If you don't want Windows 10, do this!

Martin Brinkmann
Mar 13, 2016
Updated • Jul 5, 2017
Windows, Windows 10
|
108

Reports are coming in by users from around the world on sites like Reddit that machines running Windows 7 or Windows 8 have been updated -- once again -- to Windows 10 automatically.

They report that the update was automated, and that they did not receive any prompt or option to stop the process once it was in motion.

Some noticed that their machines were upgraded to the new operating system after coming back from lunch or checking their computer in the morning after leaving it turned on for the night.

This is not the first time that this happened to some users running Windows 7 or 8 on their machines. Users were experiencing the same thing in October 2015 and Microsoft apologized later on stating that the enforcement was not intended to be delivered automatically.

But the issue did not keep Microsoft from pushing Windows 10 related updates to machines running previous versions of Windows, and the company stated openly that it is "going to keep at it" even though it may be discomforting to some customers.

In February 2016 then it made Windows 10 a recommended update on Windows 7 and Windows 8.

If you don't want Windows 10, do this

The following steps are recommended to anyone who does not want to upgrade computer systems running Windows 7 or Windows 8 to Windows 10.

Step 1: Disable automatic updates

Automatic updates are convenient, as Windows will download and install critical system updates automatically.

The main issue with the setting is that you don't get any say in the matter and no option to research updates before they are installed.

Windows updates may have adverse effects on a system. We have seen in the past that they may cause all kinds of issues on a system including preventing it to boot or upgrading it to Windows 10.

So, instead of having the system set to install updates automatically, you configure it to inform you about new updates so that you can decide whether to install them or not.

Here is how that is done (the screenshots have been taken on a Windows 7 machine, but the methodology is the same on Windows 8).

Step 1: Tap on the Windows-key, type Windows Update, and hit enter.

Step 2: Click on "change settings" when the Windows Update Control Panel opens up.

Step 3: Locate the "important updates" menu on the page that opens and click on it. Switch from "install updates automatically" to "check for updates but let me choose whether to download and install them". Click on ok afterwards.

Windows will notify you about updates but won't download or install them automatically anymore.

This requires that you go through the list of updates manually whenever they are presented to you to select those you want installed.

You can use the built-in hide functionality to block the installation of updates you don't want installed on your machine.

Additionally, you may want to do the following to improve the blocking further.

  1. Set the preferences DisableOSUpgrade and DisableGWX in the Registry to block the upgrade to Windows 10. Click on the link for instructions on how to do that.
  2. Install the excellent GWX Control Panel application which has been designed to block Windows 10 on machines running Windows 7 or 8.
Summary
If you don't want Windows 10, do this
Article Name
If you don't want Windows 10, do this
Description
Microsoft pushes Windows 10 as an upgrade on machines running Windows 7 or 8. If you don't want it, you need to configure the device to block automatic updates.
Author
Publisher
Ghacks Technology News
Logo
Advertisement

Tutorials & Tips


Previous Post: «
Next Post: «

Comments

  1. DigitalEdge said on October 24, 2016 at 11:14 pm
    Reply

    The main issue with the setting is that you don’t get any say in the matter and no option to research updates before they are installed.

  2. Debbie said on October 22, 2016 at 7:03 am
    Reply

    The article below was published in ghacks.net newsletter November 17, 2015 and I was wondering if this program is still recommended for novice users not wanting Windows 10? I am running windows 7 home premium.
    “Improved GWX Control Panel does an even better job at keeping Windows 10 off your PC”
    https://www.ghacks.net/2015/11/17/improved-gwx-control-panel-does-an-even-better-job-at-keeping-windows-10-off-your-pc/

    Thank you for all your hard work
    Debbie

    1. Martin Brinkmann said on October 22, 2016 at 8:20 am
      Reply

      Debbie, the tool is no longer needed as Microsoft ended its campaign.

  3. Emilia said on October 20, 2016 at 10:10 pm
    Reply

    Really helpful article, I’ve been using windows 10 since a while now and I must these tips are quite new to me.

  4. Intrepid said on July 9, 2016 at 1:08 pm
    Reply

    Just uninstall it and use linux instead

  5. Debbie T. said on June 26, 2016 at 9:02 am
    Reply

    Could I trouble you to give specific examples of how the MS Updates I am trying to avoid might read? I doubt MS has the candor to come right out and say ‘Update (kb31120003) will Upgrade my Windows 7 Operating System to Windows 10 whether I like it, or not.’ Right? LOL P.S. I appreciate what you do; keeping the masses informed… because I’d rather be informed than be Asheep!~ (Get it?) LOL Hahaha. Kudos!
    Respectfully,
    Debbie T.

    1. Martin Brinkmann said on June 26, 2016 at 9:25 am
      Reply
  6. Conrad said on May 30, 2016 at 11:47 am
    Reply

    well if you don’t want windows 10
    you may find another hobby
    and stay away from any kind of electronics technology
    because Intel & AMD new CPU will work only with windows 10
    if you don’t believe me
    then do your own research because it’s already happening ..!!
    .

  7. mmm said on March 28, 2016 at 1:52 pm
    Reply

    Martin,

    Is it enough to prevent Win10 silent download by ONLY turning off/disabling Automatic Updates?

    1. Martin Brinkmann said on March 28, 2016 at 2:05 pm
      Reply

      Yes, that should be enough, provided that you review all updates before you install them to block those that bring W10 to your system.

  8. Dave Milne said on March 21, 2016 at 10:49 pm
    Reply

    Re win 10 and metered broadband can you claim Microsoft for the excess you pay under the UK.s unsolicited goods and services laws after all its not you who is asking for the service just a thought nothing makes people listen better

    1. Rick Boettger said on May 17, 2016 at 11:03 pm
      Reply

      My first PC in 1984 used two 5.25 floppies. I tried three times in my professional career (business professor) to go Mac but compatibility issues. Now retired, and having enjoyed my iPad for four years, I’m giving up my HP Touchsmart, , my best-ever PC, and my wife’s basic Toshiba, to our local Apple dealer to download onto a non-hostile OS. Everything since 7 has been a down grade, and this forced conversion is the last straw.

