Electrum 4.0.9 wont open in Windows 8.1.

[G3nijalac]

Ive done some more reading on possible solutions for the newer versions not running and found some thread claiming the issue is caused by not having mandatory ASLR configured
and that executables that have it opted out as a default fail to launch.

Im too tired to do anything more about it tonight but am going to try and find this option in the settings somewhere and see if it helps tomorrow.

[G3nijalac]

I have been happy holding and havent attempted using or updating
since the last time I posted.

I would like to ask if there are any of you still able to use updated versions
of electrum on Win 8.1 to please confirm here that it is possible
so I know if it is an individual issue or a general one.

[bitmover]

I have been happy holding and havent attempted using or updating
since the last time I posted.

I would like to ask if there are any of you still able to use updated versions
of electrum on Win 8.1 to please confirm here that it is possible
so I know if it is an individual issue or a general one.

I don't have windows 8.1 installed, so I can't test for myself.

However, I have just checked electrum website (https://electrum.org/panel-download.html)

The latest version is compatible with Windows 8.1. But, there is a warning here:

Old versions of Windows might need to install the KB2999226 Windows update.

Do you have KB2999226 Windows update installed?

It is a "Update for Universal C Runtime in Windows" https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/topic/update-for-universal-c-runtime-in-windows-c0514201-7fe6-95a3-b0a5-287930f3560c

[NotATether]

I would like to ask if there are any of you still able to use updated versions
of electrum on Win 8.1 to please confirm here that it is possible
so I know if it is an individual issue or a general one.

Regarding the peculularity about ALSR (your question was answered by bitmover): Electrum windows binaries are created using Pyinstaller, which uses MSBuild compiler settings to make it work on those particular versions of Windows it's making binaries for. So you don't have to worry about ALSR settings in EXEs. It was a feature added in 64-bit Windows Vista (the mandatory part as well I believe) so it has long been a default compilation setting for the Windows compiler.

[BitMaxz]

~snip~

It is the same as other people experienced on Windows 7(and me as well) that they can't able to use a higher version than 3.3.8.

If the Bitmover suggestion does not work your last hope is to upgrade your OS to Windows 10 which have better security, feature, and support than Windows 8.1(it will end support next year) and all new version of Electrum should be working as I tested them.

Can you tell us the reason why you don't want to upgrade it to Windows 10 since they already suggested it many times from old replies here? System requirements?
If it is just for the files then upgrading does not delete old files it should be still there on your hard drive after an upgrade.

[G3nijalac]

~snip~

It is the same as other people experienced on Windows 7(and me as well) that they can't able to use a higher version than 3.3.8.

If the Bitmover suggestion does not work your last hope is to upgrade your OS to Windows 10 which have better security, feature, and support than Windows 8.1(it will end support next year) and all new version of Electrum should be working as I tested them.

Can you tell us the reason why you don't want to upgrade it to Windows 10 since they already suggested it many times from old replies here? System requirements?
If it is just for the files then upgrading does not delete old files it should be still there on your hard drive after an upgrade.

Out of fear that I will mess something up.
Compatability might be an issue too I dont know for sure.

If I knew everything would go fine and be working afterwards
and that I would be able to set up future updates on manual instead auto
I would do it.

The current plan is to get a new laptop get everything working there then upgrade old one.
Which windows should I get the new one with? 11 12? whats the freshest and best now?

[G3nijalac]

I have been happy holding and havent attempted using or updating
since the last time I posted.

I would like to ask if there are any of you still able to use updated versions
of electrum on Win 8.1 to please confirm here that it is possible
so I know if it is an individual issue or a general one.

I don't have windows 8.1 installed, so I can't test for myself.

However, I have just checked electrum website (https://electrum.org/panel-download.html)

The latest version is compatible with Windows 8.1. But, there is a warning here:

Old versions of Windows might need to install the KB2999226 Windows update.

Do you have KB2999226 Windows update installed?

