Hello, I am trying to upgrade my Windows 8 to Windows 8.1 with Windows Store. But Store refuses to let me download, saying I do not have administrator rights. I am with an administrator account and a ms account login. But it still doesn't let me. I put UACs at minimum. I tried creating a new admin account, same problem. With the integrated account Administrator, which was desactivated, I can't access Store at all. I did all the updates, I ran a MS FixIt utility to checkproblems with Windows update, it fixed nothing.....

How can I upgrade to Windows8.1? Actually my question should be, how do I give myself the rights to do it?

I am really not happy of not having rights on my own machine.

Thank you for your help. I am really lost here :)

• Edited by NoraDimi Sunday, January 26, 2014 12:37 PM

• Proposed as answer by KBernardi Wednesday, January 29, 2014 5:33 PM
• Unproposed as answer by Jessica_DeenMVP, Moderator Wednesday, February 05, 2014 7:28 PM

• Proposed as answer by Tchn4te Thursday, March 06, 2014 4:26 AM

Try this it worked for me

• Proposed as answer by HStar123 Wednesday, January 29, 2014 6:38 PM
• Marked as answer by Jessica_DeenMVP, Moderator Wednesday, February 05, 2014 7:29 PM

Try this it worked for me

First, find where all the updates for windows are listed.  Go to Control Panel ---> Programs.  Then under Programs and Features, you'll see a link called "View Installed Updates".  Under Microsoft Windows, scroll until you find KB2871389.  Uninstall it, and then accept the prompt to reboot your computer.

Now, login under your account (that has admin privileges) and then go to the corner until the floating menu comes up and choose settings.  From settings choose change PC settings at the bottom.  Then, click on "windows update" at the bottom of the right hand side of your screen.  Check for updates now and it will take a few minutes, but they will find one (KB2871389).  There is a message telling you that it will download automatically in a few days, but ignore that, click on the link for one important update, and choose install now (or some such thing). 
Log in on an admin account, go to the store, choose the 8.1 update, and now, no admin problems.

I had exactly the same problem and this worked a charm!

I was unable to install 8.1 despite using my Admin account, but this fixed it.

But I worry for anyone who doesn't have tech knowledge, because this is the last thing in the world anyone would consider trying.

• Proposed as answer by Kent.Faulkner Thursday, July 03, 2014 2:35 PM
• Unproposed as answer by Kent.Faulkner Thursday, July 03, 2014 2:36 PM

I just look this up and i dont find this file on my computer at all. Any other ideas. I also have a dell, Insp, 17 7000. Its new and got it less then 4days ago.

Hi there, thanks for the information. I have just got a brand new Dell PC and was having the 8.1 problems. Followed the above and it cured the problem straight away.

Really nice to have a solution described in easy to understand language.

Thank you. It worked .

This worked for me. Thanks so much for the info

Thanks!

I searched for a very long time and tried various things but this worked perfectly for me :)

Try this it worked for me

First, find where all the updates for windows are listed.  Go to Control Panel ---> Programs.  Then under Programs and Features, you'll see a link called "View Installed Updates".  Under Microsoft Windows, scroll until you find KB2871389.  Uninstall it, and then accept the prompt to reboot your computer.

Now, login under your account (that has admin privileges) and then go to the corner until the floating menu comes up and choose settings.  From settings choose change PC settings at the bottom.  Then, click on "windows update" at the bottom of the right hand side of your screen.  Check for updates now and it will take a few minutes, but they will find one (KB2871389).  There is a message telling you that it will download automatically in a few days, but ignore that, click on the link for one important update, and choose install now (or some such thing). 
Log in on an admin account, go to the store, choose the 8.1 update, and now, no admin problems.

• Proposed as answer by gamma_7 Wednesday, July 02, 2014 10:34 AM

THIS WORKS!!!!!!!!!

Thanks a lot for the quick an easy fix.  

• Proposed as answer by ryu457 Saturday, July 19, 2014 7:32 PM
• Unproposed as answer by ryu457 Saturday, July 19, 2014 7:32 PM

Hello,

I followed these instructions but upon going into "View Installed Updates" under Programs and Features I do not see KB2871389 listed. Any ideas? This is driving me crazy.

I am having the same problem. I cannot find that update. What the heck?

I also have a new inspiron 15R.  Same issue -- I have an account that can generate other accounts, but am not an administrator.  Also I checked this account, which is the first account on the system, that is / is not administrator can't generate other accounts that are administator

I deleted KB2871389 -- was told to reboot -- and the system is just sitting there saying 'preparing to configure Windows -- do not turn off your computer.

Will give it another minute -- then I will have to turn off the computer and see if I can recover

Although I got the message, after executing this fix, 'update failed to ...." the removal alone had done enough to make the update to 8.1 download.

Rethink Microsoft

If you have a Dell machine, also note this issue with the pre-installed backup and recovery software

http://www.dellbackupandrecovery.com/en-us/Index.html

No mention of this on most forums but this did the trick for me.

Thanks Hstar123 and Moderator,

This does indeed work!  I don' know what you do for a living Hstar123... but I would like to take lessons from you on Windows!!  Don't know how you knew this unless you work for MS...Anyway thank again!

• Proposed as answer by Twilight Laptop Repair Thursday, May 01, 2014 8:02 AM
• Unproposed as answer by Twilight Laptop Repair Thursday, May 01, 2014 8:02 AM

I just brought home a new Dell XPS 12 and had the same problem. It would not let me update to Windows 8.1 advising I was not logged in as the Administrator, even though I was. This post is correct that you need to find KB2871389 and uninstall it, and accept the prompt to reboot.  The difference in my experience is when I went to the floating menu's 'Settings' option and chose 'Change PC Settings'...and clicking on "windows update" on the bottom of the right hand side of my screen it did run for several minutes but did NOT return a message that I needed to update anything.  It also did not return a message that I needed to download BK2871389 in a few days.  Instead I just went back into the Windows Store and selected the download for 8.1.  When I did that I no longer got a message advising I could not download windows 8.1 because I was not logged on as the administrator.  The program is now installing without any problems.  THANKS MICROSOFT, NO WONDER EVERYONE HATES WINDOWS 8!!!!  It is a miracle I found this post.  I have to assume the bulk of users out there are having this same problem.  Why haven't Microsoft addressed this by now?  It is April 27, 2014.  This is ridiculous.  That said I love my Dell XPS 12, sure am missing Windows 7 though!!!!!!!!!!!!

For people unable to find this KB installed on their system, they can download and install it by going to the article here: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2871389

Scroll down to the "More Information" section and you will see three packages to choose from . Most people will have x64(64-bit) systems, but to be sure of which you need (x86, x64 and x64 for Server):

1. Move your mouse to the corner of the screen until the floating bar appears > click the Search magnifying glass

2. Type in Control Panel > a tile will appear on the left of the screen > click the Control Panel tile

3. Click System and Security > click System

4. On the window now presented, look at System Type > you will see whether you are using a 32-bit (x86) or 64-bit (x64) version.

Choose the download (on the KB article page) that matches your system type and install it. Be careful not to use the server version unless you are running Windows Server 2012.

Thanks a million!!! This worked for me.  It is nice to have control over my machine.

Rose

my friend has the same issue and I told him about your instructions. and as of this moment, he said it seems like it's downloading. He didn't get that admin. rights message.  He said it will take a little while for him to know if it will download all of 8.1.

but both him and me want to thank you so very much for your instructions because it did eliminate that message he was getting about him needing admin. rights, especially when he is the admin. and now it allowed him to start the downloading process.

if I can get back to this link, I will give you an update about the completion of the updating.

thanks again.

bruce and bruce

Hi,

I tried removing KB2871389 in the windows installed programs. But now, i'm not able to open the windows update in the windows app store. yet, i dont have any problem in opening other apps in the app store

Thanks in advance

Hello,

I followed these instructions but upon going into "View Installed Updates" under Programs and Features I do not see KB2871389 listed. Any ideas? This is driving me crazy.

Hi

Yeah, that's exactly what happened to me,

Its driving me crazy too. Im only young, the stress is getting to me really badly. I need clearer instructions please

• Edited by Dominguez0808 Friday, May 16, 2014 2:16 AM

Same thing as a lot of posters above: Cannot download to Windows 8.1. I tried uninstalling and reinstalling BK2871389, as mentioned above. I am logged in as administrator.... Have logged out, switched user and OF COURSE it says I have to have be logged in as administrator to download 8.1. Good grief, Charlie Brown (or in this case Bill Gates??? lol)

Neither of my computers will update to 8.1. Different brands, ones a laptop, one a desktop. It doesn't seem to matter.

The Windows store doesn't even work for me. I click on it, it flips around, it bounces back......BTW, I don't use the tiles, I use Classic Shell (dot Net). Highly recommended.

Wouldn't bother me so much that I cannot update but I get those annoying prompts every few days to update to 8.1. If they can prompt me to install it once or twice a week, week in and week out, why can't they just automatically install the darn update instead???

...We had it all figured out with XP, now Windows 8 screws that all up. It was so much easier with going to MS website and getting the updates. Why can't we simply do that for the 8.1 update?

ok i tried this, it went to the reboot and everything but now when i open the app store it wont open, it worked before i did all of this and now i cant do anything, :( help!!! oh and please ;)

Hi Dawnb75,

I too was unable to open app store uninstalling and rebooting but after installing the new update, it started working perfectly fine.

