We’ve discussed the Windows 10 upgrade in the past, and suggested a wait and see approach. Well, now it’s been out for a year, and we’re approaching the deadline to get a free update. Unfortunately, Microsoft has been forcing rather than enticing users to upgrade. We discuss the controversy below, and then give our current recommendations.
The launch of Microsoft Windows 10 and the company’s approach to force its latest version of the operating system onto customers’ PCs has fuelled anger and controversy among many of their users. As a result of Microsoft configuring the upgrade to automatically download very large files, many people are avoiding the upgrade.
If you’re one of those who’ve decided not to upgrade, you might be getting very irritated by having to frequently having to decline the upgrade reminders.
Meanwhile, if you are a Microsoft fan and have eagerly upgraded, you might find yourself bothered by its aggressive monitoring and reporting of your use of your computer, its unsolicited advertisements on your desktop and its frequent automatic downloads and reboots.
Here, we discuss how to opt-out of some of those Windows 10 automatic downloads and ease your pain:
How do I opt-out?
If you’re a happy Windows 7 or Windows 8.1 user, there is a simple tool (you don’t even have to install it) to turn off and clean up any pending Windows 10 updates. It is called GWX Control Panel.
If you are a Windows 10 user, and you are dreading those automatic updates (although they are usually a good thing) here are some ways that you may consider opting-out. First, you can STOP the Windows update Service by following these steps:
- Open the Run command (Win + R) -> type: services.msc and ‘Press Enter.’
- From the Services list, find the Windows Update service and select (double-click on) it.
- In the popup menu, select ‘Startup Type’ (under the ‘General’ tab) and change it to ‘Disabled.’
- Restart your computer.
If you decide to re-enable these automatic patch update services at a later date, simply repeat the above-mentioned steps and select ‘Automatic’ in Step 3, instead of ‘Disabled.’
An alternative solution is to configure your network as a Metered Connection. This will reduce such updates for new drivers and software features. Please note: This will only work for those PCs that are connected to Wi-Fi. You may achieve this by doing the following:
- Open the Settings app (Win + I).
- Open the ‘Network & Internet’ section.
- Open ‘Wi-Fi’ and click ‘Advanced Options.’
- Toggle ‘Set as metered connection’ to ‘On.’
Lastly, there is a Group Policy Editor that prevents updates other than security from installing automatically. Please note: This method is only applicable to Windows 10 Education, Pro and Enterprise Editions, not to the Home Editions. If this applies to you, then follow these steps:
- Open the Run command (Win + R), type: regedit and ‘Press Enter.’
- Navigate to: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\WindowsUpdate\AU.
- Create a ‘32-bit DWORD’ value called ‘AuOptions’ and under ‘Value Data’ type 2 and click ‘OK.’
- Open the Settings app (Win + I) and navigate to -> Update and Security -> Windows Updates. Click ‘Check for updates’ which applies the new configuration setting.
- Restart.
Prevent Re-Installs: Sometimes Windows 10 will reinstall a buggy driver from Microsoft after you’ve manually installed a patched driver from the vendor. If you would like more information on how to temporarily prevent Windows or driver updates from REINSTALLING in Windows 10, go to Microsoft.com to learn more: https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/kb/3073930.
Will Microsoft Continue this activity? There is really no reason to expect that the company’s behaviour will change, particularly since reports have indicated that the company has managed to increase the number of Windows 10 installations in recent months. According to NetMarketShare, Windows 10 has increased its share from 14.35% of all computers in April to 15.32% in May. These indicators are likely resulting from Microsoft’s forceful initiatives to install the Windows 10 operating system on systems running Windows 7 and 8.1.
If you are interested in the free Windows 10 Upgrade for Windows 7 or 8.1, be sure to complete that upgrade before the free upgrade offer expires on July 29, 2016.
Here’s how to get your free upgrade today: https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/kb/3095675.
Additional information to help with upgrading to Windows 10 is available at http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-10/help-upgrade-windows-10.
Recommendations
Whether you upgrade or not is a choice you have to make. Microsoft hasn’t changed any of their privacy policies – all the concerns we previously mentioned are still an issue. Microsoft HAS moderated their update policies somewhat – you can at least choose when it should not reboot your computer, though you still cannot decline updates entirely. If, for example, an update breaks some peripheral, like a printer, you’ll pretty much have to get a new printer or hope the printer manufacturer produces a bugfix.
The good news is that you do have choices. With the information we’ve provided above, you can stay on Windows 7. In previous blog posts we’ve documented how you can change operating systems, perhaps to Scientific Linux, where you have much more control. There are also tools out there that help minimize the tracking, but they cannot disable it entirely.
Sources
Kelly, G. (2015). Windows 10 Hack: 3 Ways to Stop Forced Updates. Retrieved from:
Williams, W. (2016). Windows 10 makes big usage share gains on the back of forced upgrades. Retrieved from: http://betanews.com/2016/06/01/windows-10-makes-big-usage-share-gains/.
Wilson, M. (2015). How to completely avoid upgrading to Windows 10… forever. Retrieved from: http://betanews.com/2016/03/27/never-10/.