Yes the GWX Control panel is a godsend for having to deal with multiple Windows 7/8 systems and the thrice-dammed Win 10 icon and pop-ups.

The creator's site is here: http://ultimateoutsider.com/downloads/

His 'blog' about it: http://blog.ultimateoutsider.com/2015/08/using-gwx-stopper-to-permanently-remove.html

It is a small, quick download and install. It allows you to stop Windows 10 installs/updates/etc. with just a mouse click or two. It even has a monitoring mode if you want to 'watch' and see if MS tries to change it. It even allows you to remove the preinstall files MS downloads to your system.

Now, that having been said, he has stated that with some of the new patches in the last patch day or two, MS has tried to overwrite/change/reset the settings that GWX changes so you might have to rerun it some but its pretty clear about showing what your system is set to do.

I have a lot of clients and as MS gets more and more aggressive about 'forcing' Windows 10 onto 7&8 systems, GWX Control Panel makes it much easier for me to control this as most of my clients have applications that are not Windows 10 compatible yet. That and some users at my clients are more that a bit 'click happy'.

I have and deal with a decent number of Windows 10 systems and all in all, I like it except for all the privacy removal and the forced update issues. However, I expect someone to come out with an app that gives at least the Pro versions the ability to easily control updates; or I will just have to setup WSUS on most all of them.

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I gotta fever and the only prescription is more cowbell.

Thx everybody, especially Cosmic Ocean for the link!

And regarding GWX panel: I don't wanna use third party programs for this because I had a very bad experience with O&O on W10.

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Thx everybody, especially Cosmic Ocean for the link!

And regarding GWX panel: I don't wanna use third party programs for this because I had a very bad experience with O&O on W10.

As I use O&O shutup on 4 Win 10 machines and have not had any problems so far, would you mind detailing what happened.

I don't want to have the same problems.

I also have recommended O&O to everybody I know running Win 10

Thank you

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Bernie, I used O&O to disable the automatic updates. That worked, but then I couldn't do manual updates either so I tried to enable updates again via O&O and that didnt work. To make a long story short: I couldn't do any more updates, got an error no mattervwhst I tried. That was the moment when I said "screw W10" and went back to 8.1.

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Bernie, I used O&O to disable the automatic updates. That worked, but then I couldn't do manual updates either so I tried to enable updates again via O&O and that didnt work. To make a long story short: I couldn't do any more updates, got an error no mattervwhst I tried. That was the moment when I said "screw W10" and went back to 8.1.

OK, yes I did that once, by mistake and couldn't re-enable it. I just used the restore point that O&O creates.

As I would never advise most people I deal with to disable updates anyway not a problem.

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I bought a new Phone on Monday. A Nokia 640 running Win 8.1(I very specifically avoided a Win 10 Phone). So far so good, Cortana is not as intrusive as I suspected and the dictation feature helps me overcome my 'sausage finger syndrome' when trying to use mini keyboards.

I'm a newbie on 'Smart'Phones and resisted getting one, but the world technology interface has become so structured to their use that now they are reaching the point of near necessity(could they be the 'mark of the beast' from Revelations?).[edit] And like all the shiny new electronic toys, they can be rendered into paperweights by the next CME and it's attendant EMP.

If major issues arise with regards to privacy or forced updates I will post my experiences.

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"Sour Grapes make a bitter Whine." <(0)>

Scary stuff here.
http://blogs.microsoft.com/blog/2016/01/05/automakers-choose-microsoft-as-connected-car-partner/
When Microsoft talks about mobility, our interest is the mobility of the person, not of any single device. After all, people now want their technology experience to move with them, from place to place and device to device, at home, at work, and on the move.

Nowhere is this more evident than in today’s connected cars. People expect their car’s computing power to match its horsepower. And automakers are leading the way, bringing mobility solutions to their cars to meet drivers’ changing expectations, as well as enhance safety. These automakers see their cars as technology platforms, and they are choosing Microsoft as their partner.

They are choosing Microsoft because we uniquely deliver end-to-end solutions from the cloud, to the device, to predictive analytics, and do so in a way that allows all our partners to innovate on top of their existing systems. Nobody else offers this breadth and depth to the auto industry.

Today from the International CES in Las Vegas, Volvo Cars, Nissan, Harman and IAV announced new details about their partnerships with Microsoft to enhance their connected car strategies. They join Toyota, Ford, Qoros, Delphi, and other companies already working with Microsoft to bring their cars into the mobile-first, cloud-first world.

In the near future, the car will be connected to the Internet, as well as to other cars, your mobile phone and your home computer. The car becomes a companion and an assistant to your digital life. And so our strategy is to be the ultimate platform for all intelligent cars.

And http://news.microsoft.com/2016/01/05/nissan-selects-microsoft-azure-to-power-nissan-telematics-system/
Nissan Motor Co. Ltd. and Microsoft Corp. on Tuesday announced that all Nissan LEAF models and Infiniti models in Europe will have Connect Telematics Systems (CTS) powered by Microsoft Azure.