      I don’t know how Bill Gates can be so noble in the world and run such a corrupted empire.

  9. beachbouy said on March 16, 2016 at 10:58 pm
    Reply

    The big difference between Win 7 and Win 10… people wanted Win 7.

    1. Tom Hawack said on March 16, 2016 at 11:18 pm
      Reply

      People wanted Windows 7 and haven’t been disappointed.
      People were surprised by Windows 8 and have been disappointed.
      Windows 8 users wanted Windows 10, have been and still are disappointed and, cherry on the cake, are force-fed to swallow it. Unless they struggle with determination : NO! I won’t eat it!

      I dare say, anti-progress.

      1. Tom Hawack said on March 17, 2016 at 4:14 pm
        Reply

        @Gary D, great, and it’s not because I knew you’d like it that I took the risk of accepting being screamed at :)

      2. Gary D said on March 17, 2016 at 4:02 pm
        Reply

        @Tom Hawack

        Off topic, I tested “Everything” and it sneered at my puny attempts to break it. Nice program !
        So, no screaming at Tom Hawack :-))

      3. T J said on March 17, 2016 at 3:57 pm
        Reply

        @Corky

        Of course people want horse poop. It’s much easier to shovel :-P

    2. Andrew said on March 16, 2016 at 10:59 pm
      Reply

      Really? With all the complaints about windows 8’s start screen I would think people wanted Windows 10 then.

      1. Tom Hawack said on March 17, 2016 at 4:36 pm
        Reply

        And if it’s the same man we’ll call it self-sufficiency.
        Oh! boy … looks like we’re slipping!

      2. Andrew said on March 17, 2016 at 4:21 pm
        Reply

        @Corky, Well hey, one man’s poop might be another man’s fertilizer :p

      3. Corky said on March 17, 2016 at 8:39 am
        Reply

        @Andrew, That’s like saying people didn’t want cow poop so they must want horse poop. :)

  10. Guest said on March 15, 2016 at 8:09 pm
    Reply

    For those who have had it with Windows and would like to try something different, I recommend the Linux distribution called Depth OS. There are some reviews on YouTube and written reviews elsewhere. Depth OS has an interface very similar to Windows and should be easy for people who are new to Linux.

    1. Tom Hawack said on March 15, 2016 at 9:03 pm
      Reply

      Thanks, Guest. There are so many Linux distributions and at the same time, because I feel there is no consensus on one which would prevail, the choice for a newcomer seems to be a challenge. At this time I’m thinking about Ubuntu but this is simply a trigger idea. I don’t even understand the logical structure of Linux distributions, the organization chart, the “distros” … of course the Web is here for information but my feeling is that objectivity in the world of Linux is hard to find, not because of dishonesty but because users have their “chapels” and believe theirs is the best. So tough to have an objective start since all are mentioned as the best!

      Depth OS, with “an interface very similar to Windows” seems interesting for a beginner, but there’s more to an OS than the look, I guess!

      This being said I don’t want to be taken by the hand, should I decide to move from Windows to Linux that I’d really start deep thinking, and searching thoroughly. As many of us perhaps I’m sort of “wondering as I wander” …

      Thanks for the information.

  11. pk said on March 14, 2016 at 11:16 pm
    Reply

    @gman

    You said DoD has committed to Windows10.

    Don’t they already use computers?
    If yes, then are they not Windows 7or8?
    If yes, then have those computers not been similarly affected (beg your pardon, Upgraded) at the whims and fancies of MS?
    If yes, then why do they (DoD) commit to Windows10 when the upgrade is automatically done?
    If not, then can we reasonably assume that MS chooses not to touch DoD and other such mighty users?

    gman,
    Do we therefore conclude that such secretive and mischievous methods employed by MS are meant for lesser mortals like us and are part of a larger game-plan whose motives are yet not known?

    1. A different Martin said on March 16, 2016 at 10:35 pm
      Reply

      DoD almost certainly uses Windows 7/8.1 Enterprise (and quite possibly a customized edition of Windows 7/.8.1 Enterprise). To my knowledge, Windows Enterprise has not, so far, been subjected to Windows 10 readiness or upgrade patches. I administer a few Windows 7 Pro computers as well as a couple of Windows 7 Enterprise laptops. (The sysadmins at the institution that issued the Win 7 Enterprise laptops don’t actively maintain employees’ laptops, just their desktops at work, so it falls to individual users to keep their laptops up to date. In my dad’s case, that’s me.) As far as I’m aware, none of the Windows 10 updates that Microsoft has been trying to foist on the non-Enterprise Windows 7 computers I administer have shown up in Windows Update on the Windows 7 Enterprise machines I administer. So, no, I’m pretty sure the great majority of DoD’s computers haven’t been upgraded at the whims and fancies of Microsoft. (As a side note, I’d just like to say what a pleasure it is not to have to worry about sneaky or forcible installs of Windows-10-related stuff on the Enterprise machines.)

      The US Department of Defense has indeed announced that it has “committed” to Windows 10, but you can be sure it will be for Windows 10 Enterprise, and very likely a customized edition of Windows 10 Enterprise with less telemetry (and maybe even less possibility of telemetry) out of the box. Until recently, an institution had to have a minimum of 250 users to qualify for a Windows 7 Enterprise license. That minimum number recently went up to 500 users. I don’t know what the minimum number of users might be for a customized edition, but if the ginormous Department of Defense, with >700,000 civilian employees, 1.4 million active-duty military, and 1.1 million reservists, doesn’t qualify, no one does.

  12. Gonzo said on March 14, 2016 at 8:56 pm
    Reply

    Wow! I’ve never seen so many “I’ll buy a Mac” or “I’ll use Linux” comments on ghacks.

