There are four Windows 8.1 editions, and each offers specific features. You can narrow your options for selecting an operating system by learning the basics about each:

Each Windows 8.1 edition has minimum and maximum system settings for CPU sockets and RAM, among other things. The hardware you use to install Windows 8.1 must meet these requirements.

Table 1-1 details minimum system requirements for Windows 8.1.

It’s important to note, when talking about 32-bit and 64-bit operating systems, that you can’t perform an in-place upgrade of a compatible and upgradable 32-bit operating system to a 64-bit operating system (in-place means you can opt to keep the user’s personal files, applications, and Windows settings, or some combination of those). You’ll have to perform a clean installation in these instances, and your hardware will have to support the 64-bit edition.

There are lots of other features to compare among these four Windows 8.1 editions. The best way to see every option is to visit http://www.microsoft.com and search for Compare Windows 8.1 Editions and then choose Windows 8.1 Enterprise | Compare Editions in the results. However, Table 1-2 shows the most notable differences among them, which will certainly be enough information to rule out editions that won’t work for a client. (Don’t worry if you aren’t familiar with all of the features in the list; you’ll learn about most, if not all of them, throughout this book.)

Table 1-2 details the most notable differences among the four Windows 8.1 editions.

There are a few other requirements not listed thus far; you’ll need an Internet connection to access the Windows Store and to get online, and you’ll need a compatible touch device to use touch features. Users will also need a Microsoft Account to use certain apps and the Windows Store.

Finally, all editions offer automatic app updates from the Windows Store, Internet Explorer 11, 3-D printing support, Biometric Enrollment, InstantGo, MiraCast Wireless Display Support, Mobile Hotspot and Wi-Fi Tethering, Wi-Fi Direct Wireless Printing Support, Device Enrollment, Exchange ActiveSync, Open MDM Support, Work Folders, Workplace Join, Device Encryption, Family Safety, Multifactor Authentication for Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) support, Remote Business Data Removal, Trusted Boot, Windows SmartScreen, Built-In Virtual Private Network (VPN) Clients, Remote Desktop Client, and others. Make sure you are familiar with the entire list of features before sitting for the exam.

After you have decided which edition of Windows 8.1 you want to install on a particular workstation or in a specific scenario, you’ll need to verify the computer meets the minimum requirements to support it. One way is to manually compare the requirements to the hardware that is installed on the workstation(s) in question.

There are several ways to check a computer for hardware readiness; if you only have a handful of computers to evaluate, you can you do so using the System Information tool. You can manually compare what is listed there to the list of minimum requirements for the edition of Windows you want to install. This will become tedious quickly though, especially if you have more than a half-dozen or so workstations to assess. You can access the System Information window (see Figure 1-1) by typing msinfo32.exe on the Start screen.

Figure 1-1. Using the System Information tool.

If you’d rather automate the task of assessing a computer, you can use the Windows Upgrade Assistant, which is much more user-friendly than manual evaluations. Again, though, this is a per-computer evaluation. You can access the Windows 8.1 Upgrade Assistant from http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows-8/upgrade-to-windows-8. Click the link to Windows 8.1 Upgrade Assistant. That webpage is shown in Figure 1-2.

You should, in any circumstance, run the Windows 8.1 Upgrade Assistant at least on a user’s single computer, on all computers if possible in a small business (because their configurations and software will likely vary from one computer to another), and on machines that are representative of what you want to upgrade in an enterprise. This can help you uncover problems you might not have thought of (or will need to test for later). For instance, the screen resolution of a small netbook might not be supported by Windows 8.1. This type of conflict will certainly cause problems. You might also discover that software you currently use will have to be updated to work with Windows 8.1 or that you need new device drivers for legacy printers and other hardware. Figure 1-3 shows a sample compatibility report.

Figure 1-2. Locating the Windows 8.1 Upgrade Assistant.

Figure 1-3. Results of the Windows 8.1 Upgrade Assistant can help you determine compatibility.

After you’ve determined what edition of Windows 8.1 to install and assessed the available hardware, you might have to perform some hardware upgrades. You might even have to replace older computers with new ones. Often though, you can repurpose the older computers and buy new ones for only those clients that require them to help minimize costs.

