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Despite Outrage From Users, Microsoft Continues To Install Bloatware Applications Onto Every Windows 10 PC (windowscentral.com)
Before Windows 10, a clean install of Windows only included the bare essentials a user would need to get started using their PC. With Windows 10, a clean install stays that way for about two minutes, because the second you hit the desktop, the Microsoft Store immediately starts trying to download third-party apps and games. Users have long complained about it, but it turns out Microsoft never put paid to it. Windows Central writes: And these apps keep trying to install themselves even after you cancel the downloads. There are six such apps, which is six too many. These apps are often random, but right now they include things like Candy Crush, Spotify, and Disney Magic Kingdoms. You should not see any of these apps on a fresh install of Windows 10, yet they are there every single time. There are policies you can set that disable these apps from automatically installing, but that's not the point. On a fresh, untouched, clean install of Windows 10, these apps will download themselves onto your PC. Even if you cancel the installation of these apps before they manage to complete the download, they will retry at a later date, without you even noticing. The only way I've found that gets rid of them permanently is to let them install initially, without canceling the download, and then uninstall the apps from the Start menu. If you cancel the initial download of the bloatware apps before they complete their first install, the Microsoft Store will just attempt to redownload them later and will keep doing so until that initial install is complete. This is not a good user experience, Microsoft.
There's no real outrage - people still keep buying the accursed thing in massive numbers. If anyone was really outraged, they would get something else.
This is a frustrating aspect of win10: lack of control over what programs are installed on your machine. I don't primarily use win10, but for machines I have set up I think I solved the problem by disabling automatic updates in the Windows Store. Of course, this means updates are..disabled. Perhaps others have a better way to handle this?
In any case, disrespectful behavior by Microsoft.
They probably paid Microsoft more for access than you did for your operating system. Enjoy being captive to this new customer experience!
Probably not, but we are investing heavily in creating custom scripts to remove all of this crap which we'll have to re-run after every feature update.
"Enterprise" edition my ass.
Because some of our clients have specialized equipment with interface software that only runs on Windows?
General Relativity: Space-time tells matter where to go; Matter tells space-time what shape to be.
I don't understand tech people that still uses crap like Windoze...
I don't understand humans that still use air from the atmosphere to breathe.
I don't understand rail commuters that still board trains.
I don't understand grass seed companies that still use fescue seeds.
Windows is the most common platform out there- of course a large number of tech workers are still going to be using it.
"That's the way to do it" - Punch
It might be shitty bloatware, but there are no alternatives (other than those also running on Windows), and the complexity of the problem does not allow for an inhouse re-development, as there are not enough installs to rectify the cost.
Microsoft doesn't care what users think. Anyone who is surprised at this is just being silly. Microsoft has shown no desire to actually cater to users. Edge is quite possibly the most horrible web browser ever produced and they force it upon users. Windows 8 interface was a total failure, yet they still crammed it into the Windows 10 menu. These are only some examples. Microsoft has no motivation to actually make positive changes for end users.
Sent from my TARDIS
What the article fails to properly address is the massive outrage that Solitaire now *REQUIRES* internet access. No more plinking away at quick hands when the network is recycling, or a PC is being scanned. Ugh.
While this would be absolutely inexcusable behaviour for an OS, it doesn't match my experience with Windows 10. I haven't seen any unusual apps show up. My system looks remarkably clean. Almost suspiciously so...
Easy fix for this. Windows 10 LTSB/LTSC.
Until there is an affordable and viable alternative any amount of outrage, scream, yelling or rebellion won't effect Microsoft at all. Linux is not a viable alternative. I say that writing from a Linux based machine and all my home PCs are now running Linux. Apple is not an affordable alternative. There's no clear threat to Microsoft so there's no reason to worry about a rebellion.
Sent from my TARDIS
I honestly don't understand the issue at all. While the automatic Windows updates were a big problem for me, a problem which resurfaced a few times, I have never had an issue with the app store. I do not even have a Microsoft app store login. My Windows 10 has never tried to automatically install any apps.
