http://www.computerworld.com/article/3044518/microsoft-windows/users-seethe-as-windows-10-arrives-while-their-backs-are-turned.html

Some Windows 7 and Windows 8.1 users have begun to howl over Microsoft's practice of automatically upgrading their PCs to Windows 10, saying that they were never given a chance to decline the upgrade before it installed itself.

...

"My computer was working great last night [but] this morning it says, 'Microsoft Legal Agreement' with bunch of legal information and WAY at the bottom 'Accept your new Windows 10' or 'Decline,'" wrote a someone identified as scifixtion in a Friday post to Microsoft's support forum. "I hit Decline and it says, 'It will take a few moments to go back to your old Windows software,' [but] then it goes black and go[es] right back to [the] Microsoft legal agreement [and shows] 'Accept windows 10' or 'Decline.' I've hit Decline a dozen times and it won't budge."

...

"So my Windows 7 machine was upgraded to Windows 10 without my permission about 2 days ago," echoed rtn1797. "I downgraded [to Windows 7] but now there is a prompt that is continuously open and asking me to select a time for my Windows to update to 10. WTF?"

...

Some said that the EULA -- where users were given a final opportunity to reject Windows 10, albeit a process that then took time to restore the previous operating system -- appeared out of nowhere. Others reported that their systems had upgraded themselves after they'd been away from the keyboard for days, or perhaps just hours.

"This is happening to my desktop which runs [Windows] 8.1. A few days ago I came back from the shower to find my computer in the process of doing the upgrade by itself," said Heck_Tate on Monday. "I had to wait for the entire thing to complete, decline the EULA, and then wait for it to reinstall previous OS. It's now in the process of doing the exact same thing again and I'm about ready to just say f*** Windows and go with Linux."

Last October, Microsoft announced that it would push the free Windows 10 upgrade to eligible PCs automatically, a practice that actually began six weeks ago. The company has repeatedly said -- including yesterday -- that users could decline the Windows 10 upgrade at some point during installation, but has refused to say whether the upgrade starts in all cases, document how the user authorization process plays out, and spell out whether it appears again later when a user snubs the offer.

Thus, the fact that machines have tried to upgrade without user action wasn't new: Microsoft has acknowledged that that is its intent. Instead, it's the fact that some users have been unable to abort the installation, restore the older OS after 10 arrived or have received the upgrade when they've ticked the don't-upgrade-automatically settings for Windows Update, that are at issue.

...

There are ways to block the Windows 10 upgrade from installing on an eligible PC. Microsoft has published instructions for editing the Windows Registry -- a dangerous chore for inexperienced users -- that will do the job. And Josh Mayfield, a software engineer and developer, has created a tool dubbed GWX Control Panel that keeps track of incoming updates, detects those that are designed to force-feed Windows 10, and thwarts them.

---

British Telecom - the UK's largest ISP (allegedly) - has put the same sort of thing into their home page rotating news gallery:

http://home.bt.com/tech-gadgets/tech-news/users-complain-that-windows-10-installs-without-their-permission-11364046259367

From the Computer World link:

Microsoft regularly updates Windows Update, and in the past, some of those updates have switched user-selected settings or pre-checked optional updates. Recent refreshes of Windows Update -- the latest was issued on March 8 for Windows 7 and Windows 8.1 -- may have done just that, triggering the automatic upgrades on PCs that should have been immune from a forced migration.

This circles back to the "FUD" back in ~September about these new Windows Update clients changing settings and automatically downloading the rest of the updates to avoid in the background, without authorization, nor notification that it is doing so. I've said it a few times that MS would get crafty, and to be honest, in my opinion, I think they are bordering on... maybe not criminal levels, but they've definitely gone into the realm of being unethical at this point.

This whole thing has gone from "Hey, world! 10 is going to be free for anyone who wants to upgrade from 7/8.1! Cool, right?" to "We are Borg. You will be assimilated. Resistance is futile."

---

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

And my laptop has told me of the new updates that are available. Some repeat offenders.. 2952664, 3138612, 3139929 ("when a security update is not a security update").