With the hardware evaluation complete, you’ll need to take a few more steps. One of the most important is to verify that the software the client uses and depends on works properly with Windows 8.1. You’ll have to set up a test machine (or multiple test machines) to determine this, and if the software doesn’t work you can try it in Program Compatibility mode (see Figure 1-4). You open the Program Compatibility Troubleshooter from Control Panel and work through it to define the problem and try solutions. For the most part, the solution comes down to running the problematic application in the mode in which it was designed to run (perhaps Windows Vista or Windows XP). If problems persist or can’t be resolved, you’ll have to reassess the upgrade or try other options such as hosting the application on a network server or in the cloud. (A better option is to replace the outdated software with something that is compatible for the long term, but this isn’t generally something that’s easy to do.)

If Program Compatibility mode doesn’t resolve compatibility problems, you still have options. You can use Microsoft Application Virtualization software (MS App-V), which allows applications to be streamed to any client from a virtual application server. It removes the need for traditional local installation of the applications, which resolves problems associated with incompatibility. On single workstations, Client Hyper-V might be more suitable. However, Client Hyper-V only runs on 64-bit PCs that are running the 64-bit version of Windows 8 Professional or Enterprise.

In the end, you might determine that you can’t afford the upgrade, that proprietary company software has to be updated to something compatible before you can, that you’ll need to stream the application or run it on a virtual machine, or that an upgrade is warranted and will be successful. If you decide that an upgrade is warranted, you’ll have to choose to install the operating system as an upgrade or to install the operating system clean.

Figure 1-4. Locate and run the Program Compatibility Troubleshooter.

The question of whether to install an operating system clean or to upgrade what’s already there, for a home or small business user at least, often comes down to how much data there is to move. It could also depend on whether the user has the product ID codes required to reinstall applications if a clean installation is performed, whether the computer is functioning normally and efficiently, and whether it is also free of malware and viruses. What operating system is being upgraded also matters; you can perform an in-place upgrade on a Windows 7 or Windows 8 computer, which retains the user’s personal data, applications, and configuration settings, which a home user often desires.

Often, upgrading a healthy Windows 7 computer is preferable for end users who aren’t computer savvy because (except for the changes in the operating system itself) their settings, applications, printer configurations, network settings, desktop backgrounds, screensavers, and so forth come out of the installation unscathed. Users aren’t bombarded with change when an in-place upgrade is performed, and you don’t have to reinstall their applications, network, and so forth.

Upgrading isn’t always an option for home users (or for that matter, any user). If a computer must be replaced because it is old or incompatible, or if the computer is plagued with impossible-to-remove malware, web browser toolbars, and unwanted search engines, the in-place upgrade can’t be performed. In general, it’s best to do a clean install. True in-place upgrades can’t be performed on computers that run any compatible operating system before Windows 7 either. Table 1-3 outlines what is and isn’t transferred when any kind of upgrade is performed.

In larger enterprises, the decision to upgrade or perform a clean installation depends on the factors listed thus far (and perhaps others, such as how much time and money it will cost to retrain thousands of employees, install updated hardware, update proprietary software, and so on), but more often than not a clean installation will be performed on computers in an enterprise. The reasons are many, but knowing exactly what is on each machine lets the enterprise reduce costs associated with training, support, and upgrades, which is always a major coup for network administrators. Also, network administrators can test Windows updates, app updates, and other software before it’s installed, knowing that it is an appropriate test for all of the affected computers. A clean install also strips the computer of lingering problems or hidden malware.

In addition, in enterprises, most users store their data on network servers, and those same servers maintain user profiles including but not limited to configuration settings and logon credentials, which makes migrating data pretty straightforward (and safe). Data is stored on servers, too, so you don’t have to worry too much about accidental data loss. Additionally, larger domains likely have the tools already in place to migrate user data, profiles, settings, and so on, and making use of those tools is a plus. Whatever the reason, when all of the computers are virtually identical, they are much easier to manage. There are lots of enterprise-compatible options to help you assess upgrade strategies, many of which are introduced later in this chapter.

Answer the following questions to test your knowledge of the information in this objective. You can find the answers to these questions and explanations of why each answer choice is correct or incorrect in the “Answers” section at the end of this chapter.

Most installations that you perform manually go smoothly, whether they are clean installs or upgrades. A wizard walks you through the tasks necessary and lets you configure your own disks and partitions if you choose; the computer reboots when it needs to without interaction from you; and once the process is complete you are prompted to work through various setup tasks to personalize the computer with settings, account information, available networks, and even the color of the Start screen, among other things. No matter which option you choose (clean or upgrade), though, you should always back up the users’ data before you start.

