I left my computer on downloading a file and when I came back it had started, irreversibly, updating to Windows 10. When it had finished it (naturally) had stopped working - the main problem being that I can't open the box that displays all the wireless connections on offer.

Non functionality aside isn't this unlawful? I didn't ask for this.

I do not know, but I'd bet everything in my pockets that the upgrade was buried in some ToS or another that you agreed to without reading (which, honestly, who has the time? Even I only read the ALL CAPS text as I skim, and that's being overly-cautious, according to some of my friends). It could've been within Windows ToS, their upgrade services, or even within whatever the file you were downloading had with it. Could've been days ago, or months ago, or even way back when Windows 10 was first announced. Because I would imagine it wouldn't be legal to install software without permission, but... yeah.

As far as broken functionality, I'd need a bit more information before I could help with that (though you didn't ask for help with the internet options directly so...), like which version of Windows 10 you were ninja'd with.

You have 30 days to remove windows 10, is the last I heard from my repair and removal technician.  If the 30 days bit is still good do it, do it now.  After 30 days, Windows 10 is much harder to remove I was told.  They have gotten so much business from people who had automatic updates and got Windows 10 without even knowing they were.

There are supposedly two points where you have to confirm you want Windows 10 installed under the new update scheme.  One random dialog box that informs you Windows 10 will be installing at some point soon, and then an agreement with the TOS after Windows 10 has finished installing but before it first boots up to the desktop.

Some have reported clicking through these because they don't really read things.  Others have said the process is bugged and they did not get either, Windows 10 simply installed like any other update and they returned to a computer with Windows 10 up and running on the new desktop.

As Sittingbull said, you can roll back if it has been less than 30 days as Windows 10 does have that safeguard built in, in case of unforeseen compatibility issues.

http://windows.microsoft.com/e...dows-7-or-windows-81  Gives the details on how to roll back.

As for lawfulness, Windows 10 is considered an update to the Operating System by Micrsoft, and you only get the auto-upgrade if you have your previous version of Windows set to automatically download and install Recommended Updates.  So... who knows?

I know of at last one person who says they had their Windows -not- set to automatically download and install recommended updates. On the other hand, ours was set off once word of the ninja updates to Windows 10 started getting out; and we've never had an issue. Keeps telling us it's a recommended update; but we just choose not to download it.

Recommend updates will also get you.  I have always had my PCs set to 'let me know when new updates are available and I determine when to download and install them'.  I use Windows 7,  and its supported through like 2026, so I am set until I want a different system or learn enough to go to Linux.
This message was last edited by the user at 01:46, Fri 20 May 2016.

I'm not entirely sure how I did it, but in the first couple of weeks after Windows 10 started I managed to block the nag message and apparently the update attempts completely by modifying the directory that GMX was using.

Yikes, I would be careful and hope that doesn't come back to bite you.  Otherwise, good job.

I found I couldn't run virus scans with a couple of different packages when Windows was trying to get me to update. I ended up having to because the virus scan couldn't handle the update files.

It is lawful because of the TOS you already sign. It just sucks that they're forcing an awful upgrade down people's throats :(

Bingo.

This happened to a couple of the computers at work. Came in, everything different, and my poor staff all in a tizzy because they couldn't find anything. And the main program we use isn't compatible with anything past Explorer 8. So it was a mess.

Had to roll everything back.

A couple of nights ago, I got a bit window telling me that Windows 10 had been auto-scheduled to update and that my option was to let it do it then or do it right that second.  A bit of clicking around eventually (about three screens deep) let me cancel it, but geeze...

If I was on the fence at all about updating to Windows 10 before, the scuzzy tactics they're using have really answered that question for me.

less computer-savvy co-worker gave into the auto-nagger and installed Win10.

Next day finds me scratching my head as nothing works. And there are people waiting outside the door, gnawing and scratching and being obnoxious because of the delay. Rollback windows... Restore VPN... Well, at least the rollback worked perfectly

1) There is a KB you can disable to stop the autonagger.
2) I disabled autoupdate on my Windows at home. Finally got it to work like I want, thankyou.
3) Micro$0ft's tactics with this are really hateable.

If you think the auto-update is skeezy, try reading the privacy contract. In effect, nothing on your computer is private as Micro$oft reserves the right to not only go thru your emails, but all the files on your hard drive if they decide (using their undisclosed set of rules) that you pose a risk to their system. They can do this at any time, without warning, and they don't have to tell you when they did it, what they're looking for, what they looked at, or what they did with what they found. They can also use your computer to push system updates onto other computers in your network... oh, and to unfamiliar computers on the Internet, using your processing speed and bandwidth so the company doesn't have to support massive user updates on their proprietary servers.

