Microsoft's sneaky sucky ways

[Proserpina]

It just tried to download Windows 10 as a regular update...fortunately, I was passing the screen and able to abort it.

No more leaving it on for a minute or an hour, this baby goes off when I get up.

[Dr Hobbitstein]

1. Turn off automatic updates.

That's what automatic updates do: update the system automatically. If you're running Windows 8 or 8.1, you probably should jump to 10. Even with the bugs, it's more solid than 8 could ever hope to be. If you're on 7, stay there for the time being, just turn off automatic updates.

[Proserpina]

2. Okay, good idea

It's the fact that going to 10 was supposed to be the user's choice that inflames my passions.

[Dr Hobbitstein]

3. If you're running 8 or 8.1, going to 10 is considered a normal update AFAIK.

IOW, Microsoft is going to be ditching 8 and 8.1, but 7 will retain support (kind of like what happened with Vista).

I always keep auto-update off, and usually wait a couple weeks until after updates are available before I install them myself. I'll let the rest of the world beta-test before I jump in.

[Proserpina]

5. I have 7 Professional, and I'd like to keep it

I don't like what I hear about 10

[darkangel218]

9. Yah, don't get the update*. 7 is way better than the new crap they came up with.

[Dr Hobbitstein]

16. Yeah, stay with 7.

I run 7 Pro on my main machine. Well, I did. Last night it died (Dell laptop, mobo/processor issues), but I've been piecing together another machine the past few weeks, and it's nearing completion. It'll be running 7 as well.

[Nictuku]

6. I read an article a few weeks back

The article said that Microsoft was going to reclassify Windows 10 to be 'recommended' instead of 'optional', but I thought it wasn't going to happen until sometime in January.

The default configuration for windows updates is to download and install critical and recommended updates.

So you can do a few things. You can change that configuration (how you receive updates), or you can 'hide' the Windows 10 update itself.

There are some articles of how to make it go away here: to me
http://www.dedoimedo.com/computers/windows-7-to-10-gwx-how-to-remove.html

http://www.myce.com/news/how-to-uninstall-kb3035583-the-windows-10-downloader-for-windows-7-and-8-1-75681/

I need to go do this on my mom's computer ! I keep forgetting. She would get lost in Windows 10, and her old PC couldn't handle it very well, she is currently Windows 7, upgraded from XP.

[Proserpina]

8. That explains it...we are close enough to January, I supose

[hobbit709]

4. 8/8.1 with ClassicShell installed is still WAY better than 10.

[Nictuku]

7. I prefer win 8.1 to 10 myself.

.... but, being in IT, I'm being forced to learn 10 and will have to be rolling it out soon.

[hobbit709]

10. friend of mine works at an organization with about 700 computers in it.

After 8 came out and M$ announced they would no longer support XP, their IT guy walked into the CEO's office and announced "Don't even FUCKING think about 8"

CEO paid attention and they upgraded everything to 7.

[Nictuku]

13. I'll have to sit on my hands here

... lest I end up making some kind of negative public comment about my supervisor.

[Dr Hobbitstein]

14. That's been my general experience as well.

I used to work for a web developing company, and we ran XP on every machine. As those machines started to slowly die, we bought new ones that came with 8. Boss ended up buying a volume license for 7 so we could downgrade all the machines.

[hobbit709]

17. I've still got about half a dozen each 7 Pro and Home Premium COAs I haven't used yet

And have all the 7 variations .iso files when M$ still let you download them.

as far as that goes, I still got a few XP licenses. M$ wont authenticate them but WPA-Kill solves that problem.
XP still works just fine for those that still use it.

[Dr Hobbitstein]

21. WPA and WGA are the WORST things MS ever did (Bob notwithstanding).

They should take a page out of Apple's playbook in those regards.

[SusanCalvin]

28. Oh, I remember Bob!

I took that computer right back to the store.

[Dr Hobbitstein]

12. I run 7 on my main PC.

My wife and daughter are on 10. My daughter's came with 8.1, I tried ClassicShell... Ended up going to 10 and it's been much smoother, IMHO. YMMV.

In all fairness, I'm a Mac guy. I use PCs for day-to-day stuff like browsing and gaming, so the Mac is for production work (music production, video editing, Photoshop, et al).

[MohRokTah]

11. Windows 10 is the best desktop operating system I have encountered in 30 years of...

IT experience.

[Logical]

18. I 100% agree, we are testing it on about 50 machines at work. So far so good. nt

[KatyMan]

42. Same here...

but my IT experience is only 20 years

[GummyBearz]

15. I don't have that issue with Windows NT 4.0

Best OS evar

[edhopper]

19. 10 is a better

more efficient OS.
Would you be this upset if they called it 8.2?

[Orrex]

20. It's certainly better at reporting your keystrokes back to Microsoft

After all, isn't that what we all want in an OS?

[Dr Hobbitstein]

22. You can turn all that off.

I did on my daughter's system. Then again, all she does is play Minecraft, Spore, and The Sims on it.