    I wonder how many of you will actually do it. I moved to Linux in September but even with my experience using Linux routers and servers I still found it really time consuming (finding software, writing scripts and working around various bugs). I considered a Mac but I’m too cheap and worried that I was jumping from one fire into another.

    I honestly feel bad for the Windows PC enthusiast. Looks like there’s no future for you. Maybe PC-BSD will be a good option by 2020…

    1. Tom Hawack said on March 14, 2016 at 9:36 pm
      Reply

      I wonder as well how many people, be it here reading this article, be it anywhere else, who don’t write nor say a word, who never complain, never share nor express their discontent and yet will abandon Windows and start another computer life with another OS. Certainly many more than us here and elsewhere who are fed up with Microsoft, I mean : FED UP.

      1. Corky said on March 16, 2016 at 7:42 pm
        Reply

        @Andrew, I did submit a long reply about how it’s unknown what telemetry is sent back to Microsoft, and how phones aren’t used by companies that deal with confidential date but for some reason it seems to have not shown up, maybe it got lost IDK, anyway sorry for not going into more details

      2. Andrew said on March 15, 2016 at 6:51 pm
        Reply

        @Corky, and web browsers as well. The thing is, with the exception of insider builds, from my understanding on the telemetry/tracking that’s being collected consists of items in the OS used and things searched for (via cortana). The tracking doesn’t take into account everything you do on the computer, which is where I think a lot of the hysteria is coming from. Personally speaking, I am still trying to find my middle ground in terms of what’s okay with what’s being tracked. I don’t want to ignore the issue and let whatever be about me sent, but at the same time I don’t want to be overly cautious in a tinfoil way to where I can’t utilize some of the benefits of todays technology.

        In regards to Phones vs computers and tracking. That’s what I find most interesting, considering the amount of privacy and data being sent from a phone is a tremendous amount vs a computer, and nowadays with smartphones, a lot of people do the same if not more private things on their phones. I mean if this was 10 years ago, then tracking on your cellphone wouldn’t be much news. So I find tracking more privacy invasive on the smartphone vs desktop (of course, if they are tracking everything you type on whatever device, much like a keylogger, then that’s hands down the worst).

        Supposedly Redstone 1 is the first major release, so I guess that would be the first “SP”. Still, I hate how they are handling all these upgrades now with “full OS reinstalls”. I seriously hope that v1511 was just a one time thing in terms of upgrading.

        You’re right about patch tuesday and how it later became a thing. Windows update was one of the greatest features ever added to windows 98. It is kind of funny to think that windows 95 didn’t have any way to update your computer, and really people were fine with that. But then again most people back then signed on with 28.8+ modem w/ AOL or some other ISP.

      3. Corky said on March 15, 2016 at 11:01 am
        Reply

        @Andrew, The only place where tracking / telemetry is the norm is on phones and tablets, it’s not the norm on desktop PCs.

        The point you raise about Media Center is an interesting one, you say if enough people used it but this is the problem with tracking / telemetry, it only gives you part of the picture, like it only gave Microsoft part of the picture when the made the decision to remove the start menu.

        RE: Most of Windows’ releases aren’t very stable until the first update/SP while in general terms that maybe true but the problem with Windows 10 IMO is that it’s never going to have a first update/SP, there’s no fixed target and nothings set in stone for developers, something that’s possible today may not be possible tomorrow, unlike the days of old where developers could target a fixed platform and know little would change over a 10 year period.

        That’s something that’s borne out by you saying that XP, Vista and 8 had problems with vendors who didn’t update their drivers, or at least put out a crappy barely tested driver, something that initially happened in some cases but was a situation that later improved, when looking at Windows 10 that later improvement is unlikely to come as there’s no solid ground to stand on, a vendor may improve their driver only to have Microsoft issue an update that breaks it and causes them to start again.

        Just a bit of trivia re: patch Tuesday, that wasn’t Microsoft intention when they first incorporated Windows update into Windows, anyone remember doing from IE, one of the reasons Microsoft gave for incorporating Windows updates into the OS instead of a web browser was so they could issue security updates immediately, it’s why the default setting for WU is still to check for updates everyday, i can’t remember the last time Microsoft issued a OOB update.

      4. Tom Hawack said on March 15, 2016 at 10:12 am
        Reply

        @Andrew, you maybe have a realistic, pragmatic approach but I don’t think mine is idealistic. While we agree on some points obviously there are fundamentals where I just cannot follow your analysis.

        “Companies are more utilizing the ability of having always on internet to get statistics to better understand their customers” : Come on! This is the very, the universal pretext of any tracking company!

        I have a true preference for liking rather than disliking. I’d love to feel comfortable in advocating Microsoft’s policy regarding Windows 10 without having to feel as if I was bypassing objectivity. Minimizing an accusation on the ground of precedents and objecting that a behavior must be judged in comparison to society’s trends is not my way of seeing things.

        Time will tell, Andrew. Windows 10 is not finished, it is a work in progress. To be positive and join you in that attitude, we may hope that this unaccomplished OS will mute with time, for the best of its users, at least.

      5. Andrew said on March 15, 2016 at 12:59 am
        Reply

        Well, I have to disagree respectfully on some parts. The biggest significance about this OS is the usage tracking / telemetry, but this is how things are nowadays. Companies are more utilizing the ability of having always on internet to get statistics to better understand their customers. Mind you that also with the inclusion of Cortana, a personal assistant/search engine, it’s expected to phone home.

        1. I admit that there were a few things that microsoft removed, but tbh I am not sure exactly how big the demand was if microsoft has removed it and isn’t planning on bringing it back. I would assume if enough people wanted Windows Media Center back, Microsoft would bring it back in some way. I mean if there’s a demand for it, they would sell it like they did with Windows 8. There’s already reports they are bringing back OneDrive Placeholders.