And the above mentioned method worked perfectly for me.... Thanks a ton Hstar :-)

D8Hj's answer (create a new user, log in as that, then log back in as the original admin account) worked for me too.  I didn't want to muck around uninstalling updates, as I have just had a nightmarish time trying to deal with tangled-up updates on my wife's computer (which was already at 8.1).

I discovered the first time I tried D8Hj's approach that I was logged in as both users.  I had to make sure I was logged out of the new (non-admin) account before logging back in to my admin account.

The machine that didn't want to let me upgrade to Windows 8.1 was a fairly new Dell desktop.

• Edited by gamma_7 Wednesday, July 02, 2014 10:47 AM

Hi thank you..  as suggested I have uninstalled but when I clicked after check for windows update it has searched for updates and display message "you are set to automatically install updates " we'll install 50 important automatically. they'll be installed during your pc scheduled maintenance. please advise me what shall I do??

Thank you in advance...

Try this it worked for me

First, find where all the updates for windows are listed.  Go to Control Panel ---> Programs.  Then under Programs and Features, you'll see a link called "View Installed Updates".  Under Microsoft Windows, scroll until you find KB2871389.  Uninstall it, and then accept the prompt to reboot your computer.

Now, login under your account (that has admin privileges) and then go to the corner until the floating menu comes up and choose settings.  From settings choose change PC settings at the bottom.  Then, click on "windows update" at the bottom of the right hand side of your screen.  Check for updates now and it will take a few minutes, but they will find one (KB2871389).  There is a message telling you that it will download automatically in a few days, but ignore that, click on the link for one important update, and choose install now (or some such thing). 
Log in on an admin account, go to the store, choose the 8.1 update, and now, no admin problems.

HI,

I have also battled to install 8.1 and saw your article. I followed all your instructions and windows 8.1 is downloading but very slow. Like in Half hour it only downloaded 1%. I dont think that it is normal downloading time. Can you please suggest something to help me.

Thank you

thank you for the help

Try this it worked for me

First, find where all the updates for windows are listed.  Go to Control Panel ---> Programs.  Then under Programs and Features, you'll see a link called "View Installed Updates".  Under Microsoft Windows, scroll until you find KB2871389.  Uninstall it, and then accept the prompt to reboot your computer.

Now, login under your account (that has admin privileges) and then go to the corner until the floating menu comes up and choose settings.  From settings choose change PC settings at the bottom.  Then, click on "windows update" at the bottom of the right hand side of your screen.  Check for updates now and it will take a few minutes, but they will find one (KB2871389).  There is a message telling you that it will download automatically in a few days, but ignore that, click on the link for one important update, and choose install now (or some such thing). 
Log in on an admin account, go to the store, choose the 8.1 update, and now, no admin problems.

Try this it worked for me

First, find where all the updates for windows are listed.  Go to Control Panel ---> Programs.  Then under Programs and Features, you'll see a link called "View Installed Updates".  Under Microsoft Windows, scroll until you find KB2871389.  Uninstall it, and then accept the prompt to reboot your computer.

Now, login under your account (that has admin privileges) and then go to the corner until the floating menu comes up and choose settings.  From settings choose change PC settings at the bottom.  Then, click on "windows update" at the bottom of the right hand side of your screen.  Check for updates now and it will take a few minutes, but they will find one (KB2871389).  There is a message telling you that it will download automatically in a few days, but ignore that, click on the link for one important update, and choose install now (or some such thing). 
Log in on an admin account, go to the store, choose the 8.1 update, and now, no admin problems.

 Sadly I don't have that update. I am a tech of over 25 years and I am stumped that I can't figure this one out. I am an admin yet I can't do most admin tasks. Time to start experimenting. Hah.

 Time to start experimenting. Hah.

Yes.  Use ProcMon filtering on Operation Is WriteFile to find your diagnostics.

• Edited by ComputerTutor321 Wednesday, March 25, 2015 5:49 PM
• Proposed as answer by ComputerTutor321 Wednesday, March 25, 2015 5:49 PM

• Edited by ComputerTutor321 13 hours 32 minutes ago
• Proposed as answer by ComputerTutor321 13 hours 32 minutes ago

I checked for this update and I do not have it in my list. Any other options that you know of will rectify this option?

I had 8.1 on my system until I had a virus that caused me to reset my system to factory defaults.  I am listed as the administrator and I to wonder if there is something in the bio I may have to change?

Everyone who shows this feature seems to be able to uninstall it to fix their issue and yet I do not have it to uninstall?

Are you sure that you are responding to exactly the same symptom description?  E.g. you may have been attracted by the thread title but not be trying to install W8.1 but already have it and possibly even W8.1.2 (aka KB3000850) as well (in which case the update which was found for the others' workaround would have been buried by that service pack).  This is why it is a good idea to start your own thread with your own details.

What worked for me was creating another user account, logging in as the new user then back in as the 1st user (do this twice).  The 2nd time I logged back in as the 1st user it let me download 8.1