Windows 10 Will Download Some Updates Even Over a Metered Connection (winsupersite.com)

Reader AmiMoJo writes: Until now Windows 10 has allowed users to avoid downloading updates over metered (pay-per-byte) connections, to avoid racking up huge bills. Some users were setting their ethernet/wifi connections as metered in order to prevent Windows 10 from downloading and installing updates without their permission. In its latest preview version of the OS, Microsoft is now forcing some updates necessary for "smooth operation" to download even on these connections. As well as irritating users who want to control when updates download and install, users of expensive pay-per-byte connections could face massive bills.

Comments

Really, Microsoft?

[Anonymous Coward]

At what point do people get fed up and switch to something else?

Smooth running of advertising

[Alain Williams]

Do the 'vital' updates include new adverts with which to pester the user ?

Re:Smooth running of advertising

[ITRambo]

Only if they're considered to be vital by Microsoft, so probably.

You don't have a choice.

[Anonymous Coward]

With Windows 10 you gave Microsoft control over their computer. If Microsoft wants their computer to act a certian way, it will act that way regardless as to the way you want it to act.

Don't like it? Install a different OS. Can't do that yourself? Learn how or find someone who can. Hardware won't let you? Buy better hardware. That's your fault for buying locked down hardware to begin with. Can't find non-locked down hardware? Learn how or find someone who can.

At this point Microsoft has made it perfectly clear who owns a computer that runs Windows 10: Microsoft.

One up side

[Groo Wanderer]

There is one real up side to this. Microsoft as you know only puts out small, efficient updates in the minimal needed package sizes. This should be great comfort to users on metered connections, they are only being lovingly graced with the minimum needed amount of bytes. Can you imagine if Microsoft was one of those companies that pushed out near-daily 100+MB behemoths to update a spelling error in notepad's FAQ? Luckily they don't do this, and we all win!

                    -Charlie

Note: Yes this is sarcasm. If you didn't get that by the 19th word, go play with some tiles.

My current build of windows 8 is likely my last...

[Tyr07]

I've been running Windows 8, the start menu change didn't bother me and I found it ran rather well and stable.

I've secured my install, and finally after windows 10 garbage and microsoft doing shitty "telemetry" I mean I can't believe they even call it that.
It's flat out spyware that watches how you use it and sells the information to people, and advertisers.

Anyway, I stopped windows update when I saw this coming out as I knew I couldn't trust their updates and just have to watch out for exploits released and lock it down myself. Fortunately I don't need a lot of windows services for how I use my system.

After things finally stop running on windows, I'll be switching to fulltime linux. In fact, just for multi-media / gaming, is the only reason I keep windows.
I dual boot to linux as is. I'll be sad to lose some performance and ability to play some games, but I'll get over it.

Using my bandwidth and my hardware that I pay for that is not subsidized by microsoft to serve me ads and collect data from me by microsoft, is not happening.

Thank God

[Holi]

Thankfully I have a Kaby Lake processor and Windows 7, thus I don't have to worry about updates anymore.