Fearing forced Windows 10 upgrades, users are disabling critical updates instead

(This is why I can’t make videos anymore. I have Windows 7 Professional and can’t update the hardware on my system so rendering videos crashes it and I get the blue screen of death every time I try. I also can’t install and run certain programs like Lightworks or video games that I have owned for years. Windows 10 is being forced on users because it’s end user agreement allows Microsoft to basically search and monitor every action to conduct on your system and even goes so far as to consider what ever is on your computer, the property of Microsoft. They recently signed onto an agreement with the EU to curb “hate speech” both online and offline and Windows 10 is the vehicle they intend to use to achieve that goal. It is the most repressive operating system in existence and people will go to any length to keep it off their computers.)

from PC World

Microsoft stepped on the gas in its quest to drive Windows 7 and 8 users to Windows 10 over the past couple of weeks, rolling the upgrade out as a Recommended update. Watch out! The only behavior that could deny the Windows 10 upgrade before—closing the pop-up by pressing the X in the upper-right corner—now counts as consent for the upgrade, and worse, the upgrade installation can automatically begin even if you take no action whatsoever.

It’s nasty business, and it’s tricking legions of happy Windows 7 and 8 users into Windows 10. Over the past week, I’ve received more contact from readers about this issue than I have about everything else I’ve written over the rest of my career combined. But beyond merely burning bridges with consumers, these forced, non-consensual upgrades could have more insidious consequences.

[read more here]

15 Responses

  1. Search for GWX,it stops Windows 10 nagware.

  2. Wow! The power of mischief! The potential for good that the internet has and these cockroaches (no offense to cockroaches) have to figure a way to weaponize it against all humanity….guess that’s the same thing the caveman said when he invented the first tools. Your piece sent me scrambling to find these articles which don’t require downloading anything.
    First to determine what Windows system you have is this http://www.digitalcitizen.life/how-determine-what-version-windows-7-you-have , because many of us are not technocrats (me). Then, I think a PC World link from the article you posted meant that this assault would end when it’s for sale in July (please correct me if I am wrong), maybe disabling the trick notifications might work.
    Again I don’t trust downloading anything, so it seems disabling the notification might work…. http://www.digitalcitizen.life/how-disable-get-windows-10-icon-and-notifications and http://www.digitalcitizen.life/how-customize-notification-area I am hoping will work. I tried it and we’ll see. Again please correct me if I need to do something else.
    Thanks Scott, for the heads up I saw the pop-up the other night, “x”-ed it out and today checked and so far have dodged the bullshit. When they download programs aren’t you supposed to click “I Agree” before they can start….oh, silly me I forgot, Bill Gates, they can do whatever they want. They write the laws and are never criminals. I’ll let you know how (above) works.

    • what I have started doing is “control-alt-delete” bringing up task manager and ending the pop-up that way. I was surprised the PC World article didn’t mention that option. Seems to work so far.You should also check out the write-ups about Facebook, Microsoft and Twitter signing on with the EU to stop online (and offline?) “hate speech”. Fascinatingly scary stuff.

  3. I upgraded to Windows 10 voluntarily as soon as it was available because Win 8.1 was so friggin’ bad.
    Little did I know that Win 10 would be worse. Now my laptop is a mystery to me and I only use it to watch videos.

    • I’ve read that Windows 10 does it’s updates whenever it wants, that it doesn’t ask you to schedule them. Is that true? Will it suddenly start updating in the middle of your using the computer?

      • I haven’t had that happen yet but it wouldn’t surprise me. I know it has downloaded and installed updates while I wasn’t using it.

        I keep having to reset my power settings for some reason. And I keep having to chase buttons around my screen.

      • Yes, but even Windows 7 will do updates while you’re using it if auto update is on. The stuff actually can be configured in Windows 10, contrary to much of the scare news. Like every version of Windows, Microsoft moves things around to make it hard to find what you’re used to, but the auto-update features can be configured or even turned off. Of course, there are also a lot of invasive features that may be on by default, like “Cortana”, that can keep your microphone listening when you don’t know it’s on. That also can be turned off. How much background spying is actually happening by default, who knows? And what does the license agreement really mean in terms of Microsoft’s right to use and sell your personal info? I wish I knew. I wonder what types of agreements will have to evolve between Microsoft and other businesses who adopt Windows 10 to prevent Microsoft from committing too much corporate espionage through some assumed privileges they give themselves in the Win 10 license agreement.

        • uh… I have Windows 7 and it doesn’t shut my system down to run updates whenever it wants. like I keep reading about Windows 10. Also, yes, 7 will ask you about updates and installing them, but with auto update turned on right now, it waits until I decide to shut down my computer and then it installs the auto updates. So yes, from what I have read, that is different.

          Another thing you didn’t mention is Windows 10 using your computer as a kind of hub to install Windows 10 on other systems. I’ve read a lot about this. They use up a lot of bandwidth using your computer as part of their cloud and every now and then they have to access your system to install Windows on someone else’s system. I don’t like that either.

          And lastly, do you really think Windows, having promised the EU that they would help curb “hate speech” on the internet (and offline as well) would allow you to really disable various functions they are depending on for information? I don’t buy that for a second and I bet there’s a good sized community out there that doesn’t buy it either.

          • uh… I have Windows 7 and it doesn’t shut my system down to run updates whenever it wants. like I keep reading about Windows 10.

            Actually, I think you’re right. It’s not exactly the same. My Win 7 laptop did start restarting itself in the middle of the night during automated processing sessions, but I suspect it was putting up a prompt with a timer (but I was asleep). Also, configuring Windows 7 is more intuitive. Windows 10 auto updates can be prevented by configuring your network connection. It’s just not obvious and Microsoft isn’t advertising features it doesn’t want most people using. However, people on limited data plans need a way to keep updates from automatically using up their data.

            Another thing you didn’t mention is Windows 10 using your computer as a kind of hub to install Windows 10 on other systems

            I didn’t even know about that. I don’t like that idea.

            And lastly, do you really think Windows, having promised the EU that they would help curb “hate speech” on the internet (and offline as well) would allow you to really disable various functions they are depending on for information?

            I don’t actually know. I suspect they would allow the microphone to be controlled because it’s not difficult to prove that a device is on if one is inclined to do so. However, I would guess there is an improved built-in back door function to turn it on invisibly (camera too) in a targeted situation. Again, I actually don’t know. I certainly don’t trust Microsoft, if that was implied in any way.

            Nevertheless, Automatic updates in Windows 10 can be controlled. Microsoft is a bit sneaky in making configurations more hidden than previous Windows version.

  4. Our users have implemented Never 10. Easy to use and removes current Windows10 files that have already been downloaded onto your computer.

    https://www.grc.com/never10.htm

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