There will be no ISO downloads of Windows 8.1 for the public.

Anonymous
2013-10-17T19:50:01+00:00

Microsoft has made it known there will be no .ISO file for Windows 8.1 available to the general public.

"Consumers" here really means any copies of Windows 8 that weren't purchased through Microsoft's Volume Licensing programs. So a small business with 20 PCs to upgrade, for example, will have to do them one at a time via the Windows Store – so that's 20 separate 3.5GB downloads.

The Windows Store is the only way for consumers (non-enterprise, non-IT Pro) to download and install Windows 8.1. No ISOs will be made available, so each device needs to be updated individually via the Windows Store.

UPDATE:

Since I started this discussion, Microsoft has introduced a Media Creation Tool that makes it easy to download a .ISO file and create bootable media:

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows-8/create-reset-refresh-media

The new downloader allows for selection of:

⦁ Language

⦁ Windows 8.1 Version

⦁ Architecture

Windows for home | Previous Windows versions | Install and upgrade

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  1. Anonymous
    2013-10-25T05:27:14+00:00

    Totally disheartened :( I have tried the workaround on two pcs both running genuine W8, and I get a failed download reporting too many error blocks, every time...

    Both pcs are kept perfectly clean of  any rubbish and work perfectly well.

    This is my worst experience to date with a major Windows upgrade.

    Please please please Microsoft make the ISO available same as it is to MSDN subscribers.  Trust your customers; listen to your customers.

    What is the point of a free update if countless of us are not even able to download it?

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  2. Anonymous
    2013-10-22T08:55:31+00:00

    I followed the steps above and cancelled Windows 8 (after somewhat partial download already) to install Windows 8.1, how can I make sure all temporarily downloaded files are cleaned after setup to regain some disk space? (from both Windows 8 and Windows 8.1 asisstans) Thank you

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  3. Anonymous
    2013-10-21T01:53:53+00:00

    1). As a WIndows 8 user am I entitled to get free upgrade to Windows 8.1?

    2). Isn't signing in to Windows 8 with online account optional?

    3). Do I have to sign up to Windows Store to use Windows 8 on my machine or is it optional?

    If the answer is "yes it is optional (hxxp://www.thefreedictionary.com/optional)" then Microsoft must provide me with a way to get my Windows 8 upgraded without using Windows Store for that otherwise I would like to return all the disk instalation media of Windows 8 I have and get my money back.

    I had installed 8.0 with a local account. The upgrade did not work after downloading. In the end I created a "dummy account" with admin privileges, added a Microsoft Live account, downloaded again and installed (with difficulty - more later). Afterwards deleted the dummy account and am using the dummy account. Deleted the Skydrive app. Am not using Microsoft's included email either.

    Re difficulty installing: Since I use partition imaging backup I have turned off system restore / backup. This caused the upgrade to fail. Best is before downloading to test if other updates in the Apps will be applied.

    I rank this 8.1 on a scale worse than Windows Millennium.

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  4. Anonymous
    2013-10-20T23:44:20+00:00

    Thanks for your help on this nightmare. I am trying as I type.

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