        2. It depends what you consider “not ready”. I am by all means not disagreeing with you as I know Windows 10 is finicky and I feel it was released too early, but most of Windows’ releases aren’t very stable until the first update/SP, because by then drivers have been made and Microsoft has a better understanding what to fix. That’s one of the reason why businesses usually wait before upgrading. I mean Windows ME had issues, and if it wasn’t for the fact that it was a stopgab after Windows Neptune fell through, I would guess that Microsoft would have done a lot up fixes or even released a second edition as well. Vista also was too power hungry for 2006 standard hardware, but I believe that was more an error on marketing.

        3. Yes, but this happens often, with XP, then Vista, then Windows 8. Sadly, that moreso falls on the vendors because they don’t update their drivers, or at least put out a crappy barely tested driver.

        4. No argument there, I don’t like the loss of control for Windows Updates, but I think what irks me more is the removal of “patch tuesday”. I understand if there’s a security patch it should go out right away, but a lot of things I do believe should be tested longer. Oh, and I really hate the move from Service packs to whole fledged OS upgrade.

        5. I don’t like how aggressive Microsoft is on this, but from a business standpoint I understand why they want to do that. I am not saying the ends justify the means though. The thing is, people had their windows update to install automatically. That is basically opening the door for microsoft to install and change whatever they want, so then microsoft used that to their advantage, that shouldn’t be much of a surprise. At least prior to windows 10 you could control updates, in comparison to some mobile OSs out there.

        So while I do see there’s a lot of issues with Windows 10 and such, I believe every OS upgrade had its own issues to deal with… well… except maybe Windows 7

      6. Tom Hawack said on March 14, 2016 at 11:57 pm
        Reply

        @Andrew, the Microsoft Tsunami is not a remake of what always happens with new OSs.

        We have several problems now, one is the new OS itself. We can debate on its “vices and virtues” and we do, everyone does as everyone always has in the past, but maybe in the past was the amount of tracking not the main reproach, users were more complaining about lost features than about new ones. But OK, let us admit what is inherent to the advent of a new OS.

        The second problem is new and concerns an OS which is not ready. This never happened before.

        The third problem is that the installed Windows 10 is breaking many systems it was installed over. I read everyday driver problems for instance, settings removed by Windows 10 updates …

        The fourth problem is Windows 10 Updates themselves, not only causing damages but more over impossible to block unless the user be particularly skilled.

        The fifth problem should be mentioned as the first : users are forced to upgrade, all tricks have been used and continue to be by Microsoft in order to get the damn user (that’s you and me and all of us) to move, to move on to Windows 10. People have a license and saying no to the new OS requires brain storming for an average user, is quasi impossible for … what? 90, 95% of the population?

        So you see, in the past new OSs deployed one problem, when Windows 10 inflates to five. This has never existed before with a new Windows OS, this is stunning immaculate. And I truly believe the medias will sooner or later describe this Microsoft tsunami as it is becoming a planetary problem. The company has gone too far this time and, to repeat the words of a journalist I know here in France, “The problem is not to know if they’ve crossed the line, the problem is they’re going too fast, and their problem is they may very well crash”.

      7. Andrew said on March 14, 2016 at 11:24 pm
        Reply

        @Tom, this is the norm though, there’s always a substantial people complaining about the new windows version that was released, like Windows 95 and the missing program manager, Windows ME, Windows XP and how some Win9x stuff wouldn’t work, Windows Vista and how slow it was, Windows 8 for the start screen and loss of aero.

        People will complain, and in a lot of ways, it’s justified, but they probably won’t really change because that takes a bigger risk. If anything, it’s not the customers that feel “alienated” by microsoft that’s the real threat, but more the people that mostly use their fone for all their needs. The declining PC sales and increase smartphone sales.

      8. Tom Hawack said on March 14, 2016 at 10:58 pm
        Reply

        @Andrew, not too many? Vague for an estimation, no less than “many” bu the way. Hard to figure out a percentage, likely low as to the number of “Windowers”. But we know that inertia is concerned when it comes to wide arrays of population and rising or falling interests, moods, fashions.

        I’m stunned in fact to see, hear the increasing number of users not only complaining about Microsoft’s amazing attempt to push adoption of Windows 10 (which could be put on the account of an anti-Microsoft fashion) but moreover and before all explaining the impact of a company’s total lack of respect for its customers on their everyday computing life, be it at home or office. The Microsoft Tsunami sounds close to what some have experienced, still do and still will endure, maybe not with Windows 10 itself but factually with the companies upgrade policy, which are two different things. In fact I believe this policy is anti-productive, fundamentally idiot in terms of image, in terms of incentive.

        Microsoft’s inconsideration is essentially rude, and it seems the company has considered this attitude as negligible. I believe this is a mistake which already costs them problems and will carry on, with inertia, to a problematic issue. This is a beginning, it’s not a kindergarten’s cries.

      9. Andrew said on March 14, 2016 at 9:45 pm
        Reply

        Not too many, I think it would cost too much if they use a lot of software that they already purchased, not too mention change from windows 7/8 to 10 is bad, but change to a whole new OS is worse. For people that just use their computers for surfing/netflix/a few documents, change wouldn’t be an issue.

  13. Frank said on March 14, 2016 at 1:41 pm
    Reply

    How long before we have realtime paid services like Kaspersky or MalwareBytes, but whose job it is to block all Microsoft spyware? I smell an opportunity.

    1. justakiwi said on March 16, 2016 at 12:09 am
      Reply
  14. Decent60 said on March 14, 2016 at 12:09 am
    Reply

    I personally have used the DisableOSUpgrade Registry edit, and found that to be the only thing to work against Micro$hits attempts to annoy to me upgrade (The GWX registry edit seems to be ignored now).
    I’ve even installed that last KB with the IE ads. I haven’t found anything outside of MSN.com.
    Tho I hardly use IE because it’s not that great so I’ll have to keep checking on that lol

  15. Earl said on March 13, 2016 at 8:43 pm
    Reply

    I miss Win2K.