A clean installation is the simplest way to install Windows 8.1 on a new computer or a computer or disk partition off of which you are willing to wipe all data (format). After you’ve backed up the users’ data (if applicable), there are two ways to get started: You can supply a boot disk if the computer has no operating system on it, or you can boot the computer from the Windows 8.1 installation files if it does. During the installation you might opt to choose a custom installation option, in which you will choose on which partition to install Windows if multiple options exist or create and delete partitions as applicable.

These are the steps for installing the operating system clean on a computer that already has one installed (and you’ll see some of the related screens throughout this chapter). This is the simplest installation scenario (except for upgrading a Windows 8 computer to Windows 8.1).

To upgrade a computer running Windows 7 to a compatible, upgradable edition of Windows 8.1, perform the following steps (the steps you take might be slightly different from these depending on the edition you’re installing). These are the steps for upgrading Windows 7 Ultimate to Windows 8.1 Enterprise.

The setup process for Windows 8.1 requires you work through the same setup steps. You’ll need to do the following:

When the installation and setup is complete, you’ll see the Windows 8.1 Start screen, shown in Figure 1-6.

Figure 1-6. The Windows 8.1 Start screen.

To upgrade Windows 8 to Windows 8.1, you’ll use the Windows Store, provided the user has a retail or OEM-activated version of Windows 8. If the computer was activated using Volume Licensing, the user won’t be offered the update there.

To install Windows 8.1 from the Windows Store, follow these steps:

You learned earlier that it is possible to upgrade Windows XP and Windows Vista machines to Windows 8.1. The steps for performing the installation are the same as outlined already in this objective. However, you also learned that not everything gets transferred during the upgrade. If you upgrade Windows XP to Windows 8.1, only the users’ personal files are carried over. Applications must be reinstalled and Windows settings re-created. If you upgrade Windows Vista to Windows 8.1, only the users’ personal files and Windows settings are maintained, and applications must be reinstalled.

Therefore, before you upgrade any machine that has Windows XP or Windows Vista installed, you should carefully and methodically back up the data on it. I say carefully and methodically because if a computer is that old, there could be user data everywhere, including the root drive, the Program Files folder, and other places that a common backup won’t normally include. With that done, you can perform the installation upgrade.

However, upgrades aren’t generally the better option. Clean installations provide more reliable results. Thus, if there’s any way to perform a clean installation instead of an upgrade, you should opt for it. There are several migration options from which to choose when this is the case.

After installation is complete, you might need or want to install additional Windows features. There are two areas where you can do this. You can install Windows features from Control Panel (which is technically turning them on, not installing them), and you can install additional features by purchasing those features from Microsoft. You can also configure Windows 8.1 for additional languages.

Install additional features

One place to enable additional features is Control Panel. If you’re new to Windows 8.1, you can right-click the Start button in the lower-left corner of the screen to get to it quickly. Once in Control Panel, in Category view, click Programs, and then select Turn Windows features on or off, as shown in Figure 1-8.

Figure 1-8. Turn Windows features on or off.

You can also add new features to Windows 8.1 that are not included with it. If you have Windows 8.1 installed, you can add the Windows 8.1 Pro Pack, which gives you access to all of the features in Windows 8.1 Pro and Media Center. If you have Windows 8.1 Pro already, you can just add Media Center. To get started, type add features on the Start screen and in the results click Add features To Windows 8.1 (see Figure 1-9). You can also navigate to http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows-8/feature-packs using Internet Explorer.

Figure 1-9. Add features to Windows 8.1.

After you click Yes to bypass the User Account Control box, you’ll have the option to either buy a key online or type a product key you already own. Whichever you select, follow the prompts to purchase and install the new features. Once installation completes (the computer will restart during the installation), you’ll see the new features.

Configure Windows for additional languages

Windows 8.1 includes support for additional languages. By adding a language, you can change the language you use to read and write in Windows, apps, and the web. Adding a language involves five steps, each outlined in its own section here.

Add a language

To add a language (using the Windows 8.1 charms with which you should become familiar), follow these steps:

1. Position your cursor at the bottom or top right of the screen, click Settings, and then click Change PC Settings.

2. Click Time And Language, click Region And Language, and then click Add A Language.

3. Click the desired language from the list. If another list appears, click the desired option (see Figure 1-10).

   

   Figure 1-10. Sometimes a language has several options.

Download and install language packs

To see your preferred language used in Windows and apps, you might need to download the appropriate language pack. To download a language pack, follow these steps:

1. Continuing from the previous set of steps, click the language you want to use in the right pane.

2. Some languages such as English (United Kingdom) have Language Pack Available underneath them. If that is the case, click Options.

3. Click Download. (This might take some time.)

Change your Windows display language

To change your display language, follow these steps:

1. Continuing from the previous set of steps, return to the Time And Language, Region And Language section of PC Settings if applicable.

2. Click the language to set as the primary language.

3. Click Set As Primary. If the language can become your Windows display language, you’ll see Will Be Display Language After Next Sign-In appear under the language.

4. Sign out and then sign back in to finish.

Switch between keyboards

When you add a language, you can type in that language. Before you can do that, you must switch between keyboards or input methods. The easiest way is to press the Windows key + Spacebar. You can also switch by using the language abbreviation on the taskbar (see Figure 1-11). Note that the taskbar shows the time and date format the way it is displayed in the selected language.

Figure 1-11. Switch languages by using the taskbar.

Add a keyboard layout for a language

Finally, you’ll need to add a keyboard layout for your language and possibly make it your default keyboard. To add a keyboard layout for a language, follow these steps:

1. Open Control Panel and in Small Icons or Large Icons view, click Language.

2. Click Advanced Settings.

3. Under Override For Default Input Method, choose the keyboard layout you’d like to make your default keyboard and then click Save.

There are two more ways to install Windows 8.1 to discuss here. You can install as Windows To Go and you can install Windows 8.1 onto a VHD. You’ll need to be able to activate the operating system in either instance, so make sure you have the proper activation codes (or volume licensing) to do so before you start.

Network administrators often create their own custom installation files with Windows 8.1 so that the installation file contains device drivers, software, updates, custom wallpapers and screensavers, and other items required by the target computers. You can add these to minimize what must be done after installation completes. There are a lot of steps involved in creating a custom installation, and a high-level outline is provided here.

To create a custom installation, you’ll need to download and install the Windows ADK. The ADK contains the tools you’ll need to perform the required tasks. You’ll also need a reference computer that you’ll set up to represent a typical computer in your organization. You’ll need a test computer to test the installation image you’ll create from the reference computer, an empty USB drive or CD for creating a Windows PE disk, and an external storage device where you can create the share that contains the installation files.

With all of those things in place, you’ll do the following:

Answer the following questions to test your knowledge of the information in this objective. You can find the answers to these questions and explanations of why each answer choice is correct or incorrect in the “Answers” section at the end of this chapter.

There are two scenarios to consider when a migration of data is required. The first is when the user wants to upgrade a single computer that is currently running Windows XP or Windows Vista to Windows 8.1. This type of migration is called wipe-and-load because that’s what you do; you migrate the data off the hard drive and store it somewhere else, and then you format (wipe) the hard disk and install (load) the new operating system. With a wipe-and-load migration, you need somewhere to store the data temporarily, until you can transfer it back. This is generally a network drive or an external hard drive.

The other migration scenario is when the user obtains a new computer and wants to migrate data from the old computer to the new one. This is called a side-by-side migration because that’s what you have; there is an old computer with data on it sitting next to (physically or virtually) the new one to which you’d like to transfer the data. You can connect these computers directly to transfer the data. Generally this involves connecting the two with a Windows Easy Transfer cable. However, you can also use this method to migrate files, settings, accounts, and so on over a network to another computer.

You can achieve migrations using the Windows Easy Transfer Wizard by either starting from the old computer or starting, if applicable, from the new one. If you have a new computer that already runs Windows 8.1, you can type migwiz at the Start screen to begin. You’ll be prompted to go to the old computer and run WET from there though, so it doesn’t really matter where you start. If you only have one computer, you have several options for starting Windows Easy Transfer:

Whatever option you choose, once you’ve launched Windows Easy Transfer, you can begin the migration process. The wizard will walk you through the migration process. There are a lot of scenarios because there are various options regarding where to save the data, what to save, and whether you’re starting from the old computer, starting from the new one, or upgrading a single computer. Instead of covering each scenario here, I’ll list the general process you’ll work through as you follow the wizard’s prompts. Remember, you’ll need to have an area where you can store the files you collect until you can transfer them or have a network in place for transferring them.

