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Windows 10 Upgrade Activates By Clicking Red X Close Button In Prompt Message (bbc.co.uk)

Reader Raging Bool writes: In a move guaranteed to annoy many people, Microsoft has "jumped the shark" on encouraging users to upgrade to Windows 10. Microsoft has faced criticism for changing the pop-up box encouraging Windows users to upgrade to Windows 10. Clicking the red cross on the right hand corner of the pop-up box now activates the upgrade instead of closing the box. And this has caused confusion as typically clicking a red cross closes a pop-up notification. The upgrade could still be cancelled, when the scheduled time for it to begin appeared, Microsoft said The change occurred because the update is now labelled "recommended" and many people have their PCs configured to accept recommended updates for security reasons. This means dismissing the box does not dismiss the update.Brad Chacos, senior editor at the PC World wrote about this incident over the weekend, and described it as a "nasty trick".

29 of 564 comments (clear)

  1. This steaming pile of rancid dung by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    That's it, I'm getting my Commodore 64 out of the closet and booting up GEOS.

    1. Re:This steaming pile of rancid dung by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

      As soon as you boot up your Commodore 64, it'll ask you if you want to upgrade to Windows 10. Even if you say you don't, it'll force you to Windows 10 anyways.

    2. Re:This steaming pile of rancid dung by Qzukk · · Score: 5, Funny

      Dammit, they were playing the longest of long cons with their Microsoft BASIC.

      --
      If I have been able to see further than others, it is because I bought a pair of binoculars.
    3. Re:This steaming pile of rancid dung by NotDrWho · · Score: 5, Interesting

      Well, if you're a horror fan, you won't find any game on the C64 that's scarier than doing the custom Windows 10 installation and seeing all the default settings for data collection and "privacy."

      Seriously, there is some REALLY crazy shit in there. If you go default, you're basically giving MS the right to watch and collect EVERYTHING you do online. IIRC, one of the default settings even lets them go through your old emails to "better serve you" or some shit. That Cortana is one nosy bitch.

      --
      SJW's don't eliminate discrimination. They just expropriate it for themselves.
  2. So it's our fault by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful

    For following years of best practice of automatically installing updates on home machines.
    Got it.

    1. Re:So it's our fault by cfalcon · · Score: 5, Insightful

      You could get started with a dual-boot partition now. When 10 happened, it was the final straw. I couldn't believe the bizarre technical workarounds everyone started doing. I knew I couldn't even leave Windows 7 updates on, and I could certainly never use 10. Since a machine without updates is a problem waiting to happen, I installed Linux onto a second drive, and tried to spend as much time there as possible. Obviously, this meant I was still booting Windows for many things, but every week I would make time to get a new thing working in Linux. Usually, it was easy- the nvidia drivers were painless, Steam client could then install and run any of a ton of Linux games, LibreOffice was a lot better than I remember. Sometimes it was a bit of a pain- MAME needed a code modification and compile to not have a nag screen (windows would have this problem too, but often people post nagless binaries for Windows, if you like to run random binaries straight off the net), WINE needed some configuration, etc.

      But eventually I noticed that my reasons to boot Windows were finally very slim. Every game I cared about I could get running in WINE (but obviously not every game, and you could easily find that your games you care about don't work). Productivity stuff seems to work great for my needs, at least. Not everything works- currently I can't get itunes to work, and there's that tax software that I'll need again next year. I might run a VM, I don't know yet.

      If you plan to stay with Windows 7 until 2020, you don't need to act now. But you might still consider it. Vulkan should eventually really help games on Linux, and you might find that your games are already well supported.

      Windows 7 got the telemetry patched in last spring, and then they turned it on in the summer. You can wusa uninstall those updates, or you can just go without updates at all. But that deliberate mislabelling and stealthing in of the technology made me flip my shit. How does the saying go? "Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me... you can't get fooled again!"

      I just think running an OS from a known-hostile entity is bad news, if you can avoid it.

  3. Red X? by The-Ixian · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Perhaps you mean the white X inside the red square?

    But, yeah, this is the kind of thing that malware authors use. It's pretty shady.... if people don't want to upgrade, they don't want to upgrade. You gave them the box and you downloaded (and expanded) all of the files... you have already done everything you can to "promote" Windows 10 (intrusively) on people's computers...

    Why are you stooping to this Microsoft?

    You may as well just not give people a "choice" at all and just install the damn thing... why the pretense of having a user click something?

    --
    My eyes reflect the stars and a smile lights up my face.
    1. Re:Red X? by LichtSpektren · · Score: 5, Funny

      Go home Nadella, you're drunk.

  4. Adult Supervision by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful

    It seems like all adult supervision has disappeared at Microsoft.

  5. Mimics Malware by Luthair · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Amusing that Microsoft wants us to love their stuff when they employ the same tactics as all the sites trying to confuse users into installing malware use.

