Windows 8.1 on Surface RT

liamog

Hi Guys.

I've the 8.1 preview running on my Surface. In order to do so I had to restore in French, do the update and then install the English US language pack.

If you've any questions let me know.

wheresmybeaver

Will there be any problem updating to the final 8.1 on your Surface RT when it becomes available? Like, you won't have to reset everything?

How's stability so far?

DjFlin

wheresmybeaver wrote: »

Will there be any problem updating to the final 8.1 on your Surface RT when it becomes available? Like, you won't have to reset everything?

There is no official work on that yet. But looking at past releases, I'd say you'll need to reset.

liamog

Stability so far is really good, it defiantly seems faster than before the update. I'll be doing a full reset anyway for the full roll out.

I've took the USB backup of the recovery partition so hopefully the Frenchness won't be a problem.

wheresmybeaver

A family member has a surface as well, despite the advantages I won't advise her to update until the final bits are there. She'd go bananas if she had to reinstall everything!

liamog

wheresmybeaver wrote: »

A family member has a surface as well, despite the advantages I won't advise her to update until the final bits are there. She'd go bananas if she had to reinstall everything!

A wise idea, I'm a bleeding edge kind of guy, I'm happy to reinstall and reflash my devices as I go along.

If there was a killer feature if be saying jump on it but to be honest it still needs some work. The new search functionality is just not up to speed yet and is the only downside of the update so far.

andrewdeerpark

2 Questions:

- Does offline folders on Skydrive work on 8.1, this was a real flaw with Windows 8 on RT as no internet no files on skydrive?
- Is outlook 2013 present and will it connect to Exchange and or Office 365?

liamog

andrewdeerpark wrote: »

2 Questions:

- Does offline folders on Skydrive work on 8.1, this was a real flaw with Windows 8 on RT as no internet no files on skydrive?
- Is outlook 2013 present and will it connect to Exchange and or Office 365?

Outlook 2013 is connected to my work exchange account, can't test Office365 but should be grand.

There is an option slide to allow offline access in the Skydrive App, just triggered it and SkyDrive is downloading over 4000 items, so looks like a yes on that front.

andrewdeerpark

Liamog
That is brilliant news if its stable I might hop it on did you do the USB drive backup option before loading.

Andrew

liamog

I think it was in the General Tab of the PC Settings.

Just to be clear it's a backup of the recovery image, not your installation.

liamog

http://www.neowin.net/news/windows-81-preview-now-available-for-pcs-with-language-packs-installed

They've updated the installer so the French method might not be needed anymore. If you fancy the update then give it a try and let us know how it goes.

andrewdeerpark

OK I have updated my Surface RT with Windows 8.1 without issue. Done it on the day of the release took a few hours.

Impressions, a big improvement all round, the highlights:
- Vastly improved mail app so much so I have not given the Outlook mail client that much time
- Skydrive offline folders seem to work flawlessly I synced all my content when I selected offline caching and away it downloaded. Upload and keeps all my skydrive file in perfect sync across Windows 8 PC and Windows phone, this is so nifty when you configure it
- Improved contacts with even better facebook linkage
- App store while not as plentiful V's Apple and Android has made some strides the new facebook app released with 8.1 being a fine example
- Far easier to link all those MP3 and movies (from torrent sites if you wish) on expandable SD card to the music and video libraries just a click addition.
- Outlook 2013 which I have briefly looked at seems identical to the desktop version did not check either exchange or office 365 connectivity
- The all apps accessible from a swipe upwards leads to a less cluttered main start screen
- IE 11 seems slick and as per the old browser flash sites seem to work perfectly

Overall its a very worthy upgrade that really improved this little tablet that has taken a lot of unfair stick.

corcadorcha

Anyone noticed that boards.ie menus do not seem to work on the Surface W8.1?
Does not work for me.
Thanks

andrewdeerpark

Try touch.boards.ie I did notice them fighting with me when a drop down is selected on the standard boards.ie pages.

_Kaiser_

corcadorcha wrote: »

Anyone noticed that boards.ie menus do not seem to work on the Surface W8.1?
Does not work for me.
Thanks

andrewdeerpark wrote: »

Try touch.boards.ie I did notice them fighting with me when a drop down is selected on the standard boards.ie pages.

Same here but yes the touch site seems to work ok. Probably worth flagging it in the Site Development or possibly Feedback forums

Scruff

andrewdeerpark wrote: »

Overall its a very worthy upgrade that really improved this little tablet that has taken a lot of unfair stick.

I'm holding off to see if someone on xda-developers can manage to get the Jailbreak working on 8.1 first. I use the tightVNC client port a lot.
its not looking good so far though

andrewdeerpark

More good news on Windows RT 8.1 their is an official NIC available:

http://www.microsoft.com/surface/en-ie/support/hardware-and-drivers/usb-to-ethernet-adapter

This is handy as wifi is not always available and I can now dispense with my laptop for log in in to most Switches and Routes requiring a NIC when configuring.

I know their was a minor hacked NIC that worked with Surface RT 8 but this looks cleaner.

Has anyone tried the official NIC?

I also here the new keyboard covers will work with the Surface RT (v1.0) device again anyone tested?

Overheal

Surface-contoured USB hub

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=&sku=937169&is=REG&Q=&A=details

andrewdeerpark

The official Microsoft Surface Ethernet adapter does not currently work, they are working on an update might be this tuesday.

PaulieC

There was a workaround mentioned on wpcentral. Requires 8.1 though

andrewdeerpark

The NIC driver workaround works perfectly now I can finally leave my laptop at home.

Here it is:

http://digitalmanblog.wordpress.com/2013/10/29/ethernet-on-surface-rt-with-windows-rt-8-1/