Since buying this laptop a year and a half ago, I've done two Windows upgrades on it. Both times Cortana, Edge, and a few other built-in bits that are hard to remove showed back up, requiring install_wim_tweak to remove. But no app store programs have ever appeared.
Windows Update, though, was a huge problem for me. Microsoft doesn't get free reign to put updates on my computer, I vet each one and apply them. Microsoft has been pushing hard, especially with its last two "upgrades" to prevent people from disabling automatic updates. And I mean they have gone to heroics. Two "protected" windows services which have no other real duty except to look out for if the Windows Update service is disabled and undisable it. Also a whole host of task scheduler settings are doing the same thing. For those wanting control of Windows Update back, I highly recommend Windows Update Blocker in concert with Windows Update Mini Tool. There are several forum threads that speak toward how to do this relatively easily.
Before Windows 10, a clean install of Windows only included the bare essentials a user would need to get started using their PC
Really? There wasn't a huge lawsuit about this?
Secession is the right of all sentient beings.
Wait, USB drivers were not bloatware. They just didn't work.
There's a difference.
deleting the extra space after periods so i can stay relevant, yeah.
I play solitaire on my Windows laptop. No internet required.
A 17” laptop makes a nice card table once you close the lid, but you need to use small cards.
The even more ridiculous thing is that this happens even on the Pro version. The one that's supposed to be for doing work. And those "policies you can set that disable these apps from automatically installing"? Yeah, they don't work anymore. As a result every employee gets Candy Crush and the like installed on every machine. Absolutely insane.
Yes, Windows 10 is a [...redacted...].
The document you're looking for is here, if you're stuck with it:
https://docs.microsoft.com/en-...
What edition does Microsoft expect a small local business with about a dozen PCs to buy?
If anyone was really outraged, they would get something else.
That implies that there is something else for them to get. There really isn't. Microsoft was convicted in court of having a monopoly. Do you know what that word means? It means there aren't other options on the PC. The only other options are linux which perpetually lags Windows on the PC desktop in application options and the OS X which is both pricey and ties you to Apple. Both linux and OS X are fine options for some but as much as it irritates me to say it, Windows is the best offering available for a lot of people and companies. A lot of software people want is only available on Windows. If the people around you use Windows chances are high you will too. If you play games on your PC it's a virtual certainty are you are running Windows to do it.
"Grooming" will not recover the $10 per GB that your satellite or fixed-wireless ISP bills you for having downloaded the apps in the first place.
Once you install Windows 10, you no longer own your computer. Microsoft can install what ever they want on it, and reboot it when ever they want. That also gives them the ability to remove anything they want from your computer.
there are 3 kinds of people:
* those who can count
* those who can't
Nonsense, either get an Enterprise license
How many PCs does a company need before it qualifies to buy Windows 10 Enterprise licenses? And how much does it cost per seat? In my experience, "Request a Quote" as stated in Microsoft's comparison page means "if you have to ask, you can't afford it." The "Learn More & Try" link ultimately links to an ROI calculator, but I could not try the ROI calculator because it was blurred out by a modal dialog that requires the user to submit personal and company information and authorize a Microsoft salesperson to contact the user.
or just uninstall the apps
Just uninstalling the apps doesn't undo the fact that having downloaded them in the first place counts against the monthly data transfer allowance that your ISP imposes.
They used to preinstall games.
Now they preinstall conduits for monetization.
There is an easy fix for this that does not require anything too difficult. Use gpedit,msc and turn off all cloud content settings, then force a gpupdate. Remediate the crap that is there and you are done. Also, there are several good powershell scripts on spiceworks that will remove just about everything. Combine the two and things are good again. Also, when I set up new Windows 10 machines, I do not connect to a network until the above steps are completed.
Conservative, mod down for violating
"Put paid to X" is an obscure idiom that means to end/destroy X, in this case, ending the practice of downloading bloatware. The writer was being fancy. They really should "eschew obfuscation".
I'm not repeating myself
I'm an X window user; I'm an ex-Windows user
So a home business or small office professional (lawyers, accountants, etc) have to buy Enterprise even if they have little need for many of the features?
Well, there's spam egg sausage and spam, that's not got much spam in it.
I mean, people keep getting Windows despite all the abuse they are subjected to.
Seriously.
Do you really consider Windows a necessity of the same magnitude as air, rail transportation etc? Talk about a Stockholm syndrome.
No wonder you'll get raped for all eternity, you're essentially telling us you can't live without Windows and thus a total hostage to Microsoft. It's bizarre. You're actually mentally ill.
The thing is, you simply can NOT buy Win 10 Enterprise unless you are a large company. They sell licenses starting with 50 users.
So there is this handy little utility called the MSMG Toolkit. You'll have to make a junk login for the forum but it's well worth it. https://forums.mydigitallife.n... Basically, you can modify your ISO so annoying things like Windows Store, Cortana, Edge, every single app, all kinds of things just aren't there when you do your clean install or upgrade from DVD. Not "disabled"...I mean not there at all. It's not the most user friendly thing in the world but there is a handy youtube video where the dude walks you through it. It's like of like that old utility nLite for windows XP except without a pretty GUI. Makes the new Windows 10 experience a lot more tolerable.
You'd think HIPAA requirements would send that straight to a *NIX type machine, as Win anything is wholly incapable of meeting the security aspects.
The cesspool just got a check and balance.
I don't understand tech people that still uses crap like Windoze...
...
Windows is the most common platform out there- of course a large number of tech workers are still going to be using it.
It's interesting then that in my world, the windows using tech worker is an exception. Hundreds of devs and tech workers I work with all use *nix of one flavor or another. Why? Because everything they do pretty much interacts with a *nix server. In fact, I can't recall touching a windows "server" in at least 5 years at a multitude of clients big and small.
The cesspool just got a check and balance.
This post is very confusing to me. EVERY Windows 10 PC? I've been using Windows 10 for years and NOTHING from a third party has EVER been installed automatically onto my machine. And by "machine," I mean a half-dozen different machines. I'm on a Windows 10 machine right now and none of the listed applications is installed on it. I last bought a brand-new Windows 10 machine in June and none of these apps is installed on it, either. So where is this idea coming from? I'd really like to know.
Breakfast served all day!
If technology is your true obsession in traditional Slashdot sense
Many people for whom technology is their true obsession have friends or relatives for whom technology is not their true obsession.
then you could really care less about people running Windows because it's not you.
I regularly use Xubuntu but must support friends and relatives using Windows. Some use Windows because all applications or peripherals in a particular category are incompatible with X11/Linux.
You're already running Linux and think the rest of the world should just give up, and you're paying for gigabit fiber because #fiber.
If fiber costs 6 figures where you live,[1][2][3] you're probably not going to get fiber even if you are technically inclined.
You'll not even be aware that the ISP's covering the majority of the population
Several of my friends are or were among the minority who use satellite or fixed cellular because they live in an area not covered by fiber or cable.
or you'll be thankful that in Windows you can set a connection as Metered to limit background downloads.
Does "Metered" stop these particular applications from being downloaded? Last time I used Windows 10, I seem to remember that the UI of Windows Update stated that some updates (to the effect) "necessary to keep Windows running" would still be downloaded over metered connections. In addition, the UI allows marking only Wi-Fi, not an Ethernet connection to a satellite or cellular modem, as metered. It's possible to mark Ethernet as metered but only with registry tweaks.
[1] "Want fiber Internet? That’ll be $383,500, ISP tells farm owner" by Jon Brodkin
[2] "Man builds house, then finds out cable Internet will cost $117,000" by Jon Brodkin
[3] "Victorian couple quoted up to $1.2m to connect to NBN Co's fibre service" by Jessica Longbottom and Ben Knight