Windows 8.1 build 9431

Editions and keys

Windows 8.1 build 9431 is the official Preview build of Windows 8.1, also known as the Milestone Preview. This build was released on 2013-06-26 with the occasion of the Build 2013 conference taking place. At the time of its release, it was possible to upgrade to this build from a Windows 8 copy by using the Windows Store or by downloading an ISO from TechNet or MSDN. The ISOs were made publicly available the day after, on 2013-06-27, when the day 2 keynote started.

This build was initially released in 13 languages, which included Arabic, English (US), Chinese (Simplified), Chinese (Traditional), French, German, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese (Brazil), Russian, Spanish, Swedish, and Turkish. However, a week later, on 2013-07-04, Microsoft also released the English (UK) variant as a response to complaints. The Windows Store upgrade applied only to users that used Windows 8 in the listed languages. Attempts to upgrade other languages using the Store would result in a "The update is not applicable to your computer" error.

An RT version was also released, however, the only way to install this build on such a machine was through the Windows Store. This was also the only way to obtain less common SKUs such as Single Language.

Installation
There are two ways to install this preview: through an ISO and through the Store. However, if you have a language different than the ones support or you are running Enterprise on your machine, you are forced to use the ISO version. But if you are on an RT machine, the only way of updating is through the store.

The setup doesn't show a local account option by default. There are three ways of creating one during OOBE: Either use some non-existent e-mail address and password, and then after the setup is unable to check your credentials there should be a local account option OR disconnect your computer from the internet and it will automatically create a local account, OR click on Create a new account > Sign in without Microsoft account, then choose "Local account".

Variants
The ISO version is avaliable in both x86 and x64.

On TechNet you can only download English versions. The MSDN & public release is avaliable in 13 languages: Arabic, English (US), Chinese (Simplified), Chinese (Traditional), French, German, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese (Brazil), Russian, Spanish, Swedish, and Turkish.

On 2013-07-04, Microsoft after lots of complaints finally released the Great Britain (EN-GB) version.

If you are updating through the store, you can also get other variants of the Preview. This way, Rob Jansen managed to get Windows 8.1 Single Language Preview. However, when using the same method on Windows 8 Pro N, only thing you get is "The update is not applicable to your computer" error.

On 2013-07-31, Microsoft released the Enterprise SKU on its TechNet Evaluation Center. It's avaliable in both x86 and x64, in the same 13 languages as the Pro SKU. However, up to this, day it isn't avaliable on neither MSDN nor TechNet subscription downloads.

Windows RT 8.1 Preview
An RT version was also released, however the only way to install 8.1 on such a machine is through the store. On 2013-06-28 a zh-cn recovery disk was released on xunlei. It's possible to download the ESD files (basically encrypted WIMs) directly from Windows Update servers, however, the URLs have not been published publicly. Some users installed RT without problems, but many others got the infamous "The update is not applicable to your computer" error. Microsoft later noted that this was because the RT 8.1 Preview was limited to a small set of languages, and the preview site had failed to block those in unsupported markets. The error could be worked around by changing the language settings to en-US and downloading and installing the en-US language pack and setting it as default.

Embedded
On 2013-06-27, Microsoft released Windows Embedded 8.1 Industry Pro Release Preview in its Windows Embedded Pre-Release Programs on Microsoft Connect. It is avaliable in both x86 and x64, and also in many languages.

SkyDrive
ultrawindows found some new interesting stuff in 9431 SkyDrive client. Apart from the previous SkyDrivePagesTest, which work in all the avaliable builds, 8 others exist in 9431. That makes the complete list look like this: HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\SkyDrivePagesTest\CameraRollDisabled HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\SkyDrivePagesTest\DisabledState HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\SkyDrivePagesTest\IsDomainAiccount HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\SkyDrivePagesTest\SkyDriveTest HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\SkyDrivePagesTest\MSAInterruptState HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\SkyDrivePagesTest\TotalSize HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\SkyDrivePagesTest\DisabledState HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\SkyDrivePagesTest\OtherSize HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\SkyDrivePagesTest\BackupSize HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\SkyDrivePagesTest\FileSize HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\SkyDrivePagesTest\ErrorState Also, this version includes HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\SkyDriveOptIn key with two values: Brand & OptIn choice. This implies that there may be an subscription SkyDrive service in the future. If you set Brand to 1, you get an even more interesting thing: the SkyDrive will rebrand itself to Microsoft Drive, which shows the possibility of name change (maybe as a result of the recent BSkyB vs SkyDrive suit; the new name produced from the suit ended up being OneDrive) or a different branding for business opt-in service.