    1. Re:Mimics Malware by stradric · · Score: 5, Insightful

      It's not just this either. Have you upgraded Skype recently? It tries to set your homepage to MSN and make Bing the default search. It's like Java trying to install the Yahoo toolbar. It's almost like Microsoft and Oracle know they're headed toward irrelevance and are trying all the slimy tactics instead of actually just making better products.

  6. DMCA by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    Cant the makers of XP Antivirus 2010 issue some sort of DMCA cease and desist against Microsoft for infringing on their intellectual property? I believe they were the first ones to invent "Pressing the [ X ] button will initiate installation of said software..."

  7. Re:Security by LichtSpektren · · Score: 5, Insightful

    If you don't move to Windows 10 then you deserve all the security problems you will inevitably have. GUI and "principle" issues aside - it is a smart move.

    Most people should be forced to switch. If you are too dumb to prevent the switch then you are in the camp of people who should be forced to switch. The tears mean its working.

    Windows 10 fits more criteria for "malware" than the most well-known malware suites do. Forcefully installs itself? Check. Spies on you? Check. Displays ads to you? Check. Uninstalls competitors' programs? Check. Doles out your security keys to people on your contact list? Check.

    It's one step away from literally being ransomware.

  8. Re:Windows 10 by dc29A · · Score: 5, Interesting

    Even Windows fanboi Thurrott is fed up ...

    https://www.thurrott.com/windo...

  9. Almost as stupid as Skype by UnknownSoldier · · Score: 5, Insightful

    The X button means fucking **quit**, not "minimize", you UI retards. If you're going to hijack the last 40 years of WIMP then give users an option to enable / disable this shit. Preferably the default would be OFF.

    /Oblg. Microshift joke:

    Microsoft Windows: noun, A 64-bit compilation of 32 bit extensions and a graphical shell for a 16 bit patch to an 8 bit operating system originally coded for a 4 bit microprocessor written by a 2 bit company that can't stand 1 bit of competition with 0 bit of understanding good UI.

    1. Re:Almost as stupid as Skype by F.Ultra · · Score: 5, Funny

      Apparently the X button now means Windows X

  10. Time for a class action. by geekmux · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Microsoft, you gave us this OS and introduced the masses to the concept of windows in a UI. You were even arrogant enough to name your UI Windows.

    And all this time, we have gone through several iterations of your UI, but one constant has remained; the general understanding that if you click the fucking X located in a specific area of any window in your UI, it closes.

    This has been by design since the dawn of Windows.

    And since you've now taken the path of malware authors with this shady bullshit, we should treat you as such. It's one thing to ask users. It's one thing to force users. It's another matter entirely to trick and deceive users.

    Bottom line is it's time to start the class-action lawsuit. This should not be tolerated in any way. Put another way, if malware was introduced into the core OS and deceived users against Microsoft's wishes, you better believe they would be attacking the cause of that problem and look to put a stop to it.

  11. Re:Blue screen of death by LichtSpektren · · Score: 5, Informative

    My wife accidentally clicked it on her admittedly elderly machine, now it won't boot up, no way to roll it back, all her files are gone.

    This is different than malware... how is that?

    Make a live USB/CD with Linux and retrieve the files that way.

  12. Re:It's already scheduled, not caused by "X" by sconeu · · Score: 5, Interesting

    You are missing the point of why people don't want Win10.

    I was planning on doing the upgrade. And then I read about the mandatory spyware. You know, the phone-home that you cannot disable unless you are running an Enterprise version?

    Some people don't want to have that. Others CANNOT have that and remain within the bounds of the law (*cough*HIPAA*cough*).

    --
    General Relativity: Space-time tells matter where to go; Matter tells space-time what shape to be.
  13. 3. Profit!! by ThatsNotPudding · · Score: 5, Funny

    Windows 10 fits more criteria for "malware" than the most well-known malware suites do. Forcefully installs itself? Check. Spies on you? Check. Displays ads to you? Check. Uninstalls competitors' programs? Check. Doles out your security keys to people on your contact list? Check.

    It's one step away from literally being ransomware.

    I see someone has sneaked a peak at next years' business plan.

  14. We are Microsoft.... by bev_tech_rob · · Score: 5, Funny

    We are upgrading your system...resistance is futile...

    --
    You're messin' with my Zen Thing, man.....
  15. Re:It's already scheduled, not caused by "X" by StormReaver · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Unless you have some particularly specific niche software or hardware (that can't run in Win7, therefore, not in Win10, since the drivers are mostly the same)....

    Windows 10 auto-installed on a customer's newish Windows 7 computer, hosing the entire installation. I installed Kubuntu 15.10, and now he's a happy camper. He said his computer works better now than it did before.

    Windows 10 is a gift to the Linux world.

