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.