    1. John in Mtl said on March 13, 2016 at 10:20 pm
      Reply

      Yep, same here. ‘Twas lean and mean. Just the OS, nothing more, nothing less.

  16. ddk said on March 13, 2016 at 5:11 pm
    Reply

    I’ve been trying Remix OS, Android based desktop system. Since my phone runs Android, the OS is familiar and runs pretty decent. Remix is not affiliated with Google and is part of the Android X86 project based in China, I believe some of the devs are former Google employees though.

    1. John in Mtl said on March 13, 2016 at 10:22 pm
      Reply

      “…Android X86 project based in China” – “…former Google employees”

      I’m not sure I would trust any of that…

  17. gman said on March 13, 2016 at 4:36 pm
    Reply

    Really why would you want to hold onto a technical dinosaur? Honestly. Sheeople don’t seem to have any issues quickly updating their phone\tablet OS, without regards to security, but with your PC you want to flip out about a security first and a much better interface, performant, and aligns with the future Microsoft and not the old. Sure I can’t argue the tactics’ could be better for this dragging their feet, read as head in the sand. DoD has committed to windows 10, but what do they know about Security anyway.

    I took an 83 y/o couple from XP to Win7 to Win 10 on the same hardware, except for an HDD change between 7 and 10. They went through starter guide and they were off and running. Speaking of running, running great it is, I don’t get random Win 7 support calls, cuz Win10 just works.

    I personally use it in with force and regularly jump back and forth between 7 & 10, the more I have to jump back the more I want to just jump forward. Get with the times or get phased out.

    1. Corky said on March 14, 2016 at 8:44 am
      Reply

      @gman, Nice to see some people have fallen for Microsoft’s spiel on how a desktop PC and phones\tablets are all the same, unfortunately they’re not and anyone with a little common sense can see that they’re very different beasts and are used for very different purposes.

      If Windows 10 was Microsoft’s phone/tablet OS i wouldn’t have any problem with what they’re doing, fact is it’s not, it’s being pushed on people that work with highly confidential data and can’t risk using an OS designed for watching cat videos and posting Twitbook updates.

    2. Nebulus said on March 14, 2016 at 2:01 am
      Reply

      I love tech, I love dinosaurs, so why not stick with a “technical dinosaur” ? :)

    3. Gary D said on March 13, 2016 at 7:41 pm
      Reply

      @gman

      First, with your handle, are you an FBI Special Agent looking for subversives posting on Ghacks ? :-)

      Second. How can you possibly know what the future Microsoft will look like. The way they are shaping up at the moment, it appears that the senior management have very vague ideas about the future.
      The only current plan, or “mission” in USA speak, they have is to get Win 10 installed on 1 billion PCs/Laptops/Notebooks/etc.
      This appears to be leading to tunnel vision on their part.
      I second RichardT’s comments, especially about the US DoD.

      I recommend that you click on the link for “Hackmag” in T J’s post and read that article.

    4. RichardT said on March 13, 2016 at 7:31 pm
      Reply

      A good idea if you want MS to have complete control of your PC and be able to change it however they want anytime they want.

      The DoD will not be getting the same version, you can be sure of that.

  18. Ed said on March 13, 2016 at 4:13 pm
    Reply

    Just buy a Mac.

    1. MdN said on March 13, 2016 at 5:16 pm
      Reply

      And install Linux on it. ;-)

      1. Andrew said on March 14, 2016 at 12:20 am
        Reply

        Or FreeBSD!

  19. privacy rights said on March 13, 2016 at 3:48 pm
    Reply

    I’m not downloading it out of principle at this point.

  20. kalmly said on March 13, 2016 at 3:47 pm
    Reply

    I also have Windows update turned off. It’s the only way to be safe, and now I’m not trusting that either. What is the definition of a virus? I’m pretty sure Win10 meets all the criteria. It sneaks into your computer and takes control. Changes settings, deletes programs, sticks a huge advertising monster – that can’t be gotten rid of – into the works, then sits back and makes whatever adjustments it decides is good for its own proliferation. Besides that, it is ugly to look at. Very sad seeing what has happened to what was once the world’s most wonderful OS.

    I am hoping that as more people switch to Linux, more software will be designed for it. Otherwise, if MS ever succeeds in wrenching Win7 and XP from my hands, I’ll have to go with a Mac.

  21. pk said on March 13, 2016 at 3:19 pm
    Reply

    I wonder what Mr Donald Trump has to say about this issue with Microsoft!

    1. Gary D said on March 13, 2016 at 5:00 pm
      Reply

      @pk

      Deport Nadella, he’s got a foreign name ! :-)

  22. batman said on March 13, 2016 at 1:47 pm
    Reply

    Linux never took off with the majority, all this is doing is pushing people to apple i bet.
    me, i haven’t done a windows update in 6 months.

  23. Pants said on March 13, 2016 at 1:40 pm
    Reply

    Whelp, that reddit is one long read … the one thing I take from it so far is some people reporting that the EULA is appearing at the end of the installation sequence. That and the upgrade screen popping up, stealing focus and keystrokes (I hate it when programs do this).

    1. seeprime said on March 13, 2016 at 8:00 pm
      Reply

      If you decline the EULA it will roll back to the version of Windows that was running when Microsoft hijacked the computer. We had one customer that declined the EULA and after the rollback, Windows would not boot. We were able to repair the installation without having to do a clean install. Microsoft is doing a horrible job at the moment as their upgrade and rollback mechanisms are imperfect and have adversely hit a small percentage of users. People will remember this series of events.

      Google has a great opportunity to make Chrome OS a user friendly environment if they can get it to allow local apps and local printing, without having to send a print command through the Internet.