  16. Re:Windows 10 by whoever57 · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Even Windows fanboi Thurrott is fed up ...

    It's people like him that have caused this. Their uncritical fandom of Microsoft has encouraged Microsoft to abuse its customers ever more, resulting in the (almost) forced upgrades (downgrades?) to Windows 10.

    Paul: don't start complaining now. You should have been complaining over the last 10 years.

    --
    The real "Libtards" are the Libertarians!
  17. Re:And people say Apple is arrogant? by TangoMargarine · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Yes the upgrade tactics have been heavy handed. But so has the push back, the FUD from sites like Slashdot and other supposed "tech" blogs. If you have an Android phone and are bitching about Windows 10 you're a fucking hypocrite, full stop.

    Saying "Company X is doing this bad thing, but if given the chance, Company Y would do the exact same thing" does not prove that the thing is fine to do.

    So no, not hypocrisy. If Google were in this situation I'd be criticizing them exactly the same.

    Honestly, I can't 100% blame them. We witnessed how hard people hung onto XP. I still see companies with Windows Server 2003 in play (some of them still DEPLOY 2003). We know there are large swathes of people that simply do not accept change, no matter how good it might be (there are legitimate debates about win10 being better).

    Their marketshare is not my concern. My ability to use my own computer is.

    --
    Unity? Screw that: XFCE. Slashdot Beta? Screw that: SoylentNews. Australis? Screw that: Pale Moon. UX developers DIAF
  18. Re:So this is just now... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Informative

    I know your son is lying

    I have a headless windows 7 fileserver in my 5 person office (so, no, I'm not going to shell out bullshit money for enterprise windows, thanks). Had, actually. We got in the office this Monday and right away the accountant noticed that quickbooks was down, and thus we noticed the fileserver was offline. Hooked up a monitor and sometime over the weekend it decided to upgrade to windows 10.

    No idea why shills like you keep insisting that people must be pushing the wrong button. Is the "X" button the wrong button now? Are you going to tell us we're holding the mouse wrong (cf holding the iPhone wrong)?

    Want an easy way

    And people tell me that fucking with random system shit means that Linux isn't ready for the desktop

  19. Re:Security by taustin · · Score: 5, Informative

    Until literally this week, there were no hardware drivers available for our receipt printers. Without GWX Control Panel, an automatic Windows 10 upgrade would literally put us out of business. Is that a good enough reason for you? Probably not.

  20. Re:Security by taustin · · Score: 5, Insightful

    It's one step away from literally being ransomware.

    That comes in July, when it stops being free, but doesn't stop being an automatic install.

    "You're copy of windows is unlicensed. Pay us $100+ or you will never see your own data again."

    I wish I thought this was an exaggeration, but frankly, I expect exactly that.

    Microsoft should be prosecuted for racketeering for how they've handled Windows 10.

  21. Re:Not misleading in the least by cnaumann · · Score: 5, Insightful

    The message used to say something like "Do you want to install Windows 10 now, or do you want to schedule your Windows 10 installation for later?" Clicking the X was the only way to say 'neither'. Now clicking the X says yeah, go ahead. You don't see this as sneaky in any way?

    Remember a month ago when people were saying that there was no way you could accidently consent to installing Windows 10?

    The only sane solution is to turn off all updates from Microsoft.

  22. Re:It's already scheduled, not caused by "X" by Motherfucking+Shit · · Score: 5, Insightful

    If you carry a smartphone (iOS or Android), you *ALREADY* are carrying around a device that generates reams of telemetry back to the cellular carrier, manufacturer, and OS maker and generates a full record of your movement by which cell towers you connect to or which wi-fi hotspots it sees.

    Enough with this red herring.

    My phone doesn't have access to the files on my computers - I repeat, my computers, not Microsoft's - where I keep my private data. My computers, not my phone, store my tax documents, source code, proprietary work product and trade secrets, client data and invoicing, my passwords to everything, backups of family members' computers containing much of the same personal information, etc. My computers, not my phone, are where I conduct online banking and shopping and do anything else involving financial transactions and credentials. All of that data is private, and no one has permission to go fishing through it trying to "monetize" me or "enhance my experience." This is non-negotiable.

    Google (or NSA) can siphon whatever they want off my phone. They'll find out I play Words with Friends, check Slashdot and Ars while I'm taking a dump, send and receive mostly boring emails on the account connected to the phone, and probably am overzealous about the number of server monitoring texts I have set up. If I really don't want to be physically tracked for some reason, I can leave the phone somewhere or pull the battery and drop the phone in a Faraday bag.

    Just because I'm relatively OK with my phone being "leaky," and therefore rather cautious about what winds up there, does not mean I also must accept anyone mining through my private data on my computers. They are two entirely different worlds.

    --
    "BSD: Free as in speech. Linux: Free as in beer. Windows 10: Free as in herpes." --Man On Pink Corner in #52607549.