Computerworld: Microsoft to get pushy about upgrading to Windows 10

[LiberalElite]

http://www.computerworld.com/article/2999548/microsoft-windows/microsoft-to-get-pushy-about-upgrading-to-windows-10.html

-snip-
Come the beginning of 2016, Microsoft will get much more assertive in distributing Windows 10 upgrades to consumers and small businesses, the company's top OS executive said Thursday.

Rather than wait for customers running Windows 7 and Windows 8.1 to request a copy of the new OS -- the practice since June -- Microsoft will instead begin to automatically send the upgrade to PCs via Windows Update, the default security maintenance service.

The push -- which some will see as too pushy by far -- will be a two-step process, with the first kicking in this year, the second in early 2016.
-snip-

[Gidney N Cloyd]

1. And if you depend on an application that won't run on Win 10, them's the breaks.

[LiberalElite]

2. Which is exactly why I've been avoiding the "upgrade" nt

[corkhead]

7. It broke my USB tv tuner because Media Center went away but otherwise I have had nothing

a favorable experience since I upgraded my machines to 10.

[Egnever]

28. Geezis this place loves the click bait

It's being changed to an optional update on windows update. It is not going to install automatically.

Don't let that stop the fear train though.

Please proceed.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

3. I do not want Win 10. They had better not upload it without my consent.

That is just beyond the pale.

[CTyankee]

17. You don't want to go thru what I just went thru. but my tech guy got 7 back altho I

had to pay him...

[CaliforniaPeggy]

23. You're right, my dear CTyankee...I sure do not. I have a great tech guy too, but still!

I don't even mind paying him--he's that good!

[Omaha Steve]

34. You have to check your windows update settings

Control Panel\All Control Panel Items\Windows Update\Change settings

You want to select "check for updates but let me choose whether to download and install them"!!!!

[CaliforniaPeggy]

38. Thanks, Steve!

[Jim Lane]

51. On my Win7 machine the pathway was a little different.

Control Panel - System and Security - then under the Windows Update heading click on "Turn automatic updating on or off".

[Egnever]

29. They won't this article is click bait

[LiberalArkie]

41. You have probably downloaded it without knowing. Windows 10 is very snoopy

unless you turn off about 10 settings. It sends keystrokes, it sends web searches even you voice "To better teach Cortina you wishes". But other than that, it is pretty good, you just have to turn off a lot of the snoopy stuff to get your privacy back.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

44. My computer still says Win 7...so I hope not!

[LiberalArkie]

46. There have been reports of Windows downloading 10 in the background

as a "service to its users" so that when you decide to upgrade "It will be fast and quick". Win 10 even has a neat service enabled by default where once you have win 10, when other people need updates and you computer is a closer download that someone on inter net can get it off of yours. But you can disable that also.

I have satellite internet with a 10gb cap on it and even with all that stuff (that I could find) turned off, My windows computer will burn through the 10gb easily over night. So I never use it plugged into the internet, I just use my Macs.

[drm604]

4. From the article

Last edited Fri Oct 30, 2015, 01:12 PM - Edit history (1)

it appears that if you've turned off automatic updates it won't upgrade without your approval. I always have automatic updates turned off. I would recommend that everyone does that, and that they carefully read each update, even the ones marked "important". Also be sure to look at the ones marked "optional" in case they hide it in there. Make sure that it's unchecked if you don't want it.

[arcane1]

26. Same here. Plus, I also don't like it rebooting without my permission.

[Doctor_J]

5. "To get pushy"?

Every startup for six months has been giving me the "opportunity".

[Lindsay]

10. I found it ready to install

on my computer after what looked like a routine update. Fortunately it identified itself as the Windows 10 installation file, and I was able to search for a way to prevent it from installing. (I've got some older peripherals that I want to be able to keep using, and 8.1 was enough of a headache for me.)

But yeah, this is getting ridiculous.

[Egnever]

30. If the peripheras worked in 8 they will work in 10

They use the same drivers.

[geek tragedy]

6. I paid $150 more for a computer just becaues it had WIN7 instead of WIN8.

Will be looking out for ways to block this.