    2. Tom Hawack said on March 13, 2016 at 2:27 pm
      Reply

      Good thing your comment reminds us the reddit topic mentioned in the first line of the article, impressive indeed, haven’t read all yet stunning to discover the calamity reported by many, be it home or office users. Like someone wrote, “This is essentially a 180-degree move from how Windows operated for the last 30 years.”. We’re no longer in the scheme of a few techies reporting moods, this Microsoft operation is taking dramatic proportions.

  24. Yuliya said on March 13, 2016 at 12:46 pm
    Reply

    Two can play this game. I recommend to anyone (irl, friends, family, etc) Windows 7 Enterprise as that does not get all these nonsense updates. I’m currently using Ultimate and struggling to avoid all that cr*p, next time I’ll have to reinstall it I know which edition I’m going to use.. I find it unacceptable to have paid for a product, being promissed a certain amount of years of support, just to have it taken away from you prematurely. One can hardly care about ethics anymore when it comes to Micro$oft given that They don’t do it towards its users. PLus most users already have an OEM license purchased with their laptop but for Home/Pro, etc. Swicthing to Enterprise to avoid this is the way to go for those users.

    1. Andrew said on March 14, 2016 at 12:18 am
      Reply

      What the hell are you talking about? You can’t just go out and buy enterprise, it’s volume licensed based, not to mention a lot of that is handled by group policy. You can’t just go and recommend windows 7 enterprise to regular home users. That is… unless you’re slinging pirated copies.

      1. Andrew said on March 14, 2016 at 5:17 pm
        Reply

        @marten, basically what Corky said. You can sure as hell sell a “copy” of Windows 7 Enterprise to someone, but the question of whether will activate is there. Selling a windows disc is different than selling a playstation game or DVD because those two don’t require any form of activation.

      2. Corky said on March 14, 2016 at 1:41 pm
        Reply

        @marten, I would love you to provide a link to anyone selling any version of Windows Enterprise as unless my understanding is wrong Microsoft could/would cancel the enterprise agreement with the company that sold it along with invalidating that enterprises license.

      3. marten said on March 14, 2016 at 12:16 pm
        Reply

        In most countries of the world you can most certainly legally buy Windows 7 Enterprise by buying a copy off someone who is no longer running their copy. Most of the EULA and DMCA enforced in the USA violates fundamental consumer rights in other countries and is unenforcible. Microsoft tried challenging in our version of supreme court and lost – Precedent set, case closed forever (Same thing happened to Sony when they tried to get chip mods banned here). Just like reselling your old playstation games, you can resell your old software DVD’s (if you were to keep a copy that would be illegal).
        The internet extends to a lot of the 95% of worlds population who aren’t in the USA, so yes he can just go and recommend people do that

  25. RichardT said on March 13, 2016 at 12:00 pm
    Reply

    A couple of months ago I swapped the HDD in my aging laptop for an SSD. At first I was thinking of cloning the Windows 7 install from the HDD to the SSD, but Microsoft’s aggressive and devious behavior made me change my mind. I installed Linux Mint and it’s been working fine.

    I already had Mint on one desktop PC which just leaves the other desktop running Windows 7. I’ve just spent some time making sure my documents, spreadsheets, etc can be edited using Libre Office. The only tricky part was converting a couple of Access databases to work with Libre Base. Now that has been done I have uninstalled MS Office. The only remaining reason I have for keeping Windows on that PC is to run the photo editing software Capture One. I far prefer its output to other photo editing packages, although the latest release of Dark Table on Linux is starting to look promising.

    Of course another reason for keeping Windows 7 for the time being is to see how long I can thwart Microsoft’s evil plans and keep their malware off my PC!

    1. Alex said on March 14, 2016 at 3:23 pm
      Reply

      Good for you. If you were using Photoshop or Lightroom you’d quickly realize how next to impossible it is to switch just like that.

    2. Tom Hawack said on March 13, 2016 at 12:21 pm
      Reply

      “Of course another reason for keeping Windows 7 for the time being is to see how long I can thwart Microsoft’s evil plans and keep their malware off my PC!”

      I just love the idea of having users reserve their Windows 7/8.1 installation for honeypot experiences in the face of Microsoft once they’ve moved to other OSs lands. C’mon baby, c’mon sweety, take a chance NastySoft, come and try to bite daddy, c’mon, try to install your rotten 10 and let’s see how you manage, shrimpy!

      Hmm, pardon my enthusiasm.

      1. Jason said on March 13, 2016 at 6:19 pm
        Reply

        “Ubuntu for president!”

        I would put that down on my ballot if I were American. :)

      2. Tom Hawack said on March 13, 2016 at 5:52 pm
        Reply

        @Jason, I’ve been viewing too many presidential debates on CNN and looks like I’ve caught the rhetoric specific to one of the candidates, maybe because, ideas aside, I just find the man sympathetic, no idea why. I’m not American and this is not the place, but this to explain maybe an over-enthusiastic wording somewhere between a smile and true anger. Lol!

        I take Gary D’s invitation to medicine as a smile, you and him are not my enemies, I believe we’re close to being pals in a way, so laughing is allowed. Lol!

        OK- Back to the topic. Ubuntu for president!

      3. Jason said on March 13, 2016 at 5:25 pm
        Reply

        @Gary: I thought Tom was quite funny.

      4. Tom Hawack said on March 13, 2016 at 1:38 pm
        Reply

        @Gary D, a new speech for old memories, those of a teen age :) Made me feel younger!
        Most of the time I keep my temper but I happen to get on big angers and sort of slip, even if I never insult anyone, never have, not in my habits. But this Microsoft policy is really getting on my nerves. Also a way to prove to myself and to others that contrarily to what may be induced by the high level of my rhetoric, I am no god, I mistake like all human beings. Believe me, I’m an excessively modest genius.

