Microsoft is downloading Windows 10 to your machine 'just in case'

[Batu69]

MICROSOFT HAS CONFIRMED that Windows 10 is being downloaded to computers whether or not users have opted in.

An INQUIRER reader pointed out to us that, despite not having 'reserved' a copy of Windows 10, he had found that the ~BT folder, which has been the home of images of the new operating system since before rollout began, had appeared on his system. He had no plans to upgrade and had not put in a reservation request.

He told us: "The symptoms are repeated failed 'Upgrade to Windows 10' in the WU update history and a huge 3.5GB to 6GB hidden folder labelled '$Windows.~BT'. I thought Microsoft [said] this 'upgrade' was optional. If so, why is it being pushed out to so many computers where it wasn't reserved, and why does it try to install over and over again?

"I know of two instances where people on metered connections went over their data cap for August because of this unwanted download. My own internet (slow DSL) was crawling for a week or so until I discovered this problem. In fact, that's what led me to it. Not only does it download, it tries to install every time the computer is booted."

We asked Microsoft to comment on whether it was downloading Windows 10 anyway as the company rushes to build on the 75 million machines with the new OS installed in its first month, putting it in fourth place behind Window 7, 8.1 and the erstwhile XP.

Microsoft told us: "For individuals who have chosen to receive automatic updates through Windows Update, we help upgradable devices get ready for Windows 10 by downloading the files they’ll need if they decide to upgrade.

"When the upgrade is ready, the customer will be prompted to install Windows 10 on the device.”

In other words, if you are patching via Patch Tuesday, as you should of course be, then you are going to get a big hefty folder on your hard drive ready so you can update to Windows 10 on demand.

Now, far be it from The INQUIRER to point fingers, but isn't this a bit presumptuous on Microsoft's part? We know it's keen to get everyone on Windows 10 as quickly as possible but this is not a small background patch - it's a whopping huge operating system image.

For someone using a 2-in-1 with 32GB of flash memory, that's a hefty chunk of their storage being clogged up with an OS that they might not want yet, if at all.

Whether you believe it's to avoid fragmentation or to spy on you depends on how much pot you smoked in college, but it now appears to have gone from 'over keen' to 'needy' and you have to wonder why and whether it's going to blow up in the company's face.

It should be enough of a clue that over 10 percent of Windows machines are still on XP and Vista, while there's over 40 percent more of the market on 7 than on 8, to be able to tell that people don't like to assume.

It's like the U2 iTunes debacle again. After that, Bono said: "Oops … I’m sorry about that. I had this beautiful idea … might have got carried away with ourselves. Artists are prone to that thing.

"A drop of megalomania, a touch of generosity, a dash of self-promotion, and deep fear that these songs that we poured our life into over the last few years mightn't be heard. There’s a lot of noise out there. I guess we got a little noisy ourselves to get through it."

Satya Nadella take note: you may have to answer to similar complaints. If any other readers have found that this has happened to them, please get in touch via Disqus or the email link.

Source

[steven36]

Microsoft is forcing Windows 10 on users’ machines without consent

Maybe you’ve been ignoring that little prompt in the corner of your desktop reminding you to book your Windows 10 upgrade. Turns out Microsoft may be pushing the install files onto your system anyway.

An Inquirer reader noticed that a ~BT folder (that’s where the Windows 10 staging files reside) had appeared on his system, despite the fact that he reportedly hadn’t reserved the upgrade with Microsoft. It may not have been much more than an annoyance for this particular user, but for someone on a metered connection, the push could result in a good chunk of their data cap being eaten up by an unrequested download. This isn’t an ordinary Windows Update we’re talking about, after all. It’s a massive, multi-gig operating system installer.

Microsoft isn’t denying what it’s doing, either. A spokesperson told the Inquirer “For individuals who have chosen to receive automatic updates through Windows Update, we help upgradable devices get ready for Windows 10 by downloading the files they’ll need if they decide to upgrade.”

It’s done as a courtesy, Microsoft says. When users are finally ready to roll the Windows 10 upgrade, all the required files are already in place. It makes for a faster, smoother installation process.

Even if the only goal really is to help makes things as painless as possible, Microsoft should be a bit more transparent about what it’s doing. It’s already peppering users with nag screens about the Windows 10 upgrade, why not do the right thing and notify them that the download is about to begin and give them the chance to postpone it?

http://www.geek.com/microsoft/microsoft-pushing-windows-10-onto-machines-even-if-they-havent-reserved-it-1633732/

[straycat19]

HA-HA-HA, stopped that shit dead in July when I turned off windows updates for all systems.

