Slashdot Mirror
Windows 10 Upgrade Reportedly Starting Automatically On Windows 7 PCs (softpedia.com)
An anonymous reader writes: Many users have confirmed in the comment section of a popular reddit post that "Windows 7 computers are being reported as automatically starting the Windows 10 upgrade without permission." It's no secret that Microsoft wants users to upgrade to their new OS. Earlier in the year, Windows 10 was set as a 'recommended update' so when you install new security or bug patches, the new OS is selected by default as well. Terry Myerson, head of the OS group at Microsoft, warned users about the possibility of the OS automatically installing. "Depending upon your Windows Update settings, this may cause the upgrade process to automatically initiate on your device. Before the upgrade changes the OS of your device, you will be clearly prompted to choose whether or not to continue," he said. Whether or not the recent outcry is caused from users forgetting to deselect the Windows 10 upgrade in the update list or Microsoft updating Windows 7 PCs without users' permission, the good news is that you have 30 days to downgrade to the previous version of the OS.
My grandma accidentally updated to Windows 10 from 7 because of their shifty practises. My dad called me to say that everything on my grandmas computer "was different" and no one had changed everything.
She has mild alzheimer's and forgets short-term so we can have the same conversation 3-4 times in an hour (which gives you lots of time to prepare an answer), so she forgot she had clicked okay when Windows Update had asked to upgrade. I'm glad I'd gone around when I had because there was only a week left before the change was irreversible.Thanks for the timebomb, douchebags
I would have left it. She does nothing on the computer besides Facebook and Solitaire but the performance was awful. All these new features and crap were beyond her realm. I downgraded her and found a tool that hides/deletes all the Windows 10 update crap so it wouldn't happen again.
She got hit by ransomware last week despite only using Facebook. I reckon it was one of those inescapable ads that warn you you're infected then proceed to catch you in a "Ok/Cancel" loop where Cancel just opens a new prompt.
She has nothing on that computer so I just nuked the drive and stuck Linux Mint on there and with some themes and such she can't tell the difference.
Year of the Linux Desktop amiright?
I've got Windows Update set to download, but notify me before installing. This has been fine for years, today the Action Center ("resolve PC issues") sees this as a "problem" that it wants to resolve by switching updates to Automatic. I don't think so, Bob.
Your guess was correct. Windows 7 Pro not on a domain. Looks like the update was changed to critical and that's why it was automatic.
Only the State obtains its revenue by coercion. - Murray Rothbard
You don't the authorities to get involved when the technical solution to stop this is so simple. It's all done through task scheduler. Erase the registry keys which mention GWX and the task scheduler won't run telemetry on your pc or call GWX at all. I can see complaining to the law if MS made it impossible to do without some insider knowledge. But when it's right there on the surface (a bunch of tasks scheduled in task scheduler), I'd say complaining about it to the law is like complaining that you don't like the bugs in javascript on some website.
Any guest worker system is indistinguishable from indentured servitude.
Which is the default setting, if you remember.
Seriously? You can restore a backed up VM image in no time compared to the time and effort it takes to roll back an unwanted Windows 10 update. There, now go to it.
My son came home a couple of days ago to a surprise installation of Windows 10 on his desktop computer. When he was prompted to accept the EULA he chose "No". This resulted in the computer being rolled back to Windows 7. However, after restarting in Windows 7 a timer was displayed on the screen showing how long before the "update" was reinstalled. There was no option to cancel the process, only an option to delay it. So apparently you can say no to Windows 10, but they'll just shove it back at you again.
After killing gwx.exe and gwxux.exe via Task Manager, I merged the following registry keys to disable automatic OS upgrades:
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\GWX]
"DisableGWX"=dword:00000001
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\WindowsUpdate]
"DisableOSUpgrade"=dword:00000001
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\WindowsUpdate\OSUpgrade]
"AllowOSUpgrade"=dword:00000000
"ReservationsAllowed"=dword:00000000
Time will tell if this remains effective.
MS Office 2007 now has more or less Platinum status in Wine 1.8
MS Office 2007 supports both the old MS Office as well as the new XML Office files. And it is very cheap to buy used from Ebay.
I recommend Kubuntu which is due in a couple of weeks.
Note that Windows 10 sill force upgrades for Home, Pro, Enterprise, and Educational editions. Yes, that's ALL editions. W10 Pro allows you to "defer" upgrades for a few months, but security updates can't be deferred. Enterprise and Education editions can stop all updates except for security updates which are required to be upgraded, but at a certain point there will be the next major upgrade (ie, Windows 11 except that they'll still call it Windows 10) and you won't be able to get that version without allowing all upgrades through. I think that Enterprise edition is not even available as an individual purchase so a home or small business can't even get it.
Notice that security updates will *always* be applied and you can't disable them on any edition. Sounds good perhaps. But also notice that just a few days ago Microsoft added a fucking advertisement to a "security" update. This means that Microsoft is perfectly willing erase the line between high priority security updates and and lowest possible priority general purpose updates. The only assurance we have that Microsoft will act responsibly in this matter is their word, and their word is useless as they have lied over and over again without even the decency to look slightly ashamed about it.
Now yes, there are ways to disable updates on Windows 10; but it's pretty harsh as it blocks all updates (basically disable the update service). There's also a tool from Microsoft that can be used to hide an update, but you have to use it after the fact to undo an update instead of proactively stopping them.
This update policy makes Mozilla Firefox and Google Chrome look absolutely sane in comparison.
Here is one example after 4 pages:
"
By using the software, you accept these terms. If you do not accept them, do not use the software.
The updates or downloads are required for the proper functioning of the software and may be downloaded and installed without further notice to you.
"
So in legal text "update or download" means any data downloaded if specific cases are not listed.
However I don't think this is a "nice" thing to do but many think Windows 10 is just a patch with fancy UI.