      5. Gary D said on March 13, 2016 at 1:13 pm
        Reply

        @Tom Hawack

        Calm down ! Keep taking the tranquilizers !! :-)

  26. Tom Hawack said on March 13, 2016 at 10:58 am
    Reply

    This is becoming the Wingates (sorry Bill!) and I wonder what the impact will be. Are we a wide minority to be so bothered with Microsoft’s enforcement policy to adopt/upgrade to Windows 10? Not a majority anyway I presume. Radio & television, as they focus the “masses” are generally relevant of the masses’ perception of problems, and these medias haven’t up to now mentioned this Windows 10 invasion, so I wonder as well if this will occur or not.

    I sincerely feel sorry for those who have had their Windows 7/8.1 upgraded to Windows 10 despite their will, and I encourage all those who have decided to not upgrade to remain firm in their decision if they continue to believe in their reasons and to follow regularly latest news here and elsewhere on the development of a struggle between them, us, and a dictatorial company.

    1. Jason said on March 13, 2016 at 5:24 pm
      Reply

      As sure as the Earth orbits the Sun, we can expect major lawsuits against Microsoft to arise from this behaviour. Remember the European Union’s antitrust case? That was minor compared to what is happening here.

      However, given the way the courts work, we can also expect that (a) the eventual penalties against Microsoft will be tiny compared to the amount of money they make, and (b) it will take a decade before a court decision is handed against them. By then we’ll be onto Windows 12 or 13 and the Windows monopoly will still be perfectly safe.

      1. A different Martin said on March 16, 2016 at 3:25 am
        Reply

        @ Jason:

        “As sure as the Earth orbits the Sun, we can expect major lawsuits against Microsoft to arise from this behaviour.”

        Not in the US. Microsoft’s EULAs ban individual lawsuits and class actions, leaving end users with individual mandatory arbitration — always heavily slanted in favor of the company — as their only private recourse. US courts have unfortunately routinely upheld these clauses, even in contracts of adhesion between grossly unequal parties. (Only a couple of days ago, a US District Court relied on an individual mandatory arbitration clause in AT&T’s terms of service to dismiss a class action suit against the company for throttling data in “unlimited” mobile-phone data plans.) As for the US Department of Justice, the Federal Trade Commission, and state attorneys general coming to the rescue, corporate influence over Congress, state legislatures, and public agencies is at an all-time high and public enforcement of antitrust and consumer-protection statutes is at an all-time low. (The US uses unlimited, unequal, private election-campaign financing and has extremely weak conflict-of-interest rules for public officials. For example, a few months after voting to allow Comcast, an oligopolistic media distributor, to acquire NBC Universal, an oligopolistic media content provider, FCC commissioner Meredith Attwell Baker resigned and became Comcast’s top in-house lobbyist, increasing her pay from under $170,000 a year to what is likely over $2.7 million a year.) I think the only place we’re likely to see any action at all is from European antitrust and consumer protection agencies. Let’s hope they can’t be suborned as easily and effectively as their American counterparts.

  27. Coin B said on March 13, 2016 at 9:49 am
    Reply

    The solution is quite simple, if its at all possible consider moving to Linux.

    1. marius said on March 13, 2016 at 10:37 am
      Reply

      How about no,instead of dealing with buggy linux and it’s apps availability ghost town,you just upgrade to Ten…or avoid upgrading to Ten whatever suits you!

      1. Corky said on March 14, 2016 at 8:35 am
        Reply

        @Khidreal, You see that little red button that allows multiple desktops, that was a feature Microsoft previously said would confuse their users, that’s the mentality at Microsoft, a mentality that people that use Windows are easily confused and need to be treated like children.

      2. Jason said on March 13, 2016 at 10:59 pm
        Reply

        @Khidreal:

        “keep in mind that the several linux distros out there are kept by linux fans… they are not corporations making money out of their operative system ”

        To some degree this is true but actually there are tons of corporations involved in Linux development (Red Hat, IBM, SUSE, Novell, HP, Oracle, Intel, Google, Fujitsu…). So it’s not just amateur/enthusiast software.

      3. Khidreal said on March 13, 2016 at 7:14 pm
        Reply

        I agree with @Jason, even android is based on Linux LOL. a LOT of ideas for windows that came with windows 10 were ideas that came for Linux YEARS ago… see that little button on the bottom of your awesom *cuff cuff* windows 10? that makes you able to have multiple desktops? well, that feature is on linux since 1 millions years ago… let’s keep if by here, because pretty much of all the new features that Windows 10 brougth, are on Linux for ages… and keep in mind that the several linux distros out there are kept by linux fans… they are not corporations making money out of their operative system and yet Linux is more advanced than Windows… even Apple started to get some ideas out of Linux features…

      4. Jason said on March 13, 2016 at 5:35 pm
        Reply

        @marius: Oh yeah, Linux is really bad. That’s why Microsoft are using it for two of their devices, and why they are also trying to use questionable patents to control Linux. Yup. A *terrible* operating system that no one should ever install. It will eat up your computer. ^_^

      5. Tom Hawack said on March 13, 2016 at 11:42 am
        Reply

        I wonder if Paranam Kid totally agrees :)

      6. Paranam Kid said on March 13, 2016 at 11:37 am
        Reply

        @ Marius: totally agree.

      7. Paranam Kid said on March 13, 2016 at 11:37 am
        Reply

        Totally agree.

      8. Paranam Kid said on March 13, 2016 at 11:36 am
        Reply

        Totally agree !!

