After some complications with Microsoft Security Essentials and Windows 8.1 not getting along, I finally got 8.1 downloaded. It definitely improved performance in my games. Batman Arkham Origins and Battlefield 4 would randomly stutter on Windows 7, but now they run 60fps consistently. I sadly don't really see improvements on my start up time even with 8.1 installed on a SSD. Even without that, I really like 8.1 and it just feels really smooth and is like an improved Windows 7.
I should have done a clean install too because even though I have my old programs, they're all uninstalled anyways and it's going to be such a pain to have to find everything to set up again. I might just delete everything on my original HDD and reinstall everything just to make it easier on myself.
I'm also running into three problems right now:
iTunes won't download Bonjour or whatever the software is needed to connect my iPhone 5s to my PC. I deleted and reinstalled it twice and it's having the same problem.
Not sure if it's the Skype app or my internet, but every time I use it to chat with my friend when we play BF4, it disconnects the Skype call and my Battlefield 4 game randomly.
Origin won't start up Battlefield 4 from the client or Metro. I always have to start from Battlelog.