Maps, range prediction, charging station availability, charge status, plus all the services customers have come to expect when inside a vehicle are dependent on that connectivity. Azure provides a global cloud platform with cutting-edge security that allows Nissan to deliver services worldwide to this broad customer base.

So, I guess you're not going to buy a new car soon either. Unless you really do not mind Microsoft storing everything now known about you. And getting Windows Updates on the freeway. Rebooting the car... Blue screening when you start it...

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So, I guess you're not going to buy a new car soon either.

My vehicles are a 2001 Dodge Dakota and a 2005 Toyota Avalon, both with less than 70k miles and no Sat link. At 68 years old and driving only about 5000 miles a year since retirement, I'd say I'm never gonna buy another new car.......":D)

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"Sour Grapes make a bitter Whine." <(0)>

Scary stuff here.
http://blogs.microsoft.com/blog/2016/01/05/automakers-choose-microsoft-as-connected-car-partner/
When Microsoft talks about mobility, our interest is the mobility of the person, not of any single device. After all, people now want their technology experience to move with them, from place to place and device to device, at home, at work, and on the move.

Nowhere is this more evident than in today’s connected cars. People expect their car’s computing power to match its horsepower. And automakers are leading the way, bringing mobility solutions to their cars to meet drivers’ changing expectations, as well as enhance safety. These automakers see their cars as technology platforms, and they are choosing Microsoft as their partner.

They are choosing Microsoft because we uniquely deliver end-to-end solutions from the cloud, to the device, to predictive analytics, and do so in a way that allows all our partners to innovate on top of their existing systems. Nobody else offers this breadth and depth to the auto industry.

Today from the International CES in Las Vegas, Volvo Cars, Nissan, Harman and IAV announced new details about their partnerships with Microsoft to enhance their connected car strategies. They join Toyota, Ford, Qoros, Delphi, and other companies already working with Microsoft to bring their cars into the mobile-first, cloud-first world.

In the near future, the car will be connected to the Internet, as well as to other cars, your mobile phone and your home computer. The car becomes a companion and an assistant to your digital life. And so our strategy is to be the ultimate platform for all intelligent cars.

And http://news.microsoft.com/2016/01/05/nissan-selects-microsoft-azure-to-power-nissan-telematics-system/
Nissan Motor Co. Ltd. and Microsoft Corp. on Tuesday announced that all Nissan LEAF models and Infiniti models in Europe will have Connect Telematics Systems (CTS) powered by Microsoft Azure.

Maps, range prediction, charging station availability, charge status, plus all the services customers have come to expect when inside a vehicle are dependent on that connectivity. Azure provides a global cloud platform with cutting-edge security that allows Nissan to deliver services worldwide to this broad customer base.

So, I guess you're not going to buy a new car soon either. Unless you really do not mind Microsoft storing everything now known about you. And getting Windows Updates on the freeway. Rebooting the car... Blue screening when you start it...

Greetings Jord,

Whatever happened to the car being a TRANSPORTATION device. A car is a lethal weapon. With all the crap they put in cars these days it's no wonder there aren't "accidents" every tenth of a nanosecond. When driving a car you are to do ONE THING, pay attention to the road, NOT do butt or finger dancing while listening to your favorite playlist, not talking incessantly on the cell, not texting, not eating (soon we'll have replicators in cars for our lunching enjoyment WHILE driving), etc., etc., etc...

The only computer in our car is the one that monitors and maintains the operations of the car. When I drive, I don't hear the radio much at all, I'm watching the world and road around me as I am supposed to be doing. I'm 64 this month and I have yet to have any altercation with another vehicle because I'm not doing what I'm supposed to do when the car is in motion, pay attention.

It's too bad my 33 year old Datsun truck no longer runs. It will take some major overhaul to get it on the road again. I just don't have the money to do it. There's NO computer in that truck and that's the way I like it. I parked that truck in the garage 3 years ago and I haven't gotten it to run since. :(

Computers in cars should NOT be interactive by the operator of that car. There should be nothing to draw a drivers attention away from the road. Plain and simple.

Keep on BOINCing...! :)

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CAPT Siran d'Vel'nahr - L L & P _\\//
Winders 11 OS? "What a piece of junk!" - L. Skywalker
"Logic is the cement of our civilization with which we ascend from chaos using reason as our guide." - T'Plana-hath

Never forget Genisys is skynet.

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With each crime and every kindness we birth our future.

Whatever happened to the car being a TRANSPORTATION device.

I agree. Cars are heavy machinery that should be operated by responsible, focused drivers. I understand interfacing with new mobility devices, updating the controls and customizability with new technology, and taking advantage of connectivity in order to improve travel efficiency, emergency response, etc. But they should not be entertainment or mobile outlets. But I think it's inevitable. However, I'm sure the manufacturers and regulators will make restrictions of using them during operating times, or separate them between driver and passengers. I think Tesla has the most complex interface right now, and they lock some functions during driving. But then, I think people might find ways around it, or maybe whatever precautions are done, some people will still be distracted.