But the optional ones that I got appear to be harmless, but I don't need any of them, so I chose to hide them.

3133977, 3137061, 3138901, 3139923.

It's up to you to decide if you want those or not, but they seem to pertain to some pretty special circumstances that I think most people are not in.

---

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

"We are Borg. You will be assimilated. Resistance is futile."

They, at least, have the excuse of being fictional.

http://hothardware.com/news/microsoft-calls-bs-on-rogue-windows-10-upgrades

Despite significant user outcry that the Windows 10 upgrade mechanism has gone rogue, installing on customers' Windows 7 and Windows 8.1 machines when their backs turned or otherwise away from the computer, Microsoft is pleading innocent.
...
Microsoft issued the following statement regarding the “unplanned” upgrades:

We shared in late October on the Windows Blog, we are committed to making it easy for our Windows 7 and Windows 8.1 customers to upgrade to Windows 10. As stated in that post, we have updated the upgrade experience to make it easier for customers to schedule a time for their upgrade to take place. Customers continue to be fully in control of their devices, and can choose to not install the Windows 10 upgrade or remove the upgrade from Windows Update (WU) by changing the WU settings.

...
We hate to say that Microsoft is trying to downplay this whole situation, but why are all of these people simultaneously seeing their machines upgraded to Windows 10 under similar circumstances? Something is clearly amiss here and it would be advisable for Microsoft publish an official blog posting on the matter to clear the air. Even if Microsoft thinks that it’s fully in the right, having an army of irate customers all experiencing the same problems deserves some much-needed attention.

---

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

Think Bill Gates needs to do a Steve Jobs & clear out all the dead wood in Microsoft.

With some exceptions regardless what the purists say, Windows has been fit for purpose up to Win 7. After that...

Gates has no connection to the day to day operations at M$.

Satya Nadella is running the show, former head of 'cloud' development it's not surprising he would steer the O$ to a choiceless scenario giving the users as much say in their computing lives as the 'untouchables' of his culture of origin.

---

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

Gates has no connection to the day to day operations at M$.

I do not think Steve Jobs did either until he came back after John Sculley. I think that is what Sirius B was suggesting for Bill Gates.

Hi All,

Question #1
I have recently added the GWX Control Panel for protection from M$ efforts to destroy my Win 7 64-bit PC.

I've noticed that, if I do a re-boot, that GWX does not restart automatically. Rather than doing that, it shows a box on-screen which I must click to restart GWX and see it in my system tray.

This poses a problem and a danger. My PC does a virus scan at night, and if it finds a bad thing that has found its way into my computer, it re-boots in order to eradicate the bug. If this happens at midnight, and I'm sleeping, my PC could run all night without protection. I see nothing mentioned about making GWX automatically re-start on a re-boot?

What to do? Is this possible?

Question #2
One other thing. I did something dumb, I think, because I'm frightened by M$ underhanded tricks. I went to Control Panel / System and Security, then Review your computer's status, then Windows Update, and finally Change Settings. I unchecked all boxes in the lower part of the menu, so that, I now only see TWO "check boxes," BOTH unchecked. One is the Give me recommended updates......, and the other is Who can install updates..... Before I did my "dumb thing," I had, I think. at least TWO other menu choices, but they're gone now.

I think ONE of the choices may be one I should not have removed? I think it had to do with receiving future M$ security updates? I want up-dates, in the form of KB files, so I can install the security ones. How do I get the missing menu choice(s) back, or should I not worry about it?

Note that I have the important menu choice, titled "Important updates," set to "Check for updates but let me choose whether to download and install them."

Gee, what a hassle! I've started looking at Mac's and played with one. I see nice things, but there are things I use with Win 7 I don't think I can get on a Mac. :(

---

River Song (aka Linda Latte on planet Earth)
"Happy I-Phone girl on the GO GO GO"

Question #1
I see nothing mentioned about making GWX automatically re-start on a re-boot?

What to do? Is this possible?

