Microsoft has done it again…

[Deleted]

What it is that Microsoft has done again is to really torque me off?

I awoke this morning and flipped the laptop on as normal and let it do its thing like starting up, security updates and such. In the time that it took me to take a quick shower, somehow my laptop was upgrading from Windows 7 to Windows 10, completely without being commanded to do so, totally unsolicited and definitely unwanted.

Lately it seems that I have been declining this upgrade about three to four times daily, but here it was just churning away. I sat idly by to let it finish because I was not sure what would happen if I just turned the laptop off, but mostly because I was spending too much time yelling, screaming and throwing things.
Luckily the upgrade failed, but then it asked me if I wanted to retry.

 
“Not just NO!, but…” You may complete the sentence as you see fit.

I shut things down as much as I could and then did a little research into this. It seems that I am by no means the only person that has had this happen. It seems that this very thing has happened numerous times and for the last several months. But, Microsoft denies that it is possible for this to happen and insists that any MS users requested the upgrade, maybe even inadvertently. I am calling BS on Microsoft. All I did was to turn on my laptop and walk away for 15 or so minutes.

During my research I learned a few other little tidbits, especially information about how to prevent this from happening again. It seems that a “security update” (KB 3035583) that I had downloaded a few months or so ago at Microsoft’s behest was not really a “security update” at all. This is the download that put that Windows 10 upgrade icon on my tool bar and is also responsible for the window that periodically appeared asking if I wanted to upgrade. It was not that annoying and I always clicked “decline”. But, it seems that KB 3035583’s sole function in life is to continue asking me if and when I want to upgrade.

Then, since many people were clicking on the “decline” button, Microsoft decided to change the upgrade from optional to recommended. Because of that I started to see the window asking me when I wanted to schedule an upgrade and they hid the “decline” button. You had to click on the “more info” button in order to see the “decline” button. Well, I found it and still declined the upgrade. Much more annoying, but still doable.

Then the upgrade started of its own volition this morning. Isn’t that special!?!?!?

What I have since done to hopefully rid myself of this plague is to change my settings so that Windows no longer can do automatic updates and I have to approve each and every one of them. I will just do a manual update every day or so and go over the recommended updates with a fine tooth comb.

I also uninstalled KB 3035583 and then did a manual update. KB3035583 came up as a recommended update, still listed as a “security update”, so I hid that update and the actual Windows 10 update. Now when I do a manual update, Microsoft will see that I have been notified of both updates, they have not yet been installed and I will never see them again unless I restore them. At least until Microsoft figures out a way to bypass this little obstacle.

And for those who are already running Windows 10 and asking themselves why I am against upgrading, there are several reasons. Previously first and foremost is the fact that I run some software programs that will supposedly not function properly while having Windows 10 as the OS. I do not know for sure if this is true, but I do know that I do not want to be the guinea pig that tries it and screws up my data.

Secondly, Windows 10 is still a work in progress. There are still many bugs being reported and I just do not want to bother with those problems. It is not as bad as Windows 8 was, but I would rather wait until they have a much better grip on the situation.

Thirdly, Windows 10 is a data mining company’s wet dream. I have been told by IT friends that almost everything done on a Windows 10 computer is reported at one time or another back to MS. It is not that I have anything to hide, but I just do not like that. I do know that many of the features doing the reporting to MS can be turned off, but I would rather have to turn them on if I wanted to as opposed to having to turn them off. And who knows if all of the reporting features are publically known. There could be some little hidden things that no one yet really knows about. It is not as if MS does not hide things already under the title “security update”.

And now I can add this next reason that did not previously exist, but is now my most compelling reason. They tried to force it down my throat. MS has used lying and subterfuge to force their new software onto my computer. I have to ask myself why. Why is it so imperative that I load Windows 10 on my laptop? I cannot think of a good or valid reason, so I guess I should assume that they want it on my laptop for some reason that is not so good for me, but great for them.

The only thing for certain is that my next computer will not have a Microsoft operating system on it. I will start researching the pros and cons of other operating systems and go with one of them. I will slowly wean myself off of any other Microsoft products that I can. I am done with Microsoft.

So, has anyone else experienced this same or similar problem???

[shellymay]

My computer here at home asks if it can upgrade and  install windows 10 OFTEN, so far so good on the decline button! 

[Deleted]

You can get rid of that like I did.

[grannyg]

I have not been able to read my mail now for two days.....also, they keep trying to upgrade me to ten which I do not want...said I would be upgraded today but I have not seen any signs as I have not been on...makes me mad, too

still will not let me read my email

[Deleted]

I purchased a refurbished computer with win 7 on it. Worked perfectly until about 6 months ago when Microsoft began the campaign to have me change to win 10. They won and now I no longer use that computer at all. I'm on a laptop now with win 8 on it which I sat aside in lieu of the tower with win 7. Not my cup of tea but I'm hacking my way through.