[corkhead]

8. 10 looks a lot more like 7 than 8

I skipped 8.X altogether but I went ahead and took the upgrade to 10 and have been generally happy with it.

[geek tragedy]

12. I'm sure it will get there . . . eventually. Would rather not have to do the 4-7 patches

necessary, though.

My wife is a technophobe, so that makes it even worse.

[Egnever]

32. Stop buying the fud

Sheesh.

You really buy the idea windows will force an upgrade?
How gullible are you?

[geek tragedy]

33. fending off hourly prompts to 'upgrade' and MS's general history, yes

they are not great champions of consumer choice

[Egnever]

35. Really

You can't see the obvious lawsuits that would open them up to?

[geek tragedy]

36. because if there's one company that's cowered before the prospect of anti-trust lawsuits, it's MS nt

[Egnever]

37. Not anti trust lawsuits

Basic consumer lawsuits.

Millions could easily claim Microsoft broke their computers in a forced upgrade.

But hey you want to buy into a click bait article that lower in the article explains that it is click bait be my guest.

Don't forget to put your hair out later.

[Jim Lane]

48. I'm a lawyer and I can't see the obvious lawsuits.

There's a setting for Windows updates. You can get updates downloaded and installed automatically, or you can choose to be notified but leave it up to you what to do about them, or you can choose "Never check for updates." If the consumer has chosen automatic updates, I don't see how s/he would have a good case.

Furthermore, even if you could establish liability, what would be the damages? Most people would presumably be able to get rid of an unwanted update just by going back to a Restore Point.

[Egnever]

67. On an update of the entire operating system?

A security patch is not the same as a completely different operating system. Automatic updates as far as I know don't pertain to changing operating system. I can easily see businesses beeing crippled by unauthorized operating system upgrades.

Not that it matters the article is FUD Microsoft is not going to upgrade you to windows 10 without you explicitly accepting the update.

They might download the files needed to start the upgrade but that would be as far as it goes. That is exactly what this article is calling forcing the upgrade on you. As you can see for yourself if you read past the hyperbolic headline.

Big difference between downloading the files needed to begin the upgrade and actually completing it.

[demwing]

69. No need to be rude

So not everyone understands IT, that doesn't mean you should insult anyone.

[PatrickforO]

9. I upgraded a few months ago.

Windows 10 is OK but my Nook PC application doesn't work on it and the Nook people have been SLOOOOOOOOOOW about getting that fixed. I've checked twice with them already.

[B Calm]

11. It's their way of crashing home computers, thus making everyone

go out and buy new ones.

[tabasco]

13. I have Windows 10 on laptop and desktop

I like it okay but I was sure to turn off all that "send data to Microsoft crap" during installation.

[ryan_cats]

14. They

They use incrementalism to eventually get to where they can ask you if you've heard of the incredible transformative power of Scientology.

[shenmue]

15. ...

[TreasonousBastard]

16. Since the download is huge, word so far is that they will just...

automatically give you a stub and you get the rest at your leisure. I'm still waiting.

I still don't get the hatred for 8 and 10. I'll admit that XP was easy and stable but I hate the 7 laptop that gives me constant trouble. Dumped 7 and installed Linux, just for fun.

I now have two 8.1 desktops and a 10 laptop. Haven't used that laptop much, but so far it's the best I've ever had, even though I saved a hundred fifty bucks and avoided the touchscreen. The 8.1 boxes have one or two quirks I don't like much, but they are stable and pretty much everything works on them. I've got them so I hardly ever see that awful screen o' tiles. When they boot, they look just like my old XP box (but work a lot faster and better)

[drm604]

18. For me, it's not so much hatred of 10. I wouldn't refuse it on a new machine.

I just don't like "fixing" something that's not broken. Upgrading to a whole new version on an existing machine is too chancy.

What if I upgrade and it doesn't run well on my current hardware? I don't think there's a way to roll it back without a complete reinstall. What if it fails somehow and I end up with a non-functioning machine?

