How To Refuse Microsoft's Windows 10 Update

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I hope Microsoft learns a lesson from this and quits nagging people to death to upgrade. I like Windows 10 just fine but it's asinine that you have to go through all this effort to simply refuse to upgrade.

Final words to the wise: If you don't want Windows 10 to install automatically on your Windows 7/8 PC or tablet, for whatever reason, here's what to remember:

    • Check your Windows Update settings and make sure, if you have Automatic Updates/Recommended on, to set the time so any updates arrive when they are convenient and you are able to OK or deny them before they install.
    • Just say no to the EULA. If the auto-update begins, you can still stop Windows 10 from completing the install by refusing to accept the software licensing terms and conditions.
    • If you are savvy/brave enough to do registry edits, follow Microsoft's Get Windows 10 blocking steps to cancel the nagware and the automatic update of Windows 10
 
Microsoft doesn't learn lessons unless they lose a lawsuit that costs them over 100 million dollars. You can quote me on that.
 
If you were part of a domain, it seemed that you were not subjected to the notices immediately.
Today several of our domain computers started getting popups for Windows 10 upgrades.

I believe if you are using Enterprise versions it is still being blocked though.

I would have been fine with the first push, a 6month reminder and then an 11 month reminder that your "free" upgrade is expiring. After that, then oh well.
 
I was in the middle of playing a game last night when it suddenly crashed. It took me a little while to realize that Windows 7 was applying an update. After reboot I realized it wasn't update, it was upgrading me to 10. Never once did it get consent from me.

Pissed off, I shut down my computer. I'll see what I can do about it tonight when I get home.
 
DocFaustus said:
I was in the middle of playing a game last night when it suddenly crashed. It took me a little while to realize that Windows 7 was applying an update. After reboot I realized it wasn't update, it was upgrading me to 10. Never once did it get consent from me.

Pissed off, I shut down my computer. I'll see what I can do about it tonight when I get home.
Click to expand...

Whoa, that is kind of crazy. I had a popup for Windows 10 knock me out of a game, but I just closed the popup and went back into the game. It was the almost full screen huge one that is in a separate window that came up.
 
This happened (auto upgrade to Windows 10) to 3 computers at my office this week. We're a small business, no on site IT. I had everyone decline the license agreement and all is well, but that could have been real bad. My boss was pissed. We have since patched things to avoid this going forward.
 
DocFaustus said:
I was in the middle of playing a game last night when it suddenly crashed. It took me a little while to realize that Windows 7 was applying an update. After reboot I realized it wasn't update, it was upgrading me to 10. Never once did it get consent from me.

Pissed off, I shut down my computer. I'll see what I can do about it tonight when I get home.
Click to expand...

If in the US, file a report with the FBI about the unauthorized installation of software on your computer via the Internet. Sounds like a violation of one or more US computer crimes laws. Then file a small claims court case against Microsoft seeking compensation for the time you have to spend recovering from the mal-ware installation. I think a rate of $25/hour seems fair.
 
The tool 'Destroy Windows Spying' will remove all spying updates as well as the windows 10 forced update. It also adds a bunch of ip's that MS uses for data minig to your host file so you can block them. I recommend it to everyone that doesnt want 10 on their machine. I run it after every batch of updates because MS sometimes will try and sneak updates in. Also if you show hidden files and folders and navigate to the root of C: you may see a folder called WindowsBT. If you do then Windows 10 has been preloaded on your pc and is waiting to be installed. Thanks MS for downloading a 3GB install folder to my computer without telling me.
 
DocFaustus said:
I was in the middle of playing a game last night when it suddenly crashed. It took me a little while to realize that Windows 7 was applying an update. After reboot I realized it wasn't update, it was upgrading me to 10. Never once did it get consent from me.

Pissed off, I shut down my computer. I'll see what I can do about it tonight when I get home.
Click to expand...
WADR, I find this hard to believe. You likely accidentally mashed a confirmation box you didn't realize. I've dealt with several computers re the Win 10 upgrade, and it is NOT an automatic step. in fact there are SEVERAL steps that require user intervention, including the scrolling and agreeing to the EULA.

I've never even heard of it being automated on someone's computer and unless you're claiming MS is singling YOUR PC out for the only automated upgrade in the world...
 