[motdaugrnds]

My operating system is Windows XP and I've not had any attempt from Microsoft to upgrade it.

[woolybear]

Hope I'm not going to be sorry for writing this and jinxing myself, but... Every computer I've ever had I turned off the updates. I think I only updated one time in all the years I've had the things. I'll keep win 7 for as long as it will function on this computer.
I did have to laugh at the doctor office a couple of months ago when I saw that they were still using XP - guess they didn't allow auto updates either.

[manygoatsnmore]

I am sick to death of the constant requests to update me to Win 10, "NOW, while it's still free!" Um, no. I don't want it at any price, even free. And for exactly the reasons TRellis listed.

[Skandi]

I run 7 updates are off and have been for a long time, there have been issues with 10 downloading in the background (not installing just getting ready to) and that eating all of peoples data limits. Hubby dear tried the update to 10, he reverted back to 7 after about a month, it caused so many issues and compatability issues, AND all the dratted links and adverts, you can kill most of them but neither of us want to see links and adverts on our own home PC 's

[shellymay]

@trellis, DO YOU Work for Microsoft...........LOL

You are not going to believe this, this am at home when my husband was going to get on computer, Windows 10 was installed, coincidence???

UGH!!!!!!!!!!! I do believe that are updates are automatic on Wednesday nights, thud thud thud....So do I need to just uninstall? will Windows

7 still be there?

[hermitjohn]

I upgraded from win98 to first BeOS, then to Mandrake Linux, then to Puppy Linux. Havent regretted it a bit. I have a winXP partition on this computer cause it came with it and I had been using it to run tax software until this year when the latest version no longer supported winXP. Posted how after some hassle got the tax software to run using WINE(translator program, but think of it as a windows emulator) on Puppy, so sorry M$, really dont need you at all anymore..... you are obsolete.

[hermitjohn]

May 19, 2016 3:48:50 GMT motdaugrnds said:

My operating system is Windows XP and I've not had any attempt from Microsoft to upgrade it.

 M$ no longer supports or updates XP for some time now.  XP era computer also wouldnt be capable of running win10.

[Deleted]

May 19, 2016 11:08:24 GMT shellymay said:

@trellis , DO YOU Work for Microsoft...........LOL

You are not going to believe this, this am at home when my husband was going to get on computer, Windows 10 was installed, coincidence???

UGH!!!!!!!!!!! I do believe that are updates are automatic on Wednesday nights, thud thud thud....So do I need to just uninstall? will Windows

7 still be there?

If I remember correctly, I read something about there being a 30 day time period after upgrading to Windows 10 that allows you to easily go back to Windows 7. I am not sure as I really did not pay attention because my unsolicited update failed.

You can set your computer to update whenever you want it to.  Wednesday may be the default date.

If I worked at Microsoft, yesterday you would have read about how an employee went berserk and capped most of the Microsoft hierarchy.   None would have survived. 

[motdaugrnds]

Well, don't understand then because I'm still getting updates from windows. In fact I got one earlier this week. Always states it is "security" update.

[Deleted]

Mainstream support for Windows 7 ended a little more than a year ago. So no more fixes for bugs within the OS, but who cares, there were hardly any bugs in Windows 7. They only put out one service pack (the download that fixes quirky, internal bugs) for Windows 7, which should tell you something. I cannot remember which Windows version it was, but there was one that had at least four service packs. That one was really buggy.

"Extended support" for Windows 7, which includes patches for vulnerabilities deemed security risks, does not end until 2020. Either this laptop will fail by then or one of the two presumptive losers running for president will have run this country so far down into the ground that getting on-line will be one of the last thoughts on our minds.

Either way, Windows will not be on my next computer and its days on this computer may be very limited. I did a lot of reading about Linux last night and though I do not yet understand everything about it, I do have a better understanding and have found some work-arounds for some of my older programs. This process will take a while, but I do think that I will certainly be able to make the jump from windows to Linux or some other OS well before this computer dies.

XP was another great and very stable platform put out by Microsoft and they have completely abandoned it at this point in time.

I have noticed that since I have turned off the auto update and "hid" the Windows 10 update and that Trojan Horse update KB 3035583 from Microsoft, my laptop is not constantly working in the background making on-line work slow and difficult.

[Deleted]

May 19, 2016 12:54:10 GMT motdaugrnds said:

Well, don't understand then because I'm still getting updates from windows. In fact I got one earlier this week. Always states it is "security" update.