      9. Gary D said on March 13, 2016 at 10:43 am
        Reply

        @Marius

        Now you are being too simplistic ! :-)

  28. Andrew said on March 13, 2016 at 8:54 am
    Reply

    It’s a shame the stuff you have to go through to keep the OS you want…

    Now then, I wonder how many “move to linux” comments there will be…

    *grabs popcorn*

    1. Mani said on March 13, 2016 at 12:23 pm
      Reply

      it is 2016 and every body have to move on better more stable version of OS Windows 10 is Amazing

      1. T J said on March 13, 2016 at 5:30 pm
        Reply
      2. T J said on March 13, 2016 at 4:53 pm
        Reply

        @Mani

        1.
        “Win 10 is fast,fluid and secure”. “It is amazing”. “Win 10 is better, more stable version, of OS”. These are your claims, Mani.
        2.
        Win 10 first release was the poorly tested Alpha release. MS gave it away free in the hope that users would forget the Win 8 debacle. Build 1511 was the Beta release.
        Win 10 (and Win 8) is actually designed to work with touch screen smart phones and tablets. It does not work very well in serious work environments.
        3.
        Edge still does not have extensions or plugins, after 8 months
        4.
        “Security” updates have caused innumerable problems by installing incorrectly.
        5.
        Build 1511 deleted Third Party software, which caused problems for users.
        It deleted original hardware drivers and replaced them with MS generic drivers which did not work.
        It does not support older, expensive, equipment. EG CAD/CAM, MRI scanners, CT scanners, etc.
        6.
        MS has NOT ONCE but TWICE downloaded and installed Win 10, destroying users work, without any notice.
        Click on the link to Reddit in the first line of Martin’s article.
        7.
        Win 10 has become Malware with built in Trojans. Why? Because of the telemetry links which upload users PRIVATE information to hundreds of MS sites.
        Read the article at:
        https://hackmag.com/security/what-data-windows-10-sends-to-microft-and-how-to-make-it-stop/

        So, Mani, that is why Win 7 STILL has nearly 60% installs on PCs and Laptops.

      3. Jeff-FL said on March 13, 2016 at 2:06 pm
        Reply

        It’s 2016, and everyone can stay on whichever version of Windows they please. Windows 10 is shit.

    2. Nebulus said on March 13, 2016 at 10:33 am
      Reply

      Move to Linux! Move to Linux! :))

    3. T J said on March 13, 2016 at 10:14 am
      Reply

      Never mind Linux ! I want my Win 98 back :-(

  29. moira hawk said on March 13, 2016 at 8:54 am
    Reply

    I’m an old lady , have NO computer experience , why don’t they mind their own business , I just want my windows 8 back , and don’t know how to get it ????

    1. Jason said on March 13, 2016 at 5:16 pm
      Reply

      Moira, you may be the first person in the history of the universe to want Windows 8 back! Haha. I recommend an “upgrade” to Windows 7.

      1. Max said on March 15, 2016 at 2:27 pm
        Reply

        Andrew is right; Windows 8.1 with a start button replacement is a good OS – and it still has another 7 years before end of life.

      2. Andrew said on March 14, 2016 at 12:08 am
        Reply

        She’s probably used to it, which is why she wants to move back.

        Windows 8.1 offers tremendous new features and abilities to windows. The only complaints I have seen with Windows 8 has been mostly UI based like the start screen and aero.

      3. tommy said on March 13, 2016 at 7:57 pm
        Reply

        i like 8.1 just remove all the app and store rubbish and you have a fast decent os.But its personal preferences really i suppose

    2. Mani said on March 13, 2016 at 12:24 pm
      Reply

      Just Try Windows 10 it is Fast Fluid and Secure. Windows 10 is Amazing.

      1. GarbageMan said on December 13, 2019 at 3:51 pm
        Reply

        Windows 10 is Amaze is right lol, It’s got to be one of the most forceful behaving software ever put to code it acts more like a Virus then an OS are you kidding me, WOW Sheeple should not try to use intelligence or, it removes a doubt how stupid they really are! LMFAO Have a very good year 2020 with Windows trojan 10 ! I’m soon to be moving to open source Linux, this garbage Windows tracking Data Harvesting spyware producer is over! Wake Up Smell The Java!

      2. RJ said on March 15, 2016 at 10:50 pm
        Reply

        I agree. Win 10 is amazing. Ditch 7 and 8

      3. Win10Spy said on March 15, 2016 at 1:58 am
        Reply

        If only you know Windows 10 have an in-built Microsoft Legit Backdoor/Spyware that snoops what you are doing from the sites you visit, programs you install, keylogger, data mining, etc. that eats up alot of data specially to capped internet users compared to previous Windows versions where we are able to disable it. Well since it’s a FREE UPGRADE and is STATED IN Win10 EULA “That they have the right to do whatever they want if you use Windows 10 Free”.

      4. Andrew said on March 14, 2016 at 7:10 am
        Reply

        @Microceph 10

        Show me an OS that isn’t.

      5. Microceph 10 said on March 14, 2016 at 1:31 am
        Reply

        Secure it is definitely not. It’s like a house with open doors and windows (ha) into which anyone can wander into at any time without you knowing it.

      6. Decent60 said on March 14, 2016 at 12:06 am
        Reply

        @Khidreal,

        You can stop a lot of that data being sent by making all your connections a “metered connection”.
        With that being said, they need to come through with their promise of “giving the user full control over their privacy”.

      7. Khidreal said on March 13, 2016 at 7:08 pm
        Reply

        windows 10 is full of privacy holes and uses a LOT of internet uploading something you are not allowed to see what it is. microsoft services or whatever is the process called is constantly uploading and downloading files and people say it is uplaoding what you do on your computer. Microsoft it-self agreed that spy’s the users… it’s no invention… if you like privacy, I don’t recomend W10 in any way… even pooping on a damn Metro in Los Angeles maybe is more private than windows 10 LOL

      8. Jeff-FL said on March 13, 2016 at 2:06 pm
        Reply

        Don’t try windows 10. It’s slow, stagnant, and insecure. Windows 10 is shit.

    3. Martin Brinkmann said on March 13, 2016 at 9:21 am
      Reply

Leave a Reply

Check the box to consent to your data being stored in line with the guidelines set out in our privacy policy

We love comments and welcome thoughtful and civilized discussion. Rudeness and personal attacks will not be tolerated. Please stay on-topic.
Please note that your comment may not appear immediately after you post it.