I shut off all security updates on all of my friends and family's computers. Hopefully that will keep Microsoft from a lawsuit. The only way I will submit to Windows 10 is if I am forced to at my job. I have been voicing my opinion. I don't need Microshaft deleting my paid-for Windows 7 Media Center on my HTPCs or installing their antiprivacyware OS. Their pre-install Windows 10 downloaded itself multiple times on each of my computers until I finally took ownership and blocked it. I'm grateful I don't have a data cap nor am I using cell service. Otherwise Microsoft will be paying my ISP bill...
 
i do eventually want windows 10, but im hesitant to allow auto updating of patches. there are several very specific pieces of software that I use that have to all be installed in a very specific order and then require hours of ini file edits. (htpc with uber fancy codecs and ambx lighting and custom kodi/plex programs)

if i dont have time to do all those in the event something breaks, i want to delay those updates until i do.

also will likely get a new videocard when the new gpus drop, and i dont want to deal with having to buy a new OS at that point. (ms help told me new gfx card will require a revert and re update)


also i think a win10 update will likely fail, my windows is currently on a ~30GB SSD with 8GB free.
 
Ocean said:
also will likely get a new videocard when the new gpus drop, and i dont want to deal with having to buy a new OS at that point. (ms help told me new gfx card will require a revert and re update)
Click to expand...
WHAT?! No. I've switched graphics cards (between nvidia GPUs and between Nvidia and ATi) without touching my Win 10 install on two different machines.
That said I get the hesitancy to fiddle with a custom system much.
 
Dekar12 said:
If you were part of a domain, it seemed that you were not subjected to the notices immediately.
Today several of our domain computers started getting popups for Windows 10 upgrades.

I believe if you are using Enterprise versions it is still being blocked though.

I would have been fine with the first push, a 6month reminder and then an 11 month reminder that your "free" upgrade is expiring. After that, then oh well.
Click to expand...

Enterprise editions don't get a free upgrade anyway so I don't see why they would ever get the notification.
 
Steve said:
I hope Microsoft learns a lesson from this and quits nagging people to death to upgrade. I like Windows 10 just fine but it's asinine that you have to go through all this effort to simply refuse to upgrade.

Final words to the wise: If you don't want Windows 10 to install automatically on your Windows 7/8 PC or tablet, for whatever reason, here's what to remember:

    • Check your Windows Update settings and make sure, if you have Automatic Updates/Recommended on, to set the time so any updates arrive when they are convenient and you are able to OK or deny them before they install.
    • Just say no to the EULA. If the auto-update begins, you can still stop Windows 10 from completing the install by refusing to accept the software licensing terms and conditions.
    • If you are savvy/brave enough to do registry edits, follow Microsoft's Get Windows 10 blocking steps to cancel the nagware and the automatic update of Windows 10
Click to expand...
there's an even easier way. Jsut use the windows 10 when i want it and it runs and uninstalles all of the nagware...:)
Windows 10 when I want it - Home Page
 
Dekar12 said:
If you were part of a domain, it seemed that you were not subjected to the notices immediately.
Today several of our domain computers started getting popups for Windows 10 upgrades.

I believe if you are using Enterprise versions it is still being blocked though.

I would have been fine with the first push, a 6month reminder and then an 11 month reminder that your "free" upgrade is expiring. After that, then oh well.
Click to expand...

I really hate that they are now pushing this malware to domain joined computers. I can't imaging any business running a domain that would want a user upgrading their PC to Windows 10 without IT knowing it. Force me to set a global policy to not allow people to upgrade. They still get the notification (which is bad enough) but at least if they try and upgrade it tells them the administrator doesn't allow them to.

Enterprise versions are not included in the free upgrades, so you shouldn't run in this problem if you have enterprise installed.
 
While everyone can complain from here till the end of time, Windows belongs to Microsoft and they can and will modify it at their discretion (which is pretty fucked up at this point in time), end users are simply licensing the use of it which has been pointed out for decades now. Attempting to file lawsuits over this will amount to nothing more than wasted time on your part.

The only proper solution to the problem of Windows 10 is simply not to run it, period. If you use Windows 7/8/8.1 then you'll have to be on the lookout for those updates which are pushing Windows 10 on you whether you like it or not - it's possible to use 7/8/8.1 without any of that bullshit getting installed but it requires effort on the part of the end user.