[steven36]

How to remove Windows 10 upgrade updates in Windows 7 and 8

• KB 3035583 - According to Microsoft, this update enables "additional capabilities for Windows Update notifications when new updates are available".
• KB 2952664 - Labeled a compatibility upgrade for upgrading Windows 7, its purpose is to "make improvements to the current operating system in order to ease the upgrade experience to the latest version of Windows".
• KB 2976978 - A compatibility update for Windows 8.1 and Windows 8 which "performs diagnostics on the Windows system [..] to determine whether compatibility issues may be encountered when the latest Windows operating system is installed.
• KB 3021917 - Does the same as KB 2976978 but on Windows 7.
• KB 3044374 - This update for Windows 8.1 enables systems to upgrade from the current operating system to a later version of Windows.
• KB 2990214 - Does the same as KB 3044374 but on Windows 7.
• KB 3022345 - Update to enable the Diagnostics Tracking Service in Windows (Windows 7 SP1, Windows 8.1)

Do the following to check if an update is installed:

• Tap on the Windows-key, type cmd and hit enter.
• Type powershell and hit enter.
• Use the command get-hotfix -id KB3035583 to find out whether the update is installed
• To speed things up, query for all updates in a single command like this:
  get-hotfix -id KB3035583,KB2952664,KB2976978,KB3021917,KB3044374,KB2990214,KB3022345

You can use the command line to remove Windows Patches as well.

• If you are still in Powershell type exit to leave.
• Use the command wusa /uninstall /kb:2952664 to uninstall a patch

http://www.sevenforums.com/general-discussion/367377-how-remove-windows-10-upgrade-updates-windows-7-8-a.html?s=7fc6dc609f9d13a02fc7f94eadd3e788#post3047957

All updates not install ( In numerical order)

KB2506928
KB2545698 (IE9)
KB2592687
KB2660075
KB2726535
KB2876229 SKYPE, If you want Skype then install it.
KB2923545 RDP
KB2952664 x2
KB2970228
KB2990214
KB2994023
KB3021917
KB3022345 Caused false sfc result / Replaced by KB3068708 Telemetry
KB3035583
KB3050265
KB3065987
KB3068708 Telemetry
KB3075249 Telemetry
KB3077715
KB3078667
KB3080149 Telemetry

http://www.sevenforums.com/general-discussion/367377-how-remove-windows-10-upgrade-updates-windows-7-8-a-39.html?s=7fc6dc609f9d13a02fc7f94eadd3e788#post3144970

[Reefa]

Me personally i didn't install that stupid update anyway..Always a good idea to get some feedback before installing ANYTHING..Unless of course you are savvy enough with VM'S and what not.... :unsure:

[steven36]

Me personally i didn't install that stupid update anyway..Always a good idea to get some feedback before installing ANYTHING..Unless of course you are savvy enough with VM'S and what not.... :unsure:

Most people who find these kind of things out are noobs that didn't want upgrade to Windows 10 but were too dumb to read the news then after it happen they complain . Most normal users ether they know they want to stay on windows 7 or 8.1 or ether they are going to upgrade or have upgraded to windows 10 that's all.

I been fooling with windows so long I dont really have the patience I use too to help the computer illiterate anymore I feel they can read like me and learn because I learn what I know on my own. ;)

[Reefa]

Most people who find these kind of things out are noobs that didn't want upgrade to Windows 10 but were too dumb to read the news then after it happen they complain . Most normal users ether they know they want to stay on windows 7 or 8.1 or ether the are going to upgrade or have upgraded to windows 10 that's all.

I been fooling with windows so long I dont really have the patience I use too to help the computer illiterate anymore I feel they can read like me and learn because I learn what I know on my own. ;)

Fair play i no i follow some of your posts.. I am sticking with 8.1.. :)

[steven36]

Most people who find these kind of things out are noobs that didn't want upgrade to Windows 10 but were too dumb to read the news then after it happen they complain . Most normal users ether they know they want to stay on windows 7 or 8.1 or ether the are going to upgrade or have upgraded to windows 10 that's all.

I been fooling with windows so long I dont really have the patience I use too to help the computer illiterate anymore I feel they can read like me and learn because I learn what I know on my own. ;)

Fair play i no i follow some of your posts.. I am sticking with 8.1.. :)

Well If I reformat i may just go back to windows 8.1 . If windows 10 gives me any real problems i spent a few months now on windows 10 and i have it were i control it and it dont control me . :lol: I have another pc with Windows 7 and the other pcs my family use are windows 7 no one but me took the plunge. :P

[Reefa]

Well If I reformat i may just go back to windows 8.1 . If windows 10 gives me any real problems i spent a few months now on windows 10 and i have it were i control it and it dont control me . :lol:

M8 is it in your honest opinion worth upgrading?

[steven36]

Well If I reformat i may just go back to windows 8.1 . If windows 10 gives me any real problems i spent a few months now on windows 10 and i have it were i control it and it dont control me . :lol:

M8 is it in your honest opinion worth upgrading?

Not really, only thing i like about it was i can uninstall the store and all windows apps . Im not into apps that collect data.. there not only a privacy risk there also a security risk . With all the hackers doxing its more risky than people really realize . ;)

I already rolled back one of my pcs to windows 7 .