I assume you have a shortcut (probably on the desktop) for GWX? If so, press (and hold) ctrl, click (and hold) the shortcut, drag it to the start menu > all programs > startup and release the mouse and then ctrl. This will put the shortcut to launch GWX control panel at logon. This assumes that you go straight to the desktop when you boot up (without having to type in a password). If you don't have automatic logon, this won't really help to make sure it is running at all times, but it will automate that one and make one less step to go through every time you log in. (see below for more related info)

Question #2
I have the important menu choice, titled "Important updates," set to "Check for updates but let me choose whether to download and install them."

This, for now, is the best safeguard you have to stay in control of YOUR computer. Nothing will be downloaded OR installed unless you specifically give it permission to do so. This gives you a chance to look at the KB numbers and investigate what each and every update does. The Microsoft website is generally pretty good at explaining it without going into detail, but when all else fails, if you wait 2-3 days after new updates show up and just google the numbers, almost always, on the first page of results, you'll find an article on one of the common sites (like for example, Infoworld's "when a security update isn't a security update") if it's an update that is questionable or one that may be riddled with controversy.

I suspect that it will not be toooo much longer before there won't be any option but to either be assimilated, or just turn updates off entirely. All the signs are pointing toward one of those two outcomes.

I've started looking at Mac's and played with one. I see nice things, but there are things I use with Win 7 I don't think I can get on a Mac. :(

I've played with Linux off and on since ~2006 and it has merits. There are things I like about it, but there are always caveats, as well. For probably 90% of Windows users, Linux does everything they use/"need" Windows for, they just don't want to switch because "everything is just soooo different." I totally understand that, as I am very much a creature of habit and I'm not very receptive to unwanted change. But at the same time...there's cool stuff in 10 that I do like, but the spying and the complete lack of control of MY machine makes me not want it. I suspect that this concern/mindset is not unique or rare. I want to like 10.. I really do, but I can't trust it until the spying crap is removed and guaranteed to be gone. Then I will consider it.

---

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

Gates has no connection to the day to day operations at M$.

I do not think Steve Jobs did either until he came back after John Sculley. I think that is what Sirius B was suggesting for Bill Gates.

Exactly, & just look at what Apple achieved on his return. :-)

I smell a world class action suit coming on...
Kitties sniff it...sniff sniff sniff.

I predict that it is going to bring MS to it's knees once and for all.
They have simply overstepped all acceptable boundaries.

Just inserting lingo into the EULA does not make it legal by forcing you to sign it.

---

"Time is simply the mechanism that keeps everything from happening all at once."

Unlike Steve Jobs, who was fired from Apple and left on bad terms, Bill Gates has nothing left to prove. He's a Billionaire MANY times over, is enjoying his family life and running the Foundation.

I really don't see him riding in on a White Horse and saving the users unless............the board gets panicked by loss of market share and impending suits and boycotts.

So we have some work to do boys and girls........

---

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

I suspect that it will not be toooo much longer before there won't be any option but to either be assimilated, or just turn updates off entirely. All the signs are pointing toward one of those two outcomes.

Greetings Cosmic,

In July last year, I gave Window$ 10 a whirl just to check it out. There were many things I liked about it, but there were many more things I did not like. For one thing, I hated that I no longer had control of MY PC. Then after about 3 weeks something really nasty peeved me off and I did the "role back" thingy to my trusty ol' Win7 Pro 64bit.

That sucked! There were things that no longer worked in Win7 that did before Window$ 10. And here's where things started going really south. I downloaded the Win7 Pro 64bit w/SP1 ISO. I did the MD5 check and found the file to be intact. I burned it to disc and began the clean install. I started doing the updates from after SP1. What a nightmare that was. It would take eons for them to download at 10 at a time. I wiped the HDD...

I grabbed my OEM Win7 Pro 64bit disc and did the clean install again. Things were going just fine. I grabbed the SP1 file from M$ and installed it. I started the updates, again 10 at a time. I made sure the when I was getting close to March 2015 updates I was doing them selectively. I stopped when I got to May 2015 which is when the Window$ 10 crap really started hitting. I turned Windows Updates completely off and, other than a BSoD episode because of RAM going south, my PC is MY PC again.