[Orrex]

25. That's good to hear

My understanding from initial reports is that the snooping feature can't be turned off.

And Herobrine is an asshole.

[Dr Hobbitstein]

27. I had to google Herobrine.

Figured it was a Minecraft reference. My daughter is Asperger's diagnosed, and Minecraft is her obsession. Mostly, I hear her talking about Stampy Longnose and DanTDM, but she rants on and on and on ad infinitum.

The snooping feature was all a bunch of questions on first run. Either hit "OK" or hit "Expert" (or something like that). I went with "Expert", and disabled EVERY MS reporter. I'll admit, I haven't checked the outgoing data to see if anything is still connecting and sending... Once I get my Windows 7 machine pieced together and running proper, I'll log into the router and watch the ports to verify.

[Orrex]

30. LOL.

My boys have an on-again-off-again fascination, switching back and forth between Minecraft and Roblox. I have to admit that it's more interactive than simply watching TV, which is what I was doing at their age.


Thanks for the info on Win10.

[Logical]

31. And you can easily turn it off in less time than you whined about it. nt

[Orrex]

33. But does it take less time than it takes to put you on Ignore?

[Logical]

39. Good idea! Nt

[randome]

23. I agree with others who prefer 10 to 8.

I never had to put up with 8 but 10 seems pretty good with Classic Shell installed.

The one big, BIG complaint I have is the limited number of color options they provide. What the fuck were they thinking in making the interface HARDER to differentiate windows?

It boggles the mind. I have an acceptable color option now but it is still limited. I don't understand why they think making everything white with no contrast provides an acceptable user experience. I doubt they had anyone test it.
[hr][font color="blue"][center]Aspire to inspire.[/center][/font][hr]

[IDemo]

24. All well and good that some are happy with W10 and advocate for its use

But the point of the OP was that this particular computer user is content with his current system and would like to continue using it, upgrading only if or when he is inclined to do so.

Here are some instructions for removing the system tray icon and removing/disabling the Windows update:

http://www.digitalcitizen.life/how-disable-get-windows-10-icon-and-notifications

[Gman]

26. Windows 10 is the biggest piece of malware ever

You have to dig deep to disable all the data mining features to free up CPU usage and bandwidth.

[SusanCalvin]

29. That's what I heard -

That it takes deep digging and massive amounts of time.

[Logical]

32. 100% BS. nt

[Orrex]

45. .

http://arstechnica.co.uk/information-technology/2015/08/even-when-told-not-to-windows-10-just-cant-stop-talking-to-microsoft/

[BlueJazz]

34. I cloned my drive and installed it. Some of my sound and audio programs get a little fussy with...

..10 but it's not 10's fault. (usually Adobe Audition's fault..drivers)

[drm604]

35. Any idea what the update number is?

It's probably KB something.

[IDemo]

41. KB3035583

[Jim Lane]

44. Damn, that IS sneaky.

I disabled automatic updates as a matter of course as soon as I set up this machine. In my current list of Recommended updates, there are five that just say "Update for Windows 7 for x64-based Systems" with a KB number. When I highlight KB3035583 I see only "Install this update to resolve issues in Windows." Only if I select "More information" do I learn that it will install the Get Windows 10 app.

From the description, it seems that this doesn't itself install Windows 10, but I'll bet it greases the slippery slope.

An insidious feature is that the download size is only 721 KB - 820 KB. Something that small couldn't have anything to do with Win 10, right? I mean, just below it is another update with the same description, same explanation when highlighted, but it's 17.2 MB, so that looks much more dangerous. It turns out to be "Update that supports Azerbaijani Manat and Georgian Lari currency symbols in Windows".

I really appreciate your warning about that KB number. Nevertheless, I don't trust Redmond not to try to sneak it by me with some other number. From now on I'm going to have to go through and scour "More information" for every single update before I agree to it.

This may be my last Windows machine.

[steve2470]

36. To bypass Window 10's privacy invaders, use this tool

http://www.downloadcrew.com/article/33981-w10privacy

Click the icon at the top that says "Windows Download".

Here is an article that goes into some depth: http://betanews.com/2015/12/28/w10privacy-is-a-smarter-windows-10-telemetry-blocker/

I've never used this, so I can't help, sorry! Hope this helps a few.

[TreasonousBastard]

40. I'm getting it-- Major Geeks and Softpedia like it...

And Major Geeks has a neat video about this and a few alternatives.

We shall see...

[Omaha Steve]

37. Marta and I are on 8.1.

We have downloads enabled but we select before installing.

K&R!

OS

[bhikkhu]

38. Windows 10 is a huge improvement

I can't think of any reason not to upgrade. I upgraded to W10 on my work computer, and it has moderated my bad opinion of MS significantly.

I run Ubuntu on my home computer, which I still prefer, but the trade off is not being able to run some programs that would be nice to have.

[msongs]

43. try using GWX control panel program. look it up and read what it does.....which is to

scan your computer for known windows 10 download related files and delete them. there are also some known windows update file names that can be blocked/removed. and turn off automatic updates. instead choose select which updates to install