If you have a Microsoft anti-viral software (like MS-Defender) you would still be receiving updates.  Or if you have any of the bits and pieces of Microsoft Suite (such as Word, Excel, Powerpoint, etc.) you will still be receiving any security updates specifically for those.   They have not yet stopped supporting those things, just the Operating Software.

[shellymay]

@trellis,  LOL ................

I am at work now so will deal with it when I return home this eve    hermitjohn, No problems really with XP, hated that Microsoft stopped

supporting it..........

[spacecase0]

I like my XP computer, it could run 10 if I tried it, but I never would.
also quit using XP for almost everything, still have it for my clothing pattern design software and the radio programming software,
they just never made some of that software for any other type of computer

I installed linux (on another computer) and am very happy with it
it runs just about perfect with the correct options,
have tried about 5 versions of linux, and will likely try more just for fun,
my favorite so far is Debian with the MATE desktop
it is also faster than any other operating system I have used on the computer
and the best part is that it is free, and all the software that I need for it is also free.

[Deleted]

May 19, 2016 11:08:24 GMT shellymay said:

@trellis , DO YOU Work for Microsoft...........LOL

You are not going to believe this, this am at home when my husband was going to get on computer, Windows 10 was installed, coincidence???

UGH!!!!!!!!!!! I do believe that are updates are automatic on Wednesday nights, thud thud thud....So do I need to just uninstall? will Windows

7 still be there?

Here is a link to a website that details how to downgrade back to Windows 7. 

There is a 30 day window within which you can do so.  <---  See!!!  Contrary to popular belief, I do retain what I read!!! 

But do not do anything else with the computer until you do the downgrade.  A simple thing like doing a "Disk Cleanup" may prevent you from being able to revert back.  I wonder why Microsoft would set it up that way!?!?!? 

ETA:  The more I read about Microsoft and see the manner in which they conduct themselves as a company, the more I want to rid myself of their BS. 

[shellymay]

@trellis, Not sure about your president comment but I am pretty upset with Bill Gates

[grannyg]

Well, they changed mine to TEN this morning....it was done by itself....I HATE IT....cannot find anything...have to put in my password for every site.....why can they just not let things alone.......

[snoozy]

My old laptop imploded and so I got a new used one that had already been updated to 10. I missed 8 altogether. I also did not like the whole coercive nature of Microsoft's nagging people to upgrade, but there it was, 10 on my nice new laptop and I just had to suck it up and deal with it.

Just so's you know, it's not that bad. Really. I mean the user interface. It is not as different from 7 as 8 was. There's a bunch of stuff that comes with that you can delete or disable or at least unpin from the start screen, but that is the way of tech now. Bloatware. Annoying as all getout, but you will survive.

[feather]

Our Win 7 desktop upgraded to Win 10 last night by itself. It said 'Welcome to Windows 10', then it asked me to 'accept' the long winded agreement of license and I 'declined'. It took about 45 minutes to an hour for it to revert to Win 7.
I turned off the automatic updates and downloads, I'll do that manually now.
I'm turning off the same things on my laptop.

[countryjo]

Thanks Trellis for bringing this up......it got me looking up mine, but I couldn't find anything but three choices and non to make it go way. So I was looking around the site and found a place to contact someone......live chat, it took awhile but the guy removed it. No accidental getting windows 10 when I'm not looking. Really a great Big Thank you!

[Deleted]

I do believe that I warned everyone last night, did I not? I hate to say that I told you so, but....

If you would like to get rid of the "security update" that is not a "security update", but is the software that is responsible for the annoying and constant pop-up begging you to upgrade to Windows 10, just follow the following directions:

Use these directions if you have not yet been struck by Windows 10, but you can also use them if you have been struck and are able to downgrade back to your original OS. Keep in mind, these directions are for using Windows 7. I am not sure if they are exactly the same if you are running a different Windows OS.

In order to keep any uninstalled items from coming back automatically and irritating you further, you will have to change your settings in Windows Update to where you will be responsible for initiating updates for your Microsoft products. It will not be done automatically anymore, if that is how you were updating previously. Even if you did a quick “Manual Update” once per day you should be fine and feel no adverse effects. If you spend a great deal of time on-line, then you might want to manually update twice per day. But if you get rid of “Auto updating”, keeping up with updates will be your responsibility.

Keep in mind though, if you do not change from “Auto Update” to “Manual Update”, uninstalling the offending files will be a moot point as the next time that your computer auto-updates they will come right back.

