Windows 7 Users Have an Easy Way to Block the Upgrade to Windows 10

[Batu69]

Microsoft offers alternative method to prevent the upgrade

It’s not a secret that Microsoft has been quite aggressive in its attempt to upgrade computers to Windows 10 and users turned to all kinds of tricks to block this and just stick with their current Windows version.

While third-party software solutions such as GWX Control Panel are quite popular these days, it is important to know that Microsoft is offering an alternative way that’s actually quite easy to implement in Windows 7. And very effective, that is.

It’s all possible with an update released by Microsoft in mid-2015 for Windows 7 computers (download the 32-bit/64-bit version here) which introduces support for a new policy that completely blocks the upgrade to new Windows versions, as AskVG reports. So all you have to do is to install this update and then enable the new policy to make sure that your computer never gets upgrades to Windows 10.

How to enable the new policy

Once you install this update (it’s also shipped via Windows Update, so if you’re running a fully up-to-date computer, it should already be there), you can enable the new policy via the Group Policy Editor or via the Registry Editor.

To use GPE, click the Start menu in Windows 7 and type gpedit.msc to launch it and then navigate to the following path:

Computer Configuration -> Administrative Templates -> Windows Components -> Windows Update

Open the option called “Turn off the upgrade to the latest version of Windows through Windows Update,” set it to “Enabled” and you’re done.

 

This option needs to be enabled on Windows 7

 

For the Registry Editor method, just click the Start menu, launch the app by typing regedit.exe and go to this path:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows

Select the Windows folder, right-click it and create a new entry called “WindowsUpdate.” In the right page, create a new DWORD entry called “DisableOSUpgrade” and set its value to 1.

These methods might not be new for more experienced users, but they certainly come in handy when seeing all these forced upgrades reports. We’ve also heard from readers saying that Microsoft might overwrite these changes with new updates, so it’s better to check back every once in a while to make sure you stay on Windows 7.

The free upgrade promo ends on July 29 and Microsoft will remove the Get Windows 10 app from our PC at that date, so stories on forced upgrades should no longer show up.

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[vibranium]

These settings are old news.

 

Many users reported (also some guys I know and trust have told me) that their machines updated even though these settings were applied. Maybe they were tricked, maybe they clicked on something by accident, I don't and will never know.

 

I still say that some stupid execs at Microsoft should resign for this fiasco.

[straycat19]

These settings are bullshit.  Since they aren't enabled by default the normal user would not even be aware of them or know how to enable them.  Group Policy Editor settings are primarily used by administrators in businesses who are using the enterprise version and aren't affected by this.  Fuck you Microsoft.  VIVA Windows 7!