisWindows 8.1 Pro Pack (upgrade) product. Windows 8.1 Pro allows you to connect and share your files and also adds enhanced features if you need to connect to company networks, access remote files, encrypt sensitive data, and access to other more advanced tasks.
The new Windows 8.1 start screen is your personalized home for items you use the most and can be customized according to your user preferences. Windows 8.1 Live tiles provide real-time updates from your Facebook, Twitter, and e-mail accounts. Along with the new Start screen, the lock screen now includes e-mail, calendar, and clock widgets.
To access your PC, Microsoft has replaced a standard PIN or password with a swipe gesture; unlock your PC by clicking or swiping preset locations you’ve selected on the lock screen. New functions also allow you to search for your favorite software programs, open, close, hide, resize, or run multiple apps simultaneously with the swipe of a finger or a swipe of the mouse.
Windows has also made changes to make your PC more secure by boosting its existing security features and adding "SmartScreen," which acts to prevent suspicious programs or apps from being installed or running on your machine. Finally, Windows 8 also gives you the ability to "refresh" itself to give users a new starting point and a cleaner version of Windows.
(If you're using a mouse, point to the upper-right corner of the screen, and then click Search.)
2. Enter "add features" in the search box, and then tap or click Settings.
3. Tap or click Add features to Windows 8.1 and then do one of the following:
-If you need to purchase a product key, tap or click I want to buy a product key online.
Follow the steps to purchase and enter a product key.
-If you already have a product key, tap or click I already have a product key.
4. Enter your product key and click Next.
5. Read the license terms, select the check box to accept the license terms, and then click Add features.
No. You’ll need to purchase the Windows 8.1 Pro (Professional) product. The Windows 8 Pro-Pack product let’s you upgrade only if you have a device already running Windows 8.1 ("Core") operating system.
29 of 31 people found the following review helpful.
It works, but there's an update bug that you have to workaround. (Details below)
By Nick
Let me start by saying that Windows 8.1 pro pack upgrade (Windows 8.1 pro with Media Center) is a very stable and fast product. It's not really different from Windows 8.1 (standard/core edition), but it does have the Windows Media Center included that many home users are wanting to use. It also has a lot of business oriented features, but if you need those you already know what the features are and why you want them.
Microsoft should offer Windows Media Center as a $49.99 upgrade, instead of forcing the user to pay $95-99 for Pro and not require any other features aside from Media Center. Media Center used to be included FREE with Windows 7 Home Premium, so this is basically a revenue generating move, because less folks are buying PCs these days and not many people are going to watch Media Center on a tablet, but I digress...
For the not-so-technical among you, who purchased a new PC and want to upgrade from Windows 8.1 to 8.1 Pro with Media Center, this upgrade will work. The issue is that Windows 8.1 standard edition has a bug that makes it confusing to install this upgrade.
If you follow the steps below, you should be able to easily upgrade your Windows 8.1 tablet/PC. I know there are other posts on Amzn and around the internet that tell you what to do, but the steps below hold your hand from beginning to end. No prior technical troubleshooting experience required.
Let me preface this by saying that "When in doubt, REBOOT!" has never applied more in my professional experience than with this issue! It's funny how rebooting is usually the last thing we try when all else fails.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Upgrade Procedures:
1. Swipe in from the right edge of the screen and tap the magnifying glass icon (Search) that appears.
(If you're using a mouse, point to the upper-right corner of the screen, and then click the magnifying glass icon (Search) that appears.)
2. Enter "System" in the search box, then click on the "System" icon.
(Should be the 3rd or 4th icon in the list. DO NOT click on "System Information" nor "System Configuration"...CLICK only the icon with the single word "System")
3. At the top of the "System" window, under the "Windows edition" section, click the link labeled "Get more features with a new version of Windows".
4.Click "I already have a product key".
5. Enter your product key and click Next.
6. Now the fun begins!! You will get an error message that says "This product key didn't work. Check it and try again" or a similar message. You need to IGNORE THE ERROR MESSAGE! (The error message is a bug in Windows 8.1).
7. Restart your tablet/PC. ***The add-on features will begin to install themselves immediately on the restart.***
8. Once all the features are installed and Windows boots you now need to activate with the new product key you purchased. (Even though you entered your new product key in step #5, Windows didn't save it due to the bug in step #6 and installed with a generic product key).
9. To activate with the new product key swipe in from the right edge of the screen and tap the magnifying glass icon (Search) that appears. (If you're using a mouse, point to the upper-right corner of the screen, and then click the magnifying glass icon (Search) that appears.)
10. Enter "activate" in the search box and click the first icon labeled "See if Windows is activated".
11. Click "Change Product key".
12. Enter the product key you purchased from Amzn.
13. After a few moments you should now see that Windows is activated.
14. Feel good that you now know how to work around a Microsoft bug and you can help your non-techie friends upgrade and you'll look like a genius.
55 of 68 people found the following review helpful.
Not a good value for the money.
By Computer Tech
Let's see what Microsoft is offering for the money. I am supposed to pay Microsoft 95 dollars so that I can get Windows Media Center which was already included free as part of the operating system in Windows 7.
Microsoft wants you to pay 95 dollars to upgrade your Windows 8.1 Home Edition installation to Windows 8.1 Pro. You already paid for Windows 8.1 in the price of the computer. You could have upgraded from Windows XP or Windows 7 to Windows 8 Pro for the same price. Why not give current Windows 8.1 users a break on the price, say maybe 40 dollars to upgrade to the Pro Pack?
In addition to Windows Media Center, you get Bitlocker (full disk) encryption, remote Desktop Connection and the ability to connect to a corporate/school network (Domain Join). None of these are really essential. The whole business of not including Windows Media Center as part of the operating system is ridiculous. If Microsoft has to charge for Windows Media Center for Windows 8.1, put it in the APP store for 10 dollars. This is what it would cost you to get Windows Media Center if you had Windows 8.1 Pro. But instead Microsoft is socking you for the upgrade to Pro before they will allow you to get Windows Media Center. (Windows Media Center is a program for recording live tv with a tv card in the computer).
Many people already have a license for Windows 7. It is a stable and user friendly operating system which includes Windows Media Center and a simple, reliable user interface. Rather than pay Microsoft another 95 bucks to get what was already included in Windows 7, I elected to use one of my licensed copies of Windows 7. Microsoft has really missed the need of their customers to have a simple all in one operating system which works well with no need for expensive extras. Rather than pay Microsoft another 95 dollars to get Windows Media Center, I installed Windows 7 on my home entertainment computer. I recommend you do the same or wait for Windows 9 which is already rumored to be coming late next year. By then, maybe Microsoft can work out the features and the pricing to make people want to buy the Windows operating system again!
23 of 29 people found the following review helpful.
Far too complicated to be useful
By Guitar Man
Installation
In the onset it appears to be simple. But in fact it can be a nightmare as was my case. After entering the product key a progress bar started going back and forth giving the impression it was progress. Then a message appeared. "Install failed, contact MS" and it exited. MS must have a contest on who can have the shortest most ambiguous messages or they are a message budget.
As FYI, my system was Windows 8 that I did the free upgrade to 8.1.
I contacted MS, I told them after several reboots, when I attempted to play a DVD, an message appeared that the media center was missing some video (note video) files. After a long discussion the MS support said "Because I did an upgrade, I did not have a 8.1 license key. I had to pay another $100 for the 8.1 license key." I hung up.
I then called the laptop manufacturer. Similar response, except this time "the license key is in the BIOS it can not be changed. You are stuck forever with windows 8." I hung up.
Then by accident I opened the desktop and noticed a message appear about dolby sound. I had sound so I was going to ignore it. But then thought. Why not? I re-installed the sound (note sound not video) card driver and the dolby drivers. As in it cann't hurt. But I will try it anyhow.
Now the media center worked just fine. No report of missing "video" files.
Post installation.
I wanted a simple DVD player like is on the mac's. Insert DVD and play, menu, forward, backward, and so on. Simple buttons. It seems MS decided lets see how complicated they could make the interface and added lots of useless gui objects.
It works, but in hind sight, it was a bad purchase. Oh and the media center only plays DVD's not Blu-Ray. I will have to get a 3rd party software package if I want to play them as well.
The new Windows 8.1 start screen is your personalized home for items you use the most and can be customized according to your user preferences. Windows 8.1 Live tiles provide real-time updates from your Facebook, Twitter, and e-mail accounts. Along with the new Start screen, the lock screen now includes e-mail, calendar, and clock widgets.
To access your PC, Microsoft has replaced a standard PIN or password with a swipe gesture; unlock your PC by clicking or swiping preset locations you’ve selected on the lock screen. New functions also allow you to search for your favorite software programs, open, close, hide, resize, or run multiple apps simultaneously with the swipe of a finger or a swipe of the mouse.
Windows has also made changes to make your PC more secure by boosting its existing security features and adding "SmartScreen," which acts to prevent suspicious programs or apps from being installed or running on your machine. Finally, Windows 8 also gives you the ability to "refresh" itself to give users a new starting point and a cleaner version of Windows.
System Requirements
- 1 GHz processor
- 2 GB RAM
- 20 GB available hard disk space
- 1366 × 768 screen resolution
- DirectX 9 graphics processor with WDDM driver
Additional Requirements to Use Certain Features
- Internet access (fees may apply)
- For touchscreen, you need a tablet or a monitor that supports multi-touch
- Microsoft account required for some features
- Watching DVDs requires separate playback software
- Windows Media Center license sold separately
- To access the Windows Store and to download and run apps, you need an active Internet connection and a screen resolution of at least 1024 x 768
- To snap apps, you need a screen resolution of at least 1366 x 768
How to Add Windows 8.1 Pro Pack or Windows 8.1 Media Center Pack to your edition of Windows 8.1
1. Swipe in from the right edge of the screen, and then tap Search.(If you're using a mouse, point to the upper-right corner of the screen, and then click Search.)
2. Enter "add features" in the search box, and then tap or click Settings.
3. Tap or click Add features to Windows 8.1 and then do one of the following:
-If you need to purchase a product key, tap or click I want to buy a product key online.
Follow the steps to purchase and enter a product key.
-If you already have a product key, tap or click I already have a product key.
4. Enter your product key and click Next.
5. Read the license terms, select the check box to accept the license terms, and then click Add features.
If you were running Windows 8.1, your PC will restart automatically andWindows 8.1 Pro with Media Center will be available for use.
If you were running Windows 8.1 Pro, your PC will restart automatically and Windows Media Center will be available for use.
FAQ
Can I upgrade my PC currently running Windows 7, Windows XP, Windows Vista, Windows 95, or Windows 2000 to Windows 8.1 using the Windows 8.1 Pro Pack product?No. You’ll need to purchase the Windows 8.1 Pro (Professional) product. The Windows 8 Pro-Pack product let’s you upgrade only if you have a device already running Windows 8.1 ("Core") operating system.
Product Details
- Brand: Microsoft
- Released on: 2013-10-10
- Platform: Windows 8
- Format: Download
- Original language: English
Features
- Easily connect to company networks
- Access files on the go
- Encrypt data
Customer Reviews
Most helpful customer reviews29 of 31 people found the following review helpful.
It works, but there's an update bug that you have to workaround. (Details below)By Nick
Let me start by saying that Windows 8.1 pro pack upgrade (Windows 8.1 pro with Media Center) is a very stable and fast product. It's not really different from Windows 8.1 (standard/core edition), but it does have the Windows Media Center included that many home users are wanting to use. It also has a lot of business oriented features, but if you need those you already know what the features are and why you want them.
Microsoft should offer Windows Media Center as a $49.99 upgrade, instead of forcing the user to pay $95-99 for Pro and not require any other features aside from Media Center. Media Center used to be included FREE with Windows 7 Home Premium, so this is basically a revenue generating move, because less folks are buying PCs these days and not many people are going to watch Media Center on a tablet, but I digress...
For the not-so-technical among you, who purchased a new PC and want to upgrade from Windows 8.1 to 8.1 Pro with Media Center, this upgrade will work. The issue is that Windows 8.1 standard edition has a bug that makes it confusing to install this upgrade.
If you follow the steps below, you should be able to easily upgrade your Windows 8.1 tablet/PC. I know there are other posts on Amzn and around the internet that tell you what to do, but the steps below hold your hand from beginning to end. No prior technical troubleshooting experience required.
Let me preface this by saying that "When in doubt, REBOOT!" has never applied more in my professional experience than with this issue! It's funny how rebooting is usually the last thing we try when all else fails.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Upgrade Procedures:
1. Swipe in from the right edge of the screen and tap the magnifying glass icon (Search) that appears.
(If you're using a mouse, point to the upper-right corner of the screen, and then click the magnifying glass icon (Search) that appears.)
2. Enter "System" in the search box, then click on the "System" icon.
(Should be the 3rd or 4th icon in the list. DO NOT click on "System Information" nor "System Configuration"...CLICK only the icon with the single word "System")
3. At the top of the "System" window, under the "Windows edition" section, click the link labeled "Get more features with a new version of Windows".
4.Click "I already have a product key".
5. Enter your product key and click Next.
6. Now the fun begins!! You will get an error message that says "This product key didn't work. Check it and try again" or a similar message. You need to IGNORE THE ERROR MESSAGE! (The error message is a bug in Windows 8.1).
7. Restart your tablet/PC. ***The add-on features will begin to install themselves immediately on the restart.***
8. Once all the features are installed and Windows boots you now need to activate with the new product key you purchased. (Even though you entered your new product key in step #5, Windows didn't save it due to the bug in step #6 and installed with a generic product key).
9. To activate with the new product key swipe in from the right edge of the screen and tap the magnifying glass icon (Search) that appears. (If you're using a mouse, point to the upper-right corner of the screen, and then click the magnifying glass icon (Search) that appears.)
10. Enter "activate" in the search box and click the first icon labeled "See if Windows is activated".
11. Click "Change Product key".
12. Enter the product key you purchased from Amzn.
13. After a few moments you should now see that Windows is activated.
14. Feel good that you now know how to work around a Microsoft bug and you can help your non-techie friends upgrade and you'll look like a genius.
55 of 68 people found the following review helpful.
Not a good value for the money.By Computer Tech
Let's see what Microsoft is offering for the money. I am supposed to pay Microsoft 95 dollars so that I can get Windows Media Center which was already included free as part of the operating system in Windows 7.
Microsoft wants you to pay 95 dollars to upgrade your Windows 8.1 Home Edition installation to Windows 8.1 Pro. You already paid for Windows 8.1 in the price of the computer. You could have upgraded from Windows XP or Windows 7 to Windows 8 Pro for the same price. Why not give current Windows 8.1 users a break on the price, say maybe 40 dollars to upgrade to the Pro Pack?
In addition to Windows Media Center, you get Bitlocker (full disk) encryption, remote Desktop Connection and the ability to connect to a corporate/school network (Domain Join). None of these are really essential. The whole business of not including Windows Media Center as part of the operating system is ridiculous. If Microsoft has to charge for Windows Media Center for Windows 8.1, put it in the APP store for 10 dollars. This is what it would cost you to get Windows Media Center if you had Windows 8.1 Pro. But instead Microsoft is socking you for the upgrade to Pro before they will allow you to get Windows Media Center. (Windows Media Center is a program for recording live tv with a tv card in the computer).
Many people already have a license for Windows 7. It is a stable and user friendly operating system which includes Windows Media Center and a simple, reliable user interface. Rather than pay Microsoft another 95 bucks to get what was already included in Windows 7, I elected to use one of my licensed copies of Windows 7. Microsoft has really missed the need of their customers to have a simple all in one operating system which works well with no need for expensive extras. Rather than pay Microsoft another 95 dollars to get Windows Media Center, I installed Windows 7 on my home entertainment computer. I recommend you do the same or wait for Windows 9 which is already rumored to be coming late next year. By then, maybe Microsoft can work out the features and the pricing to make people want to buy the Windows operating system again!
23 of 29 people found the following review helpful.
Far too complicated to be usefulBy Guitar Man
Installation
In the onset it appears to be simple. But in fact it can be a nightmare as was my case. After entering the product key a progress bar started going back and forth giving the impression it was progress. Then a message appeared. "Install failed, contact MS" and it exited. MS must have a contest on who can have the shortest most ambiguous messages or they are a message budget.
As FYI, my system was Windows 8 that I did the free upgrade to 8.1.
I contacted MS, I told them after several reboots, when I attempted to play a DVD, an message appeared that the media center was missing some video (note video) files. After a long discussion the MS support said "Because I did an upgrade, I did not have a 8.1 license key. I had to pay another $100 for the 8.1 license key." I hung up.
I then called the laptop manufacturer. Similar response, except this time "the license key is in the BIOS it can not be changed. You are stuck forever with windows 8." I hung up.
Then by accident I opened the desktop and noticed a message appear about dolby sound. I had sound so I was going to ignore it. But then thought. Why not? I re-installed the sound (note sound not video) card driver and the dolby drivers. As in it cann't hurt. But I will try it anyhow.
Now the media center worked just fine. No report of missing "video" files.
Post installation.
I wanted a simple DVD player like is on the mac's. Insert DVD and play, menu, forward, backward, and so on. Simple buttons. It seems MS decided lets see how complicated they could make the interface and added lots of useless gui objects.
It works, but in hind sight, it was a bad purchase. Oh and the media center only plays DVD's not Blu-Ray. I will have to get a 3rd party software package if I want to play them as well.
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