Yes, some of these things can be shut off, if you're savvy enough to know they're there and how to go thru multiple screens and a call to Micro$oft customer disservice to do so (maybe, as I was never able to confirm it when I was taking care of the work computers because M$ people kept hanging up on me) but it's a serious security violation for anyone who works with medical information... Or to anyone who wants a little peace of mind regarding the privacy of their personal files. If a company builds a back old into a program, it's only a matter of time before hackers find it and exploit it.

My partner had Win 10 install itself while he was AFK - evidently the stupid pop-up thingy came up with some kind of timer on it whichwent off while he was downstairs having dinner or whatever he was doing. I decided that was the final straw for me as the sneakiness by which this thing seems to want to put itself onto people's computers has utterly put me off any kind of interest I might have had (alreday not much) in getting it. So I downloaded a thing which deactivates the pop-up altogether and now I don't even have the little icon at the right-hand end of the taskbar :D.

I just hid that little thingie - seems to have kept it from popping an update on me for the moment.

By the way, what program do you have that prevented that ? (may have to use Rmail to tell me)

The worst bit is that Windows 10 isn't a bad piece of software.  With the tactics being used to push it however, people who might have benefited from upgrading are probably less likely to voluntarily do so.

Also, those interested in avoiding the whole mess for the moment might try Never 10, which seems to work well for the purpose.

My problem is I have an older machine. It's specs don't match the minimum requirements for Windows 10. At best it would be very slow, at worst a paper weight. I would like to avoid having another tower sized paper weight.

This is what I hate about the Win10 update. It's hidden in the optional updates, and is always checked by default, instead of unchecked like all of the other optional updates. So, if you're one of those people who don't obsessively look at your optional updates (because duh, they're always unchecked, save for that one) when you give the computer permission to run important updates... you'll wind up getting an optional update (Win10) that you didn't expressly ask for.

*sigh*  I'm shortly going to install W10 voluntarily.  Figure I'll have to go for it eventually, and I'd better get it while it's free because I sure can't afford to pay.  I'm just afraid of what else isn't going to work after the update.

Make sure you have a good backup of everything before you start.

ShadoPrism - The thingy I used was called Never10, which has now been mentioned in this thread right after you asked me the name of the thingy I used ;). You just download it, run it, click a single button, and bing, it's done (maybe a minute or two in total of your time from the point you first Google it) :D. The taskbar icon doesn't disappear till the next time you start up your computer, so don't panic if it's still there once you've disabled the update :).

Edit line: Was just writing about Never10, and poof there it is again. YEA

Learned about it on How To Geek.
Another site told me how to change ownership of the GWX file so you can manually delete it to. (that's the program that annoys you to get Windows 10).

You could also do what I did, no need to edit ownsership.
Rename the directory (not file) \Windows\System32\GMX to \Windows\System32\GMX.meh

The trick may still work, as I haven't seen a nag since I did that in 2015.

In reply to Manticore (msg # 25):

hehehe

I personally just took the update and have encountered no issues, though I can definitely understand how absolutely scummy this tricksy thing is. As the average user with few secrets held on this laptop and (relative) faith that my bank account information isn't going to be sold by Microsoft, I think the update brought a grand total of:

(drum roll)
A slightly fancier-looking UI
A Siri clone I have used once in the last 5 months.

So overall, MEH. It's a dillpickle move, but it doesn't affect me really, so I don't care.

I just removed the GWX file earlier today (then shut down, went to dinner came back and turned my computer on).
As it's booting up I get a message for 82 Urgent updates and 2 optional ones.
I went in and Reset my computer to Never Update (where I had it originally) and suddenly the number of Urgent updates dropped to 67 and the optional ones raised to 22.
I went through their list of updates carefully - at least 3 of them were connected to the windows 10 update system, including trying to put that stupid add back on my puter.
Thing is my computer CAN'T run Windows 10 - even their own scan software says so. So this add thing is just freaking annoying.
Almost as annoying as them periodically turning on the 'updates' thing. With a line in the bottom stating they may update your computer with out asking you first. ARG!

I understand that 'we'll update without asking you' thing is a W10 'feature', is there any way to turn that off?  I've never wanted my computer updating without my knowing, even if it's a given that I'll accept that update.  When weird things happen, I want to know that it's possible a recent update is at fault!

And I do need to do a complete update, but my external hard drive seems to have died.  Any recommendations for a replacement?  I'd like something I can continue to use for automatic, regular updates - you know, the ones you are supposed to do!
This message was last edited by the user at 21:12, Wed 01 June 2016.

I would recommend Linux, if you have the know how to use it, but that would get you on a certain 'list' also.

In reply to Brianna (msg # 29):

Yes, there is a way:
http://www.howtogeek.com/22447...downloading-updates/

How To Geek offers numerous methods of doing things/tweaking-whatevers.

I would review that article carefully and decide which version was best for you.

In reply to Sittingbull (msg # 30):

now I am curious. What 'list' are you speaking of ?

In reply to Sittingbull (msg # 30):

I don't think I have the expertise to use Linux.