Also, new connectivity leads to new security problems that need to be dealt with. I think the last related article I read, a security team was able to wirelessly hack into a Jeep Cherokee and affect stuff while it was in motion.

However, I'm sure the manufacturers and regulators will make restrictions of using them during operating times, or separate them between driver and passengers.

Yeah, but if enforcement isn't doing much of anything about that, then you have rules such as 'drive with your seat belt on' and 'do not use your phone behind the wheel', which everyone seems to be ignoring because the law enforcement isn't enforcing it en masse. The fines can be extraordinary high (€140 and €230 in above example), but really as long as you can get away with it 12 months out of the year, it's really not going to be a restriction.

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Next up: M$ is going after outdated Internet Explorer users on WIN 7 with a NAG SCREEN...
How to disable impending IE nag notices

Next week, Microsoft's Internet Explorer browser (IE) will begin displaying nag notices to users who have not upgraded to the latest available for their operating system.

Users can disable those notices and continue running retired editions without the disruption of the in-browser warnings.

On Jan. 12, Microsoft will deliver the final security updates for IE8, IE9 and IE10 on Windows 7 Service Pack 1 (SP1) to make good on an August 2014 announcement that it would shut off patches and other support for those browsers on the OS.

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Next week, Microsoft's Internet Explorer browser (IE) will begin displaying nag notices to users who have not upgraded to the latest available for their operating system.

I doubt those users will see those messages, because if you haven't already upgraded your IE, chances are high you haven't installed the nag-update either.

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The persistence of the Boys and Girls in Redmond is now bordering on the infuriating. The last three days every time I start or reboot any of the four rigs I have running(for SETI's benefit) I am met with an advisory that there are updates waiting to be downloaded, even though I have hidden them. They are always the same proscribed(on my machines)updates.

How long before M$ decides they are Gods and disable all rigs that have refused the invitation to enjoy the benefits Window$ 10? I'm guessing that will occur shortly after they decided to announce that there will be an annual subscription for 10, ......with a 'small' fee.

Kinda like the US Government mandating citizens purchase a service whether they need it or not or face a 'penalty'. ..........Oh,.........that already happened.

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"Sour Grapes make a bitter Whine." <(0)>

...and how long before someone on your side of The Pond decides that a Class Action is in order. It must cost some organisations a lot of money to resolve all the issues caused by MS's action with W10...

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Bob Smith
Member of Seti PIPPS (Pluto is a Planet Protest Society)
Somewhere in the (un)known Universe?

The persistence of the Boys and Girls in Redmond is now bordering on the infuriating. The last three days every time I start or reboot any of the four rigs I have running(for SETI's benefit) I am met with an advisory that there are updates waiting to be downloaded, even though I have hidden them. They are always the same proscribed(on my machines)updates.

How long before M$ decides they are Gods and disable all rigs that have refused the invitation to enjoy the benefits Window$ 10? I'm guessing that will occur shortly after they decided to announce that there will be an annual subscription for 10, ......with a 'small' fee.

Kinda like the US Government mandating citizens purchase a service whether they need it or not or face a 'penalty'. ..........Oh,.........that already happened.

I have noticed after going and hiding quite a few of the updates, if you tell it to check for updates again, there's one or two of them that will show back up 4-6 more times, but eventually, they stay hidden.

This can be more infuriating if instead of doing "hide, check for updates" right away, you just tell it to hide and then shut down and boot back up the next day, because then it will drag out for days and days.

My laptop is not configured to use WSUS, by my desktop is. My laptop hasn't mentioned anything about updates in almost 3 weeks, and I've gone through and hidden/avoided/uninstalled all the ones from the list.

I did a clean install of an 8.1 laptop a couple weeks ago and there were two updates that kept showing back up after hiding them. They showed back up 7 times before finally staying hidden. Then I turned updates off and made a system image and gave that laptop back to its owner...who doesn't want win10 and doesn't want to be nagged about it, so I told them updates were turned off, and they thanked me for doing so.

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Linux laptop:
record uptime: 1511d 20h 19m (ended due to the power brick giving-up)

They showed back up 7 times before finally staying hidden.

To paraphrase the 'Governator' "They'll be back....." ......":D

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"Sour Grapes make a bitter Whine." <(0)>

KB 3083711 seems to be especially persistent. Waiting for me again this morning at boot up for the unknown time in a row. I think the suspicions of it being used to download and install the rest of the nefarious Win10 package without user consent may be correct.

'Big Brother' is not only watching, but wants to control the information in your life. I've noticed one MAJOR drawback to owning a Window$ phone, there are very few or no apps available to interface with non-M$ sites (Amazon Prime Music for one). If I had it to do over, an Android device would be my choice.

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"Sour Grapes make a bitter Whine." <(0)>

Any updates to avoid in the recent batch from yester(patch)day? ;)

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Aloha, Uli