Windows 8.1 will not download from the Store

Anonymous
2013-10-24T15:01:11+00:00

When I attempt to download Windows 8.1 PRO from the store I get the below message:

Store

You need to use an account with Administrator privileges to install Windows 8.1 try logging in with the user account of an administrator of this PC and trying the upgrade again.

I am logged into an administrator account.  The account is in the administrators group and I can do other administrator functions with this account.  My system has 2 administrator accounts and neither one will work.  Is there a security policy I need to change to allow the upgrade?

Windows for home | Previous Windows versions | Install and upgrade

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Anonymous
2013-12-04T17:48:51+00:00

Same issue: 

Brand new Windows 8 workstation - with 100% of the updates installed and rebooted.

spent hours enabling the local admin account, creating other profiles.. running windows updates.

finally it shows up in the store - but I can't seem to download it.

The store shows up with the 8.1 upgrade - but displays the error that you have to be an administrator to install.

I uninstalled the KBKB2871389  then I downloaded it manually and  manually installed it.

After rebooting  I was able to get the 8.1 to download and install it.

Very frustrated.

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  1. Anonymous
    2014-02-07T19:16:30+00:00

    Thanks for the info.

    As an I.T. professional and Microsoft Gold Partner I have always been a huge supporter and defender of MS but I have to say that this last year has been so insanely frustrating because MS is half-assing EVERYTHING they do. I can't take it anymore.

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  2. Anonymous
    2014-02-07T10:19:36+00:00

    Different solutions appear to work on different computers. The following worked for me on my computer:

    1. Press the windows key to get into the metro interface
    2. Enter cmd
    3. Right click on the command prompt result that appears
    4. From the options, select “Run as administrator”
    5. Accept the UAC prompt
    6. At the command prompt, enable the hidden administrator account using the command "net user administrator /active:yes"
    7. Log into the built-in administrator account created as above. (No password assigned or required.)
    8. Set up a new user account. (Windows 8.1 cannot be downloaded from the app store with the built in administrator account as a message appears saying that this account cannot be used to buy apps. So log in as the new user.)
    9. Go to the Store and download Windows 8.1.
    10. Disable the hidden administrator account using the command "net user administrator /active:no"

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  3. Anonymous
    2014-02-06T22:32:21+00:00

    Thanks, but unfortunately it did not work for me.  :-(

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  4. Anonymous
    2014-02-06T22:03:27+00:00

    I uninstalled the KBKB2871389 too, and restarted, updated, saw the 8.1 upgrade in the store and it still said the admin wouldn't work, try another user.  I did and it said "you need to use and account with admin privileges"...what a waste of time and still unsuccessful.

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