From what I read you don't have to be a programmer to use it any more. Several companies out there distribute it in pre-set format's just like windows. You just need to pick out the sort of Linux set up that's right for you. Some are free some cost. All kinds of options.

Yeah, seen Win 10 sneak onto the optional updates list for Win 7 prechecked and had to deselect it.

I've updated two of our three computers to Win 10 thus far and not hit any issues (though I waited six months to make sure any teething problems had been patched) - it actually made the older desktop run a bit better, which was a pleasant surprise.

Planning on updating the last of 'em in the next couple of weeks.

No compelling reason to go to Win 10 and I absolutely hate that updates are automatically applied, but I figure that if I have to get a new computer I'll be getting Win 10 anyway, so might as well get used to it now cos it ain't going away.

I changed to W10 over the weekend and everything seems to be good.  Even my Office 2003 still works!

An update my own Windows 10 situation: the wireless problem was sorted out. My computer boots up faster and runs a little more smoothly. Some of my older PC games now won't work for resolution reasons (ones that are too new for dos box but old enough that they are relics)

In reply to Tasidar (msg # 37):

Have you tried to see if there is a right click option (Properties). I know on Windows 7 I can right click a short cut and click 'Compatibility' . There is a box called Compatibility Mode, click it then choose an older windows simulator to run the program on. I have done this on Win7 to use older 'out of date' games and programs. Same section on Win7 has the 'run this program as Administrator' to. Which sometimes helps run some programs.

Nah no joy, ShadoPrism. I've tried different combinations of the compatibility modes. Its no big deal to me right now as I'm invested in the Witcher games currently.

Games I'm talking about are Planescape: Torment & Lionheart: Legacy of the Crusader - real oldies. Thank you for your reply though.

Going in ... just clicked on the upgrade button.

I'm a million years behind in computer games, I must confess ... but I'm hopeful that Might and Magic X and Elder Scrolls: Skyrim will run (please don't laugh).

I still play Skyrim, so no laughing here.

Skyrim?  Man, if I ever finish Morrowind, I'll definitely have to give Oblivion and Skyrim a shot.

finish ? I never did 'finish' any of them. But I lost my copy of morrowind and oblivion a while back. and my skyrim is Heavily modded.

... and Windows 10 is now installed.

Left the 3GB download to happen overnight, install itself took about an hour this morning (custom settings, turning OFF everything in sight) ... and only a few teething problems thus far:

• printer disappeared from the network, but figured that was because it was turned off and thus not visible during update process, and after a quick Google, I uninstalled and reinstalled driver, then went into printer settings and turned Share back on
• reset default apps/file extenstions to point back to my tried and trusted programs, instead of all the new versions that Windows 10 comes with
• Windows Defender refused to stay shut off which didn't bode well for conflicts with my 3rd Party Internet Security software, but another quick Google revealed a registry tweak to resolve that

As far as I'm concerned that's a nice smooth update.   :>

Yes, but the Important quest, does Skyrim still work on it ?

Ah, can't help you with that. Haven't actually installed Skyrim (or M&M X) yet.  They're my safety net for if I ever find myself with free time ...  :>

Did hit one funny problem, which seems to be widespread, though the registry tweak didn't work for me - the DVD drive doesn't recognise blank DVDs any more.  Wanted to burn off some photos, but can't get the machine to recognise it's got a disk, nor give me the option to format it.  Not the end of the world.

Drive not formatted for Windows 10, may have to update it's drivers before it works.

Yup, uninstalled and rebooted to force reinstall, also checked for more recent drivers, but couldn't find any (it seems to use the generic windows driver anyway).

There's Microsoft for you, update the whole OS forget to update all the drivers for everything that needs to work with the new OS.

Because of past bad experiences, I just don't like updating the OS on a machine that still works just fine using the older OS (as long as the older OS is still supported, of course).  You're taking something that works fine and possibly turning it into a brick.  The fact that Microsoft is being, frankly, underhanded with how they're pushing it on people just makes me even more resolved not to do it.

I'll go to Windows 10 when I buy a new machine in the next couple of years.  I don't see any real reason to do it before then.

My company buys desktops from Dell.  Dell has informed us that as of October this year Microsoft will no longer allow them to sell computers with Windows 7.  We are doing a crunch now to make sure our in house software will run with 10. Some of our customers have called us to ask why we updated their computers to Windows10.  A few of them refuse to believe that it would do it on its own.

Windows 7 will still be supported though, after it is no longer sold.

Skyrim bought through Steam DOES work. I actually have a version of Heroes of M&M 3 through Galaxy of Games that works. Age of Empires 2 and its expansion don't work-probably they will through Steam though, I just couldn't find it within myself to fork over the cash for it now.

I dodged that bullet. Props to the judge who ruled in the business favor in the lawsuit against microsoft on that ninja update.

Windows 8, Skyrim works fine, however I find the game tedious and boring.