Legacy F12 tools
If you want to get the old F12 tools back, just create/change these two DWORD's in the registry to 1: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main\EnableLegacyF12 HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main\FlipF12Shortcut

Media Center
It's easy to add WMC to Windows 8.1 Preview. Just copy this key MBFBV-W3DP2-2MVKN-PJCQD-KKTF7 (from Windows 8 Release Preview) to the Add features dialog.

Photosynth
As in build 9385, it's possible to enable PhotoSynth mode in camera app, which is disabled by default. Just follow these simple steps:

1. Download http://www.thecollectionbook.info/downloads/Win81639385CameraSettings.zip 2. Go to %localappdata%\Packages\Microsoft.MoCamera_cw5n1h2txyewy\Settings 3. Replace the settings.dat with the downloaded one (backup if wanted) 4. Now when you launch camera, there should be a globe icon on the right, which activates the PhotoSynth mode

Updates
Because 9431 was an official preview, it was getting support through Windows Update. Every update has its own gdr buildstring, and JaGoTu and AirportsFan managed to collect most of them. GDR binaries 6.3.9431.162 (winmain_bluemp_gdr.130619-1809) 6.3.9431.163 (winmain_bluemp_gdr.130620-1752) 6.3.9431.164 (winmain_bluemp_gdr.130621-1932) 6.3.9431.166 (winmain_bluemp_gdr.130624-1726) 6.3.9431.167 (winmain_bluemp_gdr.130625-1518) 6.3.9431.168 (winmain_bluemp_gdr.130626-1750) 6.3.9431.169 (winmain_bluemp_gdr.130627-1558) 6.3.9431.171 (winmain_bluemp_gdr.130702-1803) 6.3.9431.172 (winmain_bluemp_gdr.130703-2107) 6.3.9431.173 (winmain_bluemp_gdr.130708-1553) 6.3.9431.175 (winmain_bluemp_gdr.130710-1539) 6.3.9431.176 (winmain_bluemp_gdr.130711-1605) 6.3.9431.180 (winmain_bluemp_gdr.130716-1803) 6.3.9431.181 (winmain_bluemp_gdr.130717-1619) 6.3.9431.189 (winmain_bluemp_gdr.130728-1506) 6.3.9431.190 (winmain_bluemp_gdr.130730-1533) 6.3.9431.193 (winmain_bluemp_gdr.130806-1534) 6.3.9431.195 (winmain_bluemp_gdr.130812-1506) 6.3.9431.198 (winmain_bluemp_gdr.130815-1919) 6.3.9431.206 (winmain_bluemp_gdr.130901-1505) 6.3.9431.210 (winmain_bluemp_gdr.130916-1505) 6.3.9431.217 (winmain_bluemp_gdr.130929-1506) Some other versions were also pushed through Windows Update, but didn't contain full strings. GDR binaries without full strings KB2863147: 6.3.9431.161 KB2867624: 6.3.9431.170 KB2876919: 6.3.9431.194 KB2847311: 6.3.9431.202

Whitepapers
Windows 8.1 Preview product guide Windows 8.1 Preview Pre-release software license terms Windows 8.1 Preview additional arbitration terms Microsoft Windows Embedded 8.1 Privacy Statement`

Pro
Download Windows 8.1 Preview Download Windows 8.1 Preview - direct links Download Windows 8.1 Preview update package - direct links Download Windows 8.1 Preview on MSDN Download Windows 8.1 Preview on TechNet

Enterprise
Download Windows 8.1 Enterprise Preview Download Windows 8.1 Enterprise Preview - direct links

Embedded
Windows Embedded 8.1 Industry Pro Release Preview June 2013 (may require a Microsoft account) Windows Embedded 8.1 Industry Pro Release Preview June 2013 - direct links Documentation for Windows Embedded 8.1 Industry Preview Release June 2013 Release Notes for Windows Embedded 8.1 Industry Preview June 2013