The moral of the story is as you say: "... until the spying crap is removed and guaranteed to be gone." and WE have control of our PCs through the OS meaning we control if and when updates get installed, Window$ 10 will not see this PC, period.

Keep on BOINCing...! :)

---

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

I smell a world class action suit coming on...
Kitties sniff it...sniff sniff sniff.

I predict that it is going to bring MS to it's knees once and for all.
They have simply overstepped all acceptable boundaries.

Just inserting lingo into the EULA does not make it legal by forcing you to sign it.

Why would a trump nominated judge ever see a contract of adhesion? The courts of today see the consumer has no rights and refuse to enforce any. There may be a suit, but it will get dismissed very quickly.

---

[quote]Question #1
I see nothing mentioned about making GWX automatically re-start on a re-boot?

What to do? Is this possible?

I assume you have a shortcut (probably on the desktop) for GWX? If so, press (and hold) ctrl, click (and hold) the shortcut, drag it to the start menu > all programs > startup and release the mouse and then ctrl. This will put the shortcut to launch GWX control panel at logon. This assumes that you go straight to the desktop when you boot up (without having to type in a password). If you don't have automatic logon, this won't really help to make sure it is running at all times, but it will automate that one and make one less step to go through every time you log in. (see below for more related info)

Hi Cosmic Guy!
Thank you for your kind response to my 2 questions. :)

In regard the above, I do not have a GWX 'shortcut' on my desktop. I did the 'quickie non-install' type install. How do I get a 'shortcut' to try dragging? I do go straight to my desktop on boot and there are no other Users, only me, the winsome 'Administrator.' :) I noticed that, if I click Start, and type GWX in Search programs and files, I see a GWX icon. If I right-click it, I see an option to Pin to Start Menu. If I did the 'pin' would THIS make GWX re-start automatically on a re-boot?

On my Question #2. In my post I tried to clearly say what I see now on my update page, after unchecking menu boxes maybe I should not have. :( Given that, will I STILL receive updates to view and decide if I want to install them?

Thank you, and huggs!

---

River Song (aka Linda Latte on planet Earth)
"Happy I-Phone girl on the GO GO GO"

This, for now, is the best safeguard you have to stay in control of YOUR computer. Nothing will be downloaded OR installed unless you specifically give it permission to do so.

Only problem is that it has happened to me several times in the last months to have the PC automatically rebooted after a MS update (also putting some havoc on some services and some SETI related tweaks that I prefer to start manually).
What update since I am since the begin of the world strictly in an "only notifying of new updates" condition?

Simply, without me touch anything, the settings had been reverted by some magic hand to "download and update automatically".

Therefore, it this gets triggered to happen in the right moment to have the system automagically updated to Win10, there you go...

Fingers crossed.

Sleepy

Hi Rick,

The problem with this is that there is a bug in the Windows Update client that causes the slowdowns of the downloads to happen (some call it a bug, others call it sabotage). This bug is fixed in the Windows Update client of October 2015. That version does not add Windows 10 nagware, something that all Windows Update clients afterwards do add.

Download these two updates before starting the installation process:
KB3083710 https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/kb/3083710
and KB3102810 https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/kb/3102810

The first is said update of the Windows Update client.
The second is an update that fixes that searching and installing updates is slow due to the process constantly taking up a full CPU core.

(Of course, if you want to keep using Cosmic's list of no no's you'll see 3102810 is on there, but he only added it because it was an update added during the Windows 10 nagware updates. It does really fix the slow searching for updates and downloading them, I just tested that on my system. I haven't yet been assimilated. And besides, these days you only need 3035583 installed on your system for Windows 10 to install itself fully automated.)

Copy these executables to a USB flash drive.

Next install Windows 7 with SP1 and leave the network cable disconnected.

Install those two updates from the flash drive before connecting to the network and running Windows Update for the first time, and you can cut that horrendous delay down to a matter of a few minutes.

---

Evaluate this one instead...

https://www.reactos.org/