[rudrax]

They couldn't do any better :tehe:

[steven36]

Its more of a headache than it is fun . If you consider tweaking and butchering Windows 10 fun it may be you're thing . Windows 10 is most I messed with my own PC since i installed Windows 7 in 2011 . i went 2 years on windows 7 didn't even have to reformat . The more you test and the more you mess with a computer the more problems you will have . Normal users as long they keep a good antivirus and good anti malware and do windows updates they can go years and never have to use a image or reformat. I like to watch movies and TV shows more than i do fooling with computers .

Back when i had slow internet that was my thing was software because anything else would took forever . Alot software geeks have slow net or have fast net but are capped . :lol:

[FunBoy87]

noob? I don't like Win 8.1 or Win 10 because of metro or anything I rather to stay Win 7 because of start menu... make sure not to call anyone noob because of Win 10? not because of privacy but it's also looks I just like Win 7 look just for me that fit me. I have 12GB RAM in this laptop and 1TB because I changed internal drive with SSD/1TB HDD beside I did upgraded to Win 10 like July on this laptop somehow it keep giving me black screen many times because of 'Boot Device not found 3f0' so i had to downgrade back to Win 7 last month so obviously this laptop just made for Win 7 only so that's good thing for me to stick with. I rather not to lose any data on this laptop but yes I do have external drives but i prefer not to back up these to external because I only use entertainment files such as mp4, mkv, mp3, etc... something like that. If I wanna get Win 10 then I will just buy another laptop with Win 10 ready instead of upgrading 7 or 8.1 to 10 because some laptops just don't work because of 'Boot Device not found 3f0' messages or anything like that. it would be annoying to nag every time you start pc and it doing that like 2 or 3 hours later or sometime 1 hour after launch pc... so I have no idea how to fix it.

[steven36]

noob? I don't like Win 8.1 or Win 10 because of metro or anything I rather to stay Win 7 because of start menu... make sure not to call anyone noob because of Win 10? not because of privacy but it's also looks I just like Win 7 look just for me that fit me. I have 12GB RAM in this laptop and 1TB because I changed internal drive with SSD/1TB HDD beside I did upgraded to Win 10 like July on this laptop somehow it keep giving me black screen many times because of 'Boot Device not found 3f0' so i had to downgrade back to Win 7 last month so obviously this laptop just made for Win 7 only so that's good thing for me to stick with. I rather not to lose any data on this laptop but yes I do have external drives but i prefer not to back up these to external because I only use entertainment files such as mp4, mkv, mp3, etc... something like that. If I wanna get Win 10 then I will just buy another laptop with Win 10 ready instead of upgrading 7 or 8.1 to 10 because some laptops just don't work because of 'Boot Device not found 3f0' messages or anything like that. it would be annoying to nag every time you start pc and it doing that like 2 or 3 hours later or sometime 1 hour after launch pc... so I have no idea how to fix it.

I wasn't calling you a noob because you use windows 7 im talking about the person who didn't realize Microsoft was downloading update too there PC . It was made clear not to install that update if you dint want windows 10 a while back in the news . when I was on 8.1 I installed the update and just blocked it with a firewall they didn't offer it to me tell i decided to reformat to upgrade to windows 10 .

Most normal users dont have a clue though about whats going on that how to stop it has been known since Apr 2015 ;) .

Look at the date How to remove Windows 10 upgrade updates in Windows 7 and 8 in post above

http://www.sevenforums.com/general-discussion/367377-how-remove-windows-10-upgrade-updates-windows-7-8-a.html

There's a whole topic dedicated to how to have prevented this person's problem that's been active since April. :P

And some reason when people have problems with Windows 10 its most the time a older Machine that came with Vista upgraded to Windows 7 or came with Windows 7 on it the Newer 8 /8.1 versions upgrades go better I geuss because Windows 8.1 is more like Windows 10? :unsure:

[straycat19]

I been fooling with windows so long I dont really have the patience I use too to help the computer illiterate anymore I feel they can read like me and learn because I learn what I know on my own.

I'm glad to see someone else has as little patience as I do for stupid users. And it has only become worse since we changed DARPANET to the INTERNET and allowed everyone on what was once our private domain.

[Holmes]

When you pre-order a game they offer you the option to pre-load microsoft should have done that this is stupid. Its not the worst thing in the world they could have let users know.

[DKT27]

When you pre-order a game they offer you the option to pre-load microsoft should have done that this is stupid. Its not the worst thing in the world they could have let users know.

Agreed. They could have aleast let the user know or ask them before doing it. Reason I say this is that we already see instances where a software tells the user that this certain thing might use up your bandwidth so are you willing to allow it.

One more thing, this folder and pre-loading seems to have existed from long time, this is not new. What difference may be though, is that it probably downloaded only important files rather than the full OS instead.

[virge]

I helped several people who bought new machines nuke Windows 10 and go back to 8,1. Thank you Microsoft.

[LeeSmithG]

I have Windows seven (7) Pro (retail) installed and not once recently have I received a prompt from my notification area or windows update to upgrade for free to windows ten (10).

I am pleased as windows seven (7) is kickin it olde skool :thumbsup: