Same here. Kitkat 4.4.2 bricked my Venue 8. Prior to update , my Venue never had a problem. Since the update, it has crashed multiple times, lost data, freezes, shuts down, goes into screen loops and shuts down just after displaying an error message com.android.systemui. Seriously, what went wrong? Have advised wife not to allow update to install on her device.

Try doing a factory data reset.  Even though you don't technically have to, if you are having issues it could clear them up.  I had a couple of glitches so I reset it.  It seems to be working fine now.  Also make sure your date and time are correct.  Including time zone.

My sdcard1 seems to read and write just fine.

JohnA2U - Did the reset. Still the same old glitches. getting a bit frustrated here. Absolutely loved my Venue 8. Hoping this doesn't change my opinion.......

Well thats a bummer.

Here is a couple more things to try

Make sure your date, time and time zone are correct.  An incorrect date and time can cause sync errors and cause your system to freeze and all kinds of odd behavior

Do a "controlled" factory data reset.

Go to Settings --> Back up & reset - uncheck "automatic restore" then do a Factory data reset again.  This will reset your tablet and not allow your apps to be automatically restored.   When you boot up the tablet and run through the set up  again make sure restore my apps and settings is unchecked.  Add your apps back in slowly a few at a time.  Then test things out.  Then add a few more.  If it is a bad app or something you have installed on your tablet that should fix it.  When things are allowed to restore automatically any bad apps or settings you might have will just come back with each reset. 

Last - go to settings -> wifi -> open your connected wifi --> choose forget,   shut down the tablet.  Unplug your modem and wireless router  wait 2 minutes.  Plug in the modem, wait for it to fully boot, plug in the wireless router, wait for it to boot.  Turn on the tablet, when it boots up re enter your wifi password.

I have a similar issue with the update.

The SD card comes and goes as it pleases. Sometimes a reset brings it back, sometimes not.

Before the update there was never a problem, the SD card was always present.

I bought a new SD card, and have same issue., so it is not the card.

Dell, Please fix this issue. All my kids movies are on the SD card, and I need my peace while driving.

Hi Nooby001 / conan1130 / grampa51,

You can try the following steps to get the issue fixed with the Android Kitkat update .

I'm also having stability issues after updating to 4.4.2, e.g., random resets, tablet forgetting WIFI connections after said random resets, etc. 

I did a factory reset today and we'll see how it goes, but already had a random reset since I did the factory reset.

I received the update too.  Wasn't having any major issues the first one (just once when the  amazon shopping app caused a reboot) and so far the new update seems smooth.

Just received a new update this morning that was approximately 40MB.  Since wiping my tablet, the tablet now remembers frequent WiFi connections, but it reset itself 5 - 6 times since yesterday.

Will see how stable the new update is.

I try that way and only works fine temporally, then the problems back.