It is a "Update for Universal C Runtime in Windows" https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/topic/update-for-universal-c-runtime-in-windows-c0514201-7fe6-95a3-b0a5-287930f3560c

I have all the recommended updates.
However I dont do optional ones.
In optional I have KB3013769 KB3013816 KB3084905 KB3102429
they are from 2014 2015 2016
the others are for drivers which I am too afraid to do because last time
I did my laptop wouldnt turn on and needed a fresh windows reinstall.
Should I install them 1 by 1 in chronological order?

I have checked my update history and It only goes as far back as early 2021
so I dont know if I have the one you mentioned.

[bitmover]

It is a "Update for Universal C Runtime in Windows" https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/topic/update-for-universal-c-runtime-in-windows-c0514201-7fe6-95a3-b0a5-287930f3560c

I have checked my update history and It only goes as far back as early 2021
so I dont know if I have the one you mentioned.

You  might need this update to run electum on windows 8.
It is mentioned by electrum offical website.

You can install it in the above link. I would try. It won't do any harm to your system..

The current plan is to get a new laptop get everything working there then upgrade old one.
Which windows should I get the new one with? 11 12? whats the freshest and best now?

Considering security, you should always use the latest version
That is windows 11

[NeuroticFish]

The current plan is to get a new laptop get everything working there then upgrade old one.
Which windows should I get the new one with? 11 12? whats the freshest and best now?

As said, you can upgrade from Win 8.1 to Win 10.
I'll add that you can easily shrink one partition, install Linux Mint (sorry, purists, but I find it to be the easiest for Windows users) and put an Electrum there (copy the appimage and allow its execution).
I'll also add that you can write Tails OS onto an USB stick and boot from it.

...Maybe that Win 8.1 just no longer worth the hassle, you know...


PS. Latest is Win 11, if you really want to go on that path.

[G3nijalac]

To install the KB2999226 there are prerequisites.

Prerequisites
To install this update, you must have April 2014 update rollup for Windows RT 8.1, Windows 8.1, and Windows Server 2012 R2 (2919355) installed in Windows 8.1 or Windows Server 2012 R2. Or, install Service Pack 1 for Windows 7 or Windows Server 2008 R2. Or, install Service Pack 2 for Windows Vista and for Windows Server 2008.

I also dont know if I have this 2919355 done.

Should I do that one then the first one?
It wont do any harm if I already have them?

edit: oh wow the later one comes with a huge list of errors and hotfixes
Im definately too scared to do it.

And if I just do the first one without having the prerequisite also seems wrong.

[G3nijalac]

I just checked in control panel programs and features
and I have Microsoft Visual C++
7 version updates named 2005 Redistributable or ATL Update kb973923 x64 (and x86) installed in 2013
Then I have 5 of them named 2008 installed at the same dates in 2013 (theres one date in 2012 though in both cases)
then 2010 installed 2013&2014
2012 installed in 2014
2013 installed in 2015
2015-2019 installed late february 2022 version 14.29.30133.0

So I do have this required program.
Perhaps this last update in 2022 was required
to get electrum newer versions working.

Maybe I should just try updating electrum again without any other steps taken and it will work!?!?!?!?!?!

[bitmover]

edit: oh wow the later one comes with a huge list of errors and hotfixes
Im definately too scared to do it.

And if I just do the first one without having the prerequisite also seems wrong.

Why are you scared of updating your operating system?

I would be more scared about storing cryptocurrencies in a system whi h doesn't have all the latest security fixes.

I just checked in control panel programs and features
and I have Microsoft Visual C++
...
So I do have this required program.
Perhaps this last update in 2022 was required
to get electrum newer versions working.

Maybe I should just try updating electrum again without any other steps taken and it will work!?!?!?!?!?!

I don't think this is the same program and update.

Anyway, you can try the new version of electrum.  It is not required, the website says "you might need to install", not that it is  a required update.

[NotATether]

The current plan is to get a new laptop get everything working there then upgrade old one.
Which windows should I get the new one with? 11 12? whats the freshest and best now?

Considering security, you should always use the latest version
That is windows 11

Actually, on Windows nowadays, "updating to latest version for security" hardly applies anymore, because the way the Windows architecture has been refactored, no major overhauls are done between major versions anymore. Also all the supported Windows versions (I am thinking mainly about 10 right now) get the latest security updates.