The Windows Easy Transfer Wizard will ask for the following information:

In a domain, users do not generally store their files on their workstations. Instead, they store their files on file servers. This provides a great deal of security because files and folders can be backed up on a regular basis, access can be globally controlled and limited to only those who require it, and users can access the data when away from their workstations from virtually any computer. Also, a computer can be reimaged quickly because the users’ data and profile information is stored off of their workstation; a full migration isn’t needed. Additionally, if a user loses a laptop, data that is stored on the file server doesn’t go missing with it; the data is safe on the central server. Often, this type of configuration is complimented with other technologies such as BitLocker, roaming user profiles, offline files, and even technologies related to accessing data from domain servers over the Internet using various forms of secure connections. In an enterprise, redirecting where data is saved involves connecting the workstation to an Active Directory Domain Services domain and creating a Group Policy object that specifies what folders to relocate and where that new location is.

On a Windows 8.1 workstation, you can configure something similar. You can change the save location to another folder on the same computer, another drive on the computer, a drive attached externally, or a share in a workgroup.

To configure folder location on a Windows 8.1 computer, follow these steps:

There are other methods to redirect and manage data for the mobile user: Sync Center, Work Folders, Offline Files, and Roaming User Profiles. Sync Center, Work Folders, and Offline file policies are outlined in Chapter 5. Roaming user profiles are detailed in the next section.

A user profile consists of the user’s personal folders, library data, user-specific registry settings, desktop backgrounds, Internet Explorer favorites, and various application settings and computer configurations, among other things. A user profile is configured automatically the first time a user logs on to a computer, whether it is a single computer, a computer in a workgroup, or one that is part of a domain, and it is then reloaded every time the user logs in. There are three traditional types of profiles: Local, Roaming, and Mandatory. With Windows 8 and Windows 8.1, a new kind of profile has emerged, though. Let’s look at that first.

Explore and configure a Microsoft Account profile

Starting with Windows 8, users are encouraged to create and log on to their new Windows 8–based computers with a Microsoft Account. This Microsoft Account is really a new kind of limited user profile. When applied, part of the user’s profile is stored in (synced to) the cloud and saved there. When the user logs on with the same account to that same computer or any other computer, the profile is automatically downloaded and applied, provided an Internet connection is available to obtain the latest saved profile. This means that a fair portion of the user’s profile follows from computer to computer.

Some items that are synced to the cloud and included in the profile are the Start screen background color, screen tiles, and tile layout; lock screen and account pictures; desktop themes, taskbar settings, web browser favorites, open tabs, and history; language preferences; Ease of Access settings, and more. A Microsoft Account is required to use the Windows Store, SkyDrive, Calendar, and other Windows 8–based features as well. Figure 1-19 shows some of the settings that can be synced.

Figure 1-19. When using a Microsoft Account, parts of the user’s profile are available no matter what computer he or she logs on to.

Your clients might not want to sync everything to the cloud. To change what is synced to the cloud with a Microsoft Account, follow these steps:

1. Open PC settings.

2. On the main PC settings screen, click SkyDrive.

3. Click Sync settings.

4. Move the sliders as applicable to configure what to sync.

Configure a roaming user profile

A roaming user profile is a copy of a local user profile that is stored on a network server. Thus, the profile is available no matter what computer the user logs on to in the workplace. If a user makes any changes to the profile during a computing session, the changes are saved to the network server when the user logs off.

Roaming user profiles aren’t enabled by default. In the workplace, specifically in an Active Directory domain, administrators create a share for saving roaming user profiles and then the path to the profile is added to the user’s Properties dialog box (see Figure 1-20).

Figure 1-20. Configure the profile path of the roaming user profile on the user’s Properties dialog box.

Exam Tip

Because users must access and download their profile when they log on, make sure you save profiles to a file server that you back up frequently. Also, if the network bogs down in the morning when users log on, consider moving the share to a member server instead of a domain controller.

Here’s how the roaming user profile is applied when the user logs on:

1. The first time a user logs on, the entire user profile is copied from the server to the local drive. This allows access to the profile should the server become unavailable.

2. The profile is applied, and any changes made to the profile during the computing session are saved to the local drive.

3. When the user logs off, the profile is copied back to the server and includes any changes the user made during the session.

4. At the next logon, only the parts of the profile that are changed are copied from the server to the local machine, which speeds up the logon process.

Answer the following questions to test your knowledge of the information in this objective. You can find the answers to these questions and explanations of why each answer choice is correct or incorrect in the “Answers” section at the end of this chapter.