To change the “Auto Update” capability, follow these directions:

1. Left click on the Windows Icon on your tool bar, in the lower left corner.

2. Hover over the “All Programs” at the bottom of the list until all programs shows up or just left click on all problems.

3. Left click on “Windows Update”.

4. On the left-hand side you will see where it says “Change settings”. Left click on that and a new window opens.

5. In the new window you will see where it says “Important Updates” with a drop-down menu list below it. From the several options available I chose “Check for updates, but let me choose whether to download and install them”. There is another option available that will also, more than likely work, “Download updates, but let me choose whether to install them”. I did not choose this option as I did not want this garbage on my computer at all.

6. Just below “Important Updates” you will also see “Recommended updates”. Make sure that the box is checked for “Give me recommended updates the same way that I receive Important updates”.

To uninstall a Microsoft update:

1. Left click on the Windows Icon on your tool bar, in the lower left corner.

2. Hover over the “All Programs” at the bottom of the list until all programs shows up or just left click on all problems.

3. Left click on “Windows Update”.

4. On the left-hand side and at the bottom you will see “Installed updates”. Left click on “Installed updates”.

5. Give it a moment or two for all of the updates to appear. You will see the web address line across the top changing color to green as it progresses in loading all of the updates.

6. Once it has finished, scroll down until you see the blue highlighted header called “Microsoft Updates”. The “bugger that you want will be listed under this header. I do not remember the exact wording in its name, but look for a download that has (KB 3035583) after its name. It will appear just like I typed it. Please make sure that you highlight the right one.

7. Highlight it and click on the “uninstall” button. It will ask you if you are sure that you want to uninstall it, answer appropriately.

8. Once it is done uninstalling, you will have to reboot your computer.

If you would like to, you can do the same thing (uninstall) to the actual Windows 10 update if it is on your machine. I do not remember where it was located, but I assume that it would be under the same blue highlighted “Microsoft Updates”. Its name (at least on my computer) is “Upgrade to Windows 10 Home, version 1511, 10586”.

If you are planning to uninstall both it would probably be best to uninstall both at the same time and then you only have to reboot once.

Now you will do a manual update. Go back into "Windows Update" and initiate an update by left-clicking on "Check for Updates". After your computer is finished looking for, but not installing, updates you should see the KB 3035583 file listed and also the "Upgrade to Windows 10 Home, version 1511, 10586" file. You need only right-click on them individually and then left-click on the "Hide Update" option that appears. You are now done.


Once the process is complete, the Windows 10 icon on your toolbar will disappear and you should never be bothered again with having to decline the upgrade, nor should you wake up one morning and discover that you are now running Windows 10.

This public service announcement was provided by… Me!!!

And I am not responsible if you mess things up...

Seriously, my laptop is running much better since I have gotten rid of both of those files. It is much faster on-line and I do not hear the constant whining noise indicating that it is downloading something from Microsoft, which it turns out was the Windows 10 upgrade.

I have run a manual update twice already today and no updates were available both times, be they "recommended" or "important". I will probably run a manual update three or four times per day and then gradually decrease that as I get a better feel for how often is best to run a manual update for me. Keep in mind, the number of times that a manual update will be necessary will be different for everyone depending on how many Microsoft products you have installed on your computer.

[Deleted]

May 19, 2016 20:25:20 GMT countryjo said:

Thanks Trellis for bringing this up......it got me looking up mine, but I couldn't find anything but three choices and non to make it go way. So I was looking around the site and found a place to contact someone......live chat, it took awhile but the guy removed it. No accidental getting windows 10 when I'm not looking. Really a great Big Thank you!

You are welcome...

[shellymay]

@trellis, Yes thanks, got home from work and looked at computer after this morning seeing windows 10 installed (hubby at computer this am) me getting ready for work and hearing him
say words that were not nice, no worries no kiddo's in the home, anyhow when I looked at it after work mine was just like yours, it said that there was an error or something and do I accept
or decline another install I DECLINED asap and left to do chores and when I got back 7 was back again, and YES I now have the updates manual only and will probably only check once a week
for updates and only allow updates we need, again thank you because if you hadn't brought this complaint to our attention we would have been freaking out!!!!

[Bear Foot Farm]

Download "GWX Control Panel" to solve the Windows 10 problem:

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

[Txsteader]

@trellis, thank you for the info. The popup asking to install 10 is bothersome enough but I've been reading elsewhere about the automatic installation issue & it's had me worried. Glad to know I can get that mess off my laptop.

[Deleted]

I found the same info and did the same as you, TRellis...no more problem.

I've just about decided when MS finally abandons Win7 (and they will), I'm going to go open source...I'm tired of all this monkey business.