Yes this is some underhanded shit from Microsoft, it really is no matter how they try to rationalize it, but it's their OS and they'll do whatever they want with it pretty much whenever they want.
 
I unistalled the update that contained the Windows 10 upgrade. It was real easy. Just google the update file name and go into Unistall Programs and select the update.
Has this method been counteracted by another update? I see all these registry changes and extra programs to keep it from happening, but I had no problem on multiple systems by just either removing the update or telling Windows Update to ignore that file name.
 
Do you guys have Recommended updates installing by default that you get the Win10 "upgrade" nagging or what?
 
cocheese256 said:
I unistalled the update that contained the Windows 10 upgrade. It was real easy. Just google the update file name and go into Unistall Programs and select the update.
Has this method been counteracted by another update? I see all these registry changes and extra programs to keep it from happening, but I had no problem on multiple systems by just either removing the update or telling Windows Update to ignore that file name.
Click to expand...

If you just uninstall the update, it will eventually re-install.
You either need to block the update so it doesn't install again, or do one of the registry changes to stop it from appearing again.
 
nutzo said:
If you just uninstall the update, it will eventually re-install.
You either need to block the update so it doesn't install again, or do one of the registry changes to stop it from appearing again.
Click to expand...

All you need to do is mark the update as hidden, it will never bother you again. I did this after I got the Windows 10 nag, I uninstalled, and marked the update as hidden, it never came back.

Since then I switched updates to manual, and only install security updates. The rest I check to see what they are. If they are in any way to Windows 10, I mark them hidden.
 
Is there a good list somewhere of all the updates that contain win10 push.
I'm on win8.1 and haven't done any updates for long time, so no win10 messages yet, but haven't had time to read what every available update is.

conversely it could be a list that contains only the "clean" security updates

thanks
 
I have Windows 10 on all but one machine. Microsoft gimme the option to say no forever on my Media Center PC leave it alone!
 
DocFaustus said:
I was in the middle of playing a game last night when it suddenly crashed. It took me a little while to realize that Windows 7 was applying an update. After reboot I realized it wasn't update, it was upgrading me to 10. Never once did it get consent from me.

Pissed off, I shut down my computer. I'll see what I can do about it tonight when I get home.
Click to expand...

Modred189 said:
WADR, I find this hard to believe. You likely accidentally mashed a confirmation box you didn't realize. I've dealt with several computers re the Win 10 upgrade, and it is NOT an automatic step. in fact there are SEVERAL steps that require user intervention, including the scrolling and agreeing to the EULA.

I've never even heard of it being automated on someone's computer and unless you're claiming MS is singling YOUR PC out for the only automated upgrade in the world...
Click to expand...

I'm calling bullshit as well. While Win 10 will auto download the update if you have everything enabled. It absolutely will NOT auto install. There are multiple prompts for the install to happen. I get that people don't like Win 10 and MS certainly hasn't helped that. I am getting more than a little tired of all the absolute FUD and outright bullshit being posted though.

I have Win 7 ultimate and have auto updates. It hasn't attempted to reinstall Win 10 a single time since I denied and hid the one update. This is going on months now and I am not doing a single thing special.
 
Ocean said:
i do eventually want windows 10, but im hesitant to allow auto updating of patches. there are several very specific pieces of software that I use that have to all be installed in a very specific order and then require hours of ini file edits. (htpc with uber fancy codecs and ambx lighting and custom kodi/plex programs)

if i dont have time to do all those in the event something breaks, i want to delay those updates until i do.

also will likely get a new videocard when the new gpus drop, and i dont want to deal with having to buy a new OS at that point. (ms help told me new gfx card will require a revert and re update)


also i think a win10 update will likely fail, my windows is currently on a ~30GB SSD with 8GB free.
Click to expand...


One of my gripes about Win10 is how they change a lot of your settings to their preferred settings after certain updates. I'll come home and find that my default browser is Edge and some of my privacy settings are reverted.

On top of that, they like to remove the modification you have to do to prevent them from blocking a reboot without update. The other day I was traveling, about to watch a movie, and I needed to reboot to finish a driver install. Forced update on reboot, had to wait 5-10minutes for it to finish and reboot another two times (first time I had no audio, as that driver hadn't reinstalled yet).

