Karlston Posted February 24, 2016 Share Posted February 24, 2016 The 10th version of the Microsoft's much-maligned malware rolled out Tuesday afternoon with no warning or mention Around noon Pacific time on Tuesday, I started receiving notices from Windows 7 and 8.1 users that the old, dreaded Get Windows 10 patch KB 3035583 had returned. As of early Wednesday morning, neither the official Windows Update list nor the KB article itself mention a new release. It appears Microsoft simply shipped it out again and didn't bother to tell anybody. No doubt you recall KB 3035583 -- a patch better described as adware, or a "potentially unwanted program." It first appeared last March, titled "Update enables additional capabilities for Windows Update notifications in Windows 8.1 and Windows 7 SP1." We didn't figure out until a week later that it was in fact dropping the Get Windows 10 (GWX) installation subsystem. GWX has drawn nearly universal condemnation. It has a complex installer that puts hooks into various and sundry parts of Windows 7 and 8.1, all of which are designed to convince you to upgrade to Windows 10. GWX has been associated with all manner of ills, including the following: Nagging and misleading upgrade messages (including one message that only listed "Upgrade now" or "Upgrade tonight" as options) Forced download of 3GB to 5GB of unwanted installation files Automatic launching of the upgrade program -- a "mistake," per Microsoft Scheduled tasks and trigger programs that won't go away even if you uninstall the patch. Even the KB article that was supposed to explain how to bypass GWX's excesses was wrong, until research forced Microsoft to fix it. Of course, GWX doesn't give you an opportunity to simply say, "Go away and stop bothering me." Thanks to more than 100 respondents on AskWoody.com, Twitter, and AskWoody on Facebook, I've been able to piece together the information that Microsoft somehow neglected to give us. It looks like most Windows 7 and 8.1 Home and Pro PCs received the patch in Windows Update on Tuesday afternoon. (Enterprise didn't get it, as before.) Some systems have it listed among the Optional patches in Windows Update and others as Important -- with no clear reason for the distinction. The description of the patch (in the right pane if you click on the Windows Update entry) says it's a "Recommended Update." For those who have the Windows Update settings box marked "Give me recommended updates the same way I receive important updates" unchecked, the entry in Windows Update appears italicized. (I always wondered what turned the WU entries italicized.) I've seen only rare reports that the patch in Windows Update is "checked" -- that is, KB 3035583 will install for those who have "Install updates automatically (recommended)" or "Download updates but let me choose whether to install them" chosen as the Important updates installation option. Josh Mayfield, the developer behind GWX Control Panel, wrote to me and said: I installed it and didn't see any problematic differences. Still honors DisableGwx and didn't install any new background tasks. I did notice that the GWX "version" value changed from 5 to 6, but I'm not seeing any new symptoms/behaviors. As I explained in January, running KB 3035583 creates a new GWX folder with five programs in it, and it starts seven processes in Task Scheduler. The DisableGWX entry only prevents the Get Windows 10 icon from appearing in the system folder; it doesn't disable GWX in any other way. Uninstalling KB 3035583 doesn't uninstall the GWX subsystem, nor does it delete any files that Microsoft may have preloaded on your PC. Then, as now, the only reasonable way to wipe out the Get Windows 10 subsystem is by running Mayfield's GWX Control Panel. More stealthy programs dropped on paying customers' PCs -- how could anyone trust Microsoft after this GWX debacle? Source (InfoWorld - Woody Leonhard): Get Windows 10 patch KB 3035583 suddenly reappears on Win7/8.1 PCs Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
straycat19 Posted February 25, 2016 Share Posted February 25, 2016 The easiest solution is to disable updates. All the bullshit stops forever. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Holmes Posted February 25, 2016 Share Posted February 25, 2016 You can find thee update before it installs and uncheckk it if its checked and hide it again to. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Karlston Posted February 25, 2016 Author Share Posted February 25, 2016 Sorry, but the average user wouldn't know the difference between a Windows Update and a ham sandwich , let alone how to hide updates or disable the Windows Update service. And that ignorance is exactly what Microsoft relies on to encourage trick users to "upgrade". IMO, the best advice is, as Woody posted, "Then, as now, the only reasonable way to wipe out the Get Windows 10 subsystem is by running Mayfield's GWX Control Panel." We should all be trying to help our less technical friends with Windows 7 and 8.1 to install the GWX Control Panel. Of course, (unlike Microsoft) after explaining what it does, and (unlike Microsoft) getting their permission. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steven36 Posted February 25, 2016 Share Posted February 25, 2016 15 hours ago, Karlston said: Sorry, but the average user wouldn't know the difference between a Windows Update and a ham sandwich , let alone how to hide updates or disable the Windows Update service. And that ignorance is exactly what Microsoft relies on to encourage trick users to "upgrade". IMO, the best advice is, as Woody posted, "Then, as now, the only reasonable way to wipe out the Get Windows 10 subsystem is by running Mayfield's GWX Control Panel." We should all be trying to help our less technical friends with Windows 7 and 8.1 to install the GWX Control Panel. Of course, (unlike Microsoft) after explaining what it does, and (unlike Microsoft) getting their permission. the fact is if they dont know how to control windows updates they want have sense enough to install GWX Control Panel ether . In every dealing i had with others every little thing i had to install and do for them . I have enough to worry about in the real world dealing with the computer Illiterate i know . I could care less about what the masses do ..I didn't have to go to school to learn about pcs there no better than me . There's no excuse for lack of education when its free online really and they can pay me to fix it when it messes up Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vibranium Posted February 25, 2016 Share Posted February 25, 2016 WTF? Microsoft, at it again? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Karlston Posted February 25, 2016 Author Share Posted February 25, 2016 12 minutes ago, steven36 said: the fact is if they dont know how to control windows updates they want have sense enough to install GWX Control Panel ether . In every dealing i had with others every little thing i had to install and do for them . I have enough to worry about in the real world dealing with the computer Illiterate i know . I could care less about what the masses do ..I didn't have to go to school to learn about pcs there no better than me . There's no excuse for lack of education when its free online really and they can pay me to fix it when it messes up Agreed. That's why I said we should help them. Most of us cluey folk have friends that think of us as their 24/7 tech support. It's easier to help them (or do it for them) install GWX Control Panel before they succumb to Microsoft's unethical trickery, than after they've "upgraded" and then have to help them revert which may or may not work properly. Just now, vibranium said: WTF? Microsoft, at it again? Nah... it was probably another "accident", like the one that keeps resetting application defaults. Cue yet another "apology" from Microsoft. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steven36 Posted February 25, 2016 Share Posted February 25, 2016 2 hours ago, Karlston said: Agreed. That's why I said we should help them. Most of us cluey folk have friends that think of us as their 24/7 tech support. It's easier to help them (or do it for them) install GWX Control Panel before they succumb to Microsoft's unethical trickery, than after they've "upgraded" and then have to help them revert which may or may not work properly. Im not saying hes not right because he is right . And you're right too we need to help out those we know. The fact is from the testing Windows 10 myself on a lot of hardware you going have work the kinks out as they appear because its still not very stable . My old Vista Machine i upgraded to windows 7 didn't like windows 10 at all so i put it back to windows 7 . I dont buy it when people say they upgraded 10 or 15 old pcs with no issues . But most people i know that would have problems not knowing how control updates will never bother reading the IT news or look for software .. I have to install it for them if they install they mess stuff up. Many people are taking there pc to the shop right now and free software can fix it. ITs are making a killing going around to businesses preventing pcs from updateing windows 10. Most make a 200$ fee for every visit and its more if have to do much There not going install this software there going turn updates off and make there money by applying updates once a month Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LeeSmithG Posted February 26, 2016 Share Posted February 26, 2016 On 25/02/2016 at 5:25 AM, Karlston said: Sorry, but the average user wouldn't know the difference between a Windows Update and a ham sandwich , let alone how to hide updates or disable the Windows Update service. And that ignorance is exactly what Microsoft relies on to encourage trick users to "upgrade". IMO, the best advice is, as Woody posted, "Then, as now, the only reasonable way to wipe out the Get Windows 10 subsystem is by running Mayfield's GWX Control Panel." We should all be trying to help our less technical friends with Windows 7 and 8.1 to install the GWX Control Panel. Of course, (unlike Microsoft) after explaining what it does, and (unlike Microsoft) getting their permission. Even if you hide updates, a bit like the freaking Skype prompt I get every time I run windows update. I hide it, then next time I go to update, it is back begging to be installed. The Windows 'get 10' icon in my notification area, is not there currently, but as soon as I install Windows updates, then a reboot, it will be back. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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