What if applications I like or even depend on stop working? I've heard stories of people's printer drivers no longer working after the upgrade. What if you have older peripherals and no drivers exist for Windows 10?

[TreasonousBastard]

21. Point taken...

My 8.1 machines have some mysterious messages about incompatibilities so I won't get the upgrade until... who knows when.

And, yeah, I've got two printers, several cameras, and a glucose meter hooked into this thing. They all work just fine on 8.1, but who knows about 10...

I should get around to installing all this stuff on the 10 laptop to see if it works before upgrading.

[hobbit709]

19. THAT is why I set Windows Update to Notify me but don't download them.

[dairydog91]

20. I had to downgrade back to Windows 7 after trying Windows 10.

Completely screwed up the file system. I do not like it when large numbers of important files are changed to Read Only (And when the permissions system refuses to allow me to change that). That screws up various programs.

[drm604]

22. I hate that kind of nanny behavior.

I understand protecting things against naive users, but allow people who know what they're doing to override it.

[beevul]

24. This is but one reason I go with the retail box full install of the OS...

This is but one reason I go with the retail box full install of the OS.

Yeah, it costs substantially more, but I'll be able to install 7 (or any other old windows OS I have the full disc for) on any machine I want, so long as those discs remain undamaged.

Fuck being dictated to.

[Blasphemer]

25. Just upgraded one laptop without issue

Dell gave the "OK" for this machine. However, Dell says my other machine cannot run Windows 10 and they still keep trying to foist it on me. Fortunately, I always have automatic updates set to "off". I previously updated a computer that didn't have Dell's OK (from Vista to 7) and it killed the hard drive.

[bkkyosemite]

27. I read an article from a computer expert

some time ago (about six months ago). He stated that Windows 10 has the ability to look at all on your computer (ALL). That to shut the system back door down is almost impossible. That he was able to shut some of it down but not all. He cautioned that this OS is capable of seeing all you have on your computer. I don't know if true but he seem convincing.

A computer guy shut off my Windows updates. He said they actually send stuff through their updates to mess up your computer so you will update to a new system.

Edit: I found two articles similar to the one I was talking about. You give permission for so much with 10. The following are excerpts and links:

"In simple words, Windows 10 Technical Preview is a collecting your voice, your chats, and your voice. Albeit it is doing so with your permission. The Privacy Policy also goes on to deliver further shocks."
http://www.techworm.net/2014/10/microsofts-windows-10-permission-watch-every-move.html

"The first condition of Microsoft’s privacy statement says that they “will access, disclose and preserve personal data, including your content (such as the content of your emails, other private communications or files in private folders), when we have a good faith belief that doing so is necessary to: 1. comply with applicable law or respond to valid legal process, including from law enforcement or other government agencies”.

In response to the revelation, one critic on Reddit suggests that “You’d have to be out of your damn mind to run a BIP32 Bitcoin wallet on Windows 10, which includes both desktop and online BIP32 wallets. If you want your wallet seed to get sent straight to the NSA, running Windows 10 is a good way to do that. It’s not just the NSA either; it’s whoever else M$ wants to partner with and whoever hacks them and their partners. This means the NSA, local law enforcement, courts, Russian and Chinese hackers, etc.”

"Other critics, including the technology experts at the Verge and Ars Technica, argue that Windows 10 marks the end of cloud-free computing. According to a report last week by Ars Technica, computers running Windows 10 send back huge amounts of data to Microsoft via remote servers, even if features such as Cortana and OneDrive are disabled.
https://www.bestvpnz.com/windows-10-a-backdoor-for-spying-agencies/"

[Egnever]

40. Holy crap

Get a new computer guy

Windows updates are essential for closing security flaws and once they have been pushed out the whole world knows what those security flaws are. That means every script kiddie in the world immediately starts looking for people like you that don't bother to patch the security vulnerabilities that Microsoft just announced to the world with the patches for them.

The idea windows breaks itself to sell you a new windows computer is so silly I am amazed you didn't laugh in his face.

[Shandris]

52. Yes, because no company in the history of the world has ever used the concept of...

...'planned obsolescence'.

Sorry, MS is well-known as a horrible, evil company filled with horrible evil people. They've spied on us, stolen from us, tried to monopolize us (and mostly succeeded on that one), lied to us, and deceived us. They've used workers from other nations to suppress wages for those same workers here. They are the epitome of all that evil can be, masquerading as a group who wants to help people through the Bill and Melinda Cthulhu Foundation.

Trying to mock someone for thinking something that has happened before can and likely will happen again is slimy. Like "Ugh, I need a shower" slimy.

[hobbit709]

53. If you don't use Internet ExploDer and Outhouse, it eliminates 90% of problems right there.

In XP I used about a dozen of the patches and never had a problem. So far in 7 it's about the same.

[phleshdef]

43. "this OS is capable of seeing all you have on your computer"

Um, EVERY operating system is capable of seeing everything you have on your computer. Thats the nature of an operating system.

[Maedhros]

54. I understand managing updates, but shutting them off completely is unwise.

Security updates are important, from a malware mitigation point of view.

[Rex]

31. IOW, they are forcing you to switch without your permission.

That explains why they were so secretive about auto updating in Windows 10, this was their plan all along.

[Egnever]

42. Part of the reason they are secretive about the patches in win 10 is because

By announcing what they patched to close security flaws, they are also announcing what those flaws are to the world. That makes the bad guys job easy.

They finally learned that lesson.

[Betty Karlson]

39. Not ready for a corporate takeover of my PC desktop. eom

[cyberswede]

45. I'm still using XP

[B Calm]

49. I liked XP better than windows 7. One reason why I worry when they choose

a new windows. I'm surprised your XP is still working.

[snagglepuss]

55. Me too.

[TexasBushwhacker]

65. I have a laptop with it that's doing fine

but newer software won't work on it, so I "upgraded" to a refurbished Win 7 laptop (with a warranty). I use Win 8.1 at work. I'm not switching to Win 10 until I get the all clear from Intuit for QuickBooks.

[edhopper]

47. I am finding Win 10 great

easier to search files, shorter startup time, leaner background running.

Overall better than & (which I liked)

[Warren DeMontague]

50. This is why I dont use computers. Ever, at all.

Refuse to even touch them.

[Skittles]

56. *HAR*

I am really glad I got to experience life without them, for sure

[Warren DeMontague]

57. I used to, of course- but some crazy person kept threatening to schedule me for an ass kicking.

like, who needs that shit?

[Skittles]

61. oh get real, Warren

you know you were one of my first paying customers; yes INDEED

[Warren DeMontague]

62. shhhh

[drm604]

59. I've never been on the internet

and I'm doing just fine!

[Warren DeMontague]

60. EXACTLY.

Oh, you're wondering stop. You want to know how I'm writing this right now stop. That's easy stop.

Smoke signals. Stop.

[hifiguy]

58. Looks like I've lost all excuses for not finally moving to Linux.

[Warren DeMontague]

63. That's exactly how I feel about quitting sniffing glue, this week.

especially since my love of Rand Paul has been EXPOSED! Why go on?

[Oilwellian]

64. Here's a great utility to stop the popups and download

Click the link below to Download it:

http://ultimateoutsider.com/downloads/GWX_control_panel.exe

When it is done downloading, run the file.

A box will come up asking Do you want this program to make changes to your computer? Click Yes.

Click the checkbox to accept the terms of the agreement and click Continue

In the GWX Control Panel Window that comes up:

Step 1: Click “Disable 'Get Windows 10' App”

Step 2: Finally, Click “Disable Operating System Upgrades in Windows Update” this one wants a restart, hit Yes

You continue to get important updates but kills Windows 10 from doing so until you're ready. Here's a great description of what the utility does. I had to do it twice before the icon finally disappeared.

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

[CharlotteVale]

66. Thanks, worked like a charm.

[wilt the stilt]

68. Windows 10 is the best OS since xp

It is actually rather good. It reduces the footprint by at least 50% and it is way better than 8. I never thought much of 7 and it was slower than xp. XP was made to run on 512 meg.