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
    2013-12-08T03:26:33+00:00

    Update:  I followed the instructions from Nirmal and refreshed the store.  Then after the store had been refreshed, I couldn't see the Windows 8.1 upgrade.  I searched on google to find out why. I believe it said on the Microsoft website that if the download doesn't show up in the store, it means you need to go in to Windows Update and update your computer.  I went in to Windows Update and did my updates.  After a restart (which perhaps was all I needed to do in the first place instead of worrying about updating - as the updates I did were only optional updates) I went back into the store and saw the windows 8.1 download was back.  I clicked on it and it downloaded.  I now have Windows 8.1.

    I have this problem too.  I followed Nirmal's instructions and made sure all Windows updates were applied, restarted but the Windows 8.1 Upgrade has disappeared from the Store altogether.  Any more suggestions to fix this very annoying fail?!!

    UPDATE AND FIX

    For me the fix (eventually) was to UNINSTALL the Microsoft Update KB2871389 then download it manually and instal it again.  After doing this and restarting the machine Windows 8.1 reappeared in the Store and I was able to instal it (it fell over once during the instal but I restarted it and it installed successfully in the end).

    GOOD LUCK  :)

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  2. Anonymous
    2013-12-07T22:40:39+00:00

    Win8.1 is neither offered by nor installed via Windows Update.

    Post here instead => http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/windows8_1-windows_install-windownload

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  3. Anonymous
    2013-12-07T22:16:26+00:00

    I have this same problem.  Is there actually a fix for it?

    And stopping fobbing us off with the 'Switch it off and switch it on again' nonsense.

    Steve

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  4. Anonymous
    2013-11-28T08:44:46+00:00

    I also had this problem.

    If I follow the information given by Microsoft, I'd already thrown away my device...

    To be able to upgrade to Windows 8.1, you should have applied all Microsoft Updates.

    So I checked and it downloads updates and installs it.

    After a reboot you should have the Windows 8.1 upgrade in the store.

    Which I hadn't.

    Then they state that you need KB2871389. I downloaded this patch and installed it.

    Again a reboot is needed and while rebooting it stays on "please do not turn off your computer, applying updates" (or something like that) for 30 minutes on 15%! After 45 minutes he has finally restarted.

    Then I see that the Microsoft 8.1 upgrade is available in the store, but I cannot even download it because according to Microsoft I need an account with administrative privileges.

    Which I have!

    I checked my account even twice to be sure I'm not dreaming, I even create a new account with administrative privileges and I enable the build-in administrator account.

    Nothing works...

    Microsoft! Why are you doing this???

    Now I found out about this wsreset.exe, I execute it, restart the pc, but no Windows 8.1 upgrade in the store!

    No I checked if there are no Microsoft updates available, but I'm up to date.

    I also had the KB2871389.

    So I decided to uninstall KB2871389, restart the computer and install it again. Reboot took again 45 minutes!

    Then finally I have the Microsoft 8.1 update in the store and I could download and install it.

    Microsoft is complicating life... and it's by my knowledge the only company who sells stuff that never works for 100% and they earn tons of money with it and after all these years they still get away with it...

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