So .. F-ing .. Annoying. They also need to stop nagging Win7/8 users. Yeah, I know, you want them to get with the newer platform so you can swell your userbase. But seriously, some don't want to upgrade, and others don't want to risk having old applications stop working. And I'm a Win10 user who is enjoying the new OS.
 
Dekoth-E- said:
I'm calling bullshit as well. While Win 10 will auto download the update if you have everything enabled. It absolutely will NOT auto install. There are multiple prompts for the install to happen. I get that people don't like Win 10 and MS certainly hasn't helped that. I am getting more than a little tired of all the absolute FUD and outright bullshit being posted though.

I have Win 7 ultimate and have auto updates. It hasn't attempted to reinstall Win 10 a single time since I denied and hid the one update. This is going on months now and I am not doing a single thing special.
Click to expand...

It is bullshit. We have 20-odd Win 7 Pro PCs in the office with none of them configured to hide updates or any shit like that. Not one person has ever had Windows 10 installed on its own. All anyone ever has to do is close the popup notification that appears about once a week.
 
Spidey329 said:
One of my gripes about Win10 is how they change a lot of your settings to their preferred settings after certain updates. I'll come home and find that my default browser is Edge and some of my privacy settings are reverted.
Click to expand...

Similar things happen in Windows 7.
I've had updates reset security settings in IE (IE is required for some of our internal apps) after installing updates. However, the same set of updates don't change the settings on another computer in the office. Seems than about once a month I have to go and reset the settings on a few users computers, drives me nuts. :banghead:
 
So I have a win8 box running for at least a year without any updates due to this bullshit. Will the "Destroy Windows Spying" tool save me? I want security updates and all that, but I disabled updates prior to them pushing this garbage so right now I'm in the safezone with no nagware at all. I just reeaaaalllly dont want to go through this crap.
 
nysmo said:
So I have a win8 box running for at least a year without any updates due to this bullshit. Will the "Destroy Windows Spying" tool save me? I want security updates and all that, but I disabled updates prior to them pushing this garbage so right now I'm in the safezone with no nagware at all. I just reeaaaalllly dont want to go through this crap.
Click to expand...
w10wiwi leaves all other updates fine..it only removes and hides the windows 10 upgrade garbage.
 
Cakemeister3 said:
I've got a HP laptop that has special drivers that aren't compatible past Windows 7. I ran GWX Stopper on it but I don't think I have 100% removal of Windows 10.
Ultimate Outsider: Using GWX Control Panel to Permanently Remove the 'Get Windows 10' Icon
Click to expand...
Same, there are no display drivers for my HP DV7 past Windows 7, it has dual GPU's, one normal and one performance.
The Performance GPU doesn't work in 10 so the laptop can't play any kind of video in full screen.
 
For the folks who are still down in Win7, the following is a list of windows updates that lead to the GWX nagware getting installed. (And also updates related to telemetry and activation, which one doesn't really need either):

KB971033
KB976932
KB2603229
KB2952664
KB3021917
KB3035583
KB3068708
KB3075249
KB3080149

I understand MS forcing beta testing duty on the vast majority of its previous customers, but f'k that noise.
 
Deepminer said:
For the folks who are still down in Win7, the following is a list of windows updates that lead to the GWX nagware getting installed. (And also updates related to telemetry and activation, which one doesn't really need either):

KB971033
KB976932
KB2603229
KB2952664
KB3021917
KB3035583
KB3068708
KB3075249
KB3080149

I understand MS forcing beta testing duty on the vast majority of its previous customers, but f'k that noise.
Click to expand...

DO NOT UNINSTALL KB976932. This is windows 7 service pack 1

Maybe this will help

KB2952664
Compatibility update for upgrading Windows 7
This update helps Microsoft make improvements to the current operating system in order to ease the upgrade experience to the latest version of Windows.
https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/kb/2952664
KB2990214
Update that enables you to upgrade from Windows 7 to a later version of Windows
update that enables you to upgrade your computer from Windows 7 Service Pack 1 (SP1) to a later version of Windows.
https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/kb/2990214

KB3021917
Update to Windows 7 SP1 for performance improvements
This update performs diagnostics in Windows 7 Service Pack 1 (SP1) in order to determine whether performance issues may be encountered when the latest Windows operating system is installed. Telemetry is sent back to Microsoft for those computers that participate in the Windows Customer Experience Improvement Program (CEIP). This update will help Microsoft and its partners deliver better system performance for customers who are seeking to install the latest Windows operating system.
https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/kb/3021917
Telemetry for Win7
Windows 10 Upgrade preparatioon + Telemetry

KB3035583
Update installs Get Windows 10 app in Windows 8.1 and Windows 7 SP1
This update installs the Get Windows 10 app, which helps users understand their Windows 10 upgrade options and device readiness.
This update applies to Windows 8.1 or Windows 7 Service Pack 1 (SP1) and Internet Explorer 11 (IE11).
https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/kb/3035583
Windows 10 upgrade preparation

KB3068708
Update for customer experience and diagnostic telemetry
This update introduces the Diagnostics and Telemetry tracking service to existing devices. By applying this service, you can add benefits from the latest version of Windows to systems that have not yet upgraded. The update also supports applications that are subscribed to Visual Studio Application Insights.
https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/kb/3068708

KB3075249
Update that adds telemetry points to consent.exe in Windows 8.1 and Windows 7
This update adds telemetry points to the User Account Control (UAC) feature to collect information on elevations that come from low integrity levels.
https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/kb/3075249

KB3080149
Update for customer experience and diagnostic telemetry
This package updates the Diagnostics and Telemetry tracking service to existing devices. This service provides benefits from the latest version of Windows to systems that have not yet upgraded. The update also supports applications that are subscribed to Visual Studio Application Insights.
https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/kb/3080149

KB971033
Update for Windows Activation Technologies
There is an update available to the activation and validation components in Windows Activation Technologies for Windows 7.
Windows Activation Technologies helps you confirm that the copy of Windows 7 that is running on your computer is genuine. Additionally, Windows Activation Technologies helps protect against the risks of counterfeit software. Windows Activation Technologies in Windows 7 consists of activation and validation components that contain anti-piracy features.
https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/kb/971033
Windows Activation Technologies
 
Last edited:
We've done around 90'ish re-installs of Windows 7, all legit using baked into the firmware "tattooed" serial numbers or serials provided by the customer over the last 6 weeks. A few weeks ago I finally had to hire 2 other guys, actually one is a girl but yeah, this is awesome.

Lot of people are calling. texting or emailing me absolutely pissed, some horrified and most are just really confused how they woke up to Windows 10 without authorizing the install.

I've also been able to up-sell a handful of people those $40 microcenter 120gb SSD's for $89.

I am not even scratching the surface.

I was sick Wed and Thur and didn't get out of bed. Think they ended up doing around maybe 15 or 16 re-installs over those 2 days. I pay them $13.50 an hour each. Nothing nicer than laying in bed making money.

Gotta love GWX Control Panel. I know my customers do.
 
SixFootDuo said:
We've done around 90'ish re-installs of Windows 7, all legit using baked into the firmware "tattooed" serial numbers or serials provided by the customer over the last 6 weeks. A few weeks ago I finally had to hire 2 other guys, actually one is a girl but yeah, this is awesome.

Lot of people are calling. texting or emailing me absolutely pissed, some horrified and most are just really confused how they woke up to Windows 10 without authorizing the install.

I've also been able to up-sell a handful of people those $40 microcenter 120gb SSD's for $89.

I am not even scratching the surface.

I was sick Wed and Thur and didn't get out of bed. Think they ended up doing around maybe 15 or 16 re-installs over those 2 days. I pay them $13.50 an hour each. Nothing nicer than laying in bed making money.

Gotta love GWX Control Panel. I know my customers do.
Click to expand...

Utter comedy. Love it.
 
How much do you earn for crying bullshit with respect to windows updates that end up enabling WinX to be installed on peoples PCs? I appreciate your lengthy response essentially saying the same shit I did in fewer lines than you. Save for KB976932 which for the folks who do some tangible homework regarding the update will realize that its simply more of the same.

Whats impressive as holy fu*king mackerel is that I have all the above uninstalled and yet, my Win7x64 box is still sitting in Sp1.
 
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