[BitMaxz]

Out of fear that I will mess something up.
Compatability might be an issue too I dont know for sure.

If I knew everything would go fine and be working afterwards
and that I would be able to set up future updates on manual instead auto
I would do it.

The current plan is to get a new laptop get everything working there then upgrade old one.
Which windows should I get the new one with? 11 12? whats the freshest and best now?

It's not a problem if you mess up if you already have a backup seed phrase you can anytime recover your wallet with your seed backup.

But if you have important files that you want to save why not transfer them into an external hard disk if you don't have HDD then a USB drive?

Windows 10 would be enough since all new Electrum are running fine.

[nc50lc]

If nothing works and you still want to use that older version of Windows,
you can try running Electrum from source, it requires Python and some commands.

Follow the links in this reply for instructions: /index.php?topic=5391692.msg59669529#msg59669529

My previous reply to this thread:

My workaround at that time was to run Electrum from source through python, but I'd suggest you to just upgrade your OS if the links of the updates in above reply didn't work.

[NotATether]

My previous reply to this thread:

My workaround at that time was to run Electrum from source through python, but I'd suggest you to just upgrade your OS if the links of the updates in above reply didn't work.

Alternatively, you can run a Windows 10/11 VM inside virtualbox just for Electrum if upgrading is too much of a hassle. Just assign it 2GB RAM, 2 cores, and 40GB disk and it can decently run the main OS plus a few small programs.

[Pmalek]

I used Windows 7 in the past and after upgrading to Windows 10, there were absolutely no issues with incompatible software or bugs with the applications I work with. I have never had Windows 8. If you are worried you might mess something up, just save all your important files on a clean USB that you can recover from in case of OS difficulties. I am still on Windows 10 despite being offered a free upgrade to Win 11. I am not in a hurry to start using the newest OS because Windows 10 still receives all important security updates. Windows 8 is outdated though and you should abandon it.

[Cricktor]

I still have Windows 8.1 on one of my desktops. I will upgrade this when Windows 8.1 becomes EOL. I didn't upgrade this system and like to keep it (not my daily driver though) because 8.1 doesn't do feature upgrades twice a year like Windows 10 does and likely Windows 11 at least once a year. The new crap that M$ delivers in these feature upgrades isn't mostly worth the hassle and the monthly security updates are a recurring gamble what gets broken and what still works (ya, I exagerate a teeny bit). It's my backup system if monthly updates should screw my Windows 10 and 8.1 hopefully still works. If all breaks, there's still Linux. ;-)
OK, but this isn't a thread to rant about M$...

I installed Electrum 4.2.2 on this Windows 8.1 system via the Windows installer EXE and it runs without any hiccup. My Windows 8.1 has been in use for quite some time, has seen some programs and gets the monthly security updates (optional ones only if it's about something I need).

[BitMaxz]

I installed Electrum 4.2.2 on this Windows 8.1 system via the Windows installer EXE and it runs without any hiccup. My Windows 8.1 has been in use for quite some time, has seen some programs and gets the monthly security updates (optional ones only if it's about something I need).

How did you make it work?
What kind of windows 8.1 is in your system isn't that the pro version or the enterprise version?

The OP might be experiencing issues with the 8.1 before due to the firewall blocking or the system itself have missing system files that Electrum needs?

How about the Electrum 4.2.1? Is this version also work on your PC?

[Cricktor]

How did you make it work?
What kind of windows 8.1 is in your system isn't that the pro version or the enterprise version?
...
How about the Electrum 4.2.1? Is this version also work on your PC?

I did nothing special, just installed Electrum and it worked without additional actions. My OS flavor is Windows 8.1 Pro (Build 9600) as shown by Winver.exe
I just checked Electrum 4.2.1 quickly and by the same simple installation and it ran without a glitch, setup a new bech32 wallet and all was fine with it, basically the same behavior as with the current 4.2.2, except it indicates that there's an update to the most recent version.