Like It Or Not, Microsoft Silently Downloads Windows 10, Grabbing Valuable Disk Space

Hot Hardware ^ | 09/11/2015 | Brandon Hill

[SeekAndFind]

Just when we thought that all the hoopla surrounding privacy in Windows 10 and questionable disclosure practices was starting to die down, Microsoft has to go and stir the pot once again with another seemingly overzealous move. It’s not enough that Windows 10 is installed on over 75 million PCs and counting; Microsoft is aiming for one billion installs within the next two to three years.

And to get to that one billion figure, Microsoft wants to entice customers to upgrade their Windows 7 and Windows 8 machines to Windows 10. Making the upgrade free during the first year of availability is a big factor in getting people to make the upgrade, but Microsoft is also wanting the upgrade process to proceed smoothly, minimizing any installation glitches and cutting down on download/install times for the operating system.

No need for this prompt, Microsoft will download Windows 10 without user intervention

It’s that last point that has Microsoft facing enormous heat this morning — even from diehard Microsoft supporters. As it stands now, customers are given the choice to install Windows 10 if they wish. Microsoft has a little pop-up that appears for Windows 7 and Windows 8 users that allows them to reserve their copy of Windows 10 and install at their leisure. If you choose to proceed with installing Windows 10, you enter in your email address and wait patiently for the download to proceed. It was assumed that if you didn’t want to install Windows 10, you could just ignore the prompt and go about your business without any further intrusion from Microsoft.

That isn’t the case, however, says The Inquirer. One of the publication’s observant readers discovered a massive $Windows.~BT folder on his machine despite the fact that he never gave Microsoft the “go ahead” to initiate the Windows 10 download/installation process.

The symptoms are repeated failed 'Upgrade to Windows 10' in the WU update history and a huge 3.5GB to 6GB hidden folder labelled '$Windows.~BT'. I thought Microsoft [said] this 'upgrade' was optional. If so, why is it being pushed out to so many computers where it wasn't reserved, and why does it try to install over and over again? 

I know of two instances where people on metered connections went over their data cap for August because of this unwanted download. My own internet (slow DSL) was crawling for a week or so until I discovered this problem. In fact, that's what led me to it. Not only does it download, it tries to install every time the computer is booted.

Not cool, Microsoft, not cool at all. If this is true, sneakily downloading a multi-gigabyte operating system in the background without the customer’s express consent is rather bold, especially in an age when some customers may be on metered connections or simply don’t have the disk space to spare to accommodate a 6GB install. Microsoft has already come under fire for forced automatic updates in Windows 10, which have hit those with metered connections hard.

With that being said, what’s Microsoft position on all of this? How could the company possibly explain why it is forcing Windows 10 installation files on to customers’ computers without permission? Surely the company has a reasonable explanation for its actions? In a statement to The Register, a Microsoft spokesperson wrote:

For individuals who have chosen to receive automatic updates through Windows Update, we help upgradable devices get ready for Windows 10 by downloading the files they’ll need if they decide to upgrade.

When the upgrade is ready, the customer will be prompted to install Windows 10 on the device.

In Microsoft’s eyes, if you have agreed to automatic updates in Windows, it’s fair game to send Windows 10 down the pipe. Making Windows 10 freely available to a large portion of the Windows install base should be reason enough to get many customers to upgrade. The awesome new features in Windows 10 like Continuum, the return of the Start Menu, and even Xbox One game streaming are great reasons to upgrade to Windows 10. But let the customers choose when he or she is ready to commit to downloading a massive ISO — don’t make the choice for them on the chance that they might want to upgrade in the future.

[SaraJohnson]

Good question. The author of this article totally missed the mark. Corporations don’t just give away product. They don’t want to say what they are up to with giving windows 10 “free” to consumers.

My guess is that windows 10 is a consumer and/or government spying software. The government might be Microsoft’s sugar daddy for this sudden burst of generosity.

It could be the software needed to read an identity card, an RFID chip or a tatoo which will replace passwords to use the computer to access targeted areas of net life like pay pal or banking. Obama care requires all Americans be “chipped” by 2016. It’s for our own good and efficiency in health care, of course!

[Steely Tom]

Found it on my C drive. 4.05gb! Is it safe to delete it?

Yes, but Windows will re-create it.

[Enlightened1]

Yep it happened to my mother. She bought a new Dell Lap Top and this is what happened.

It’s jacked up her Windows 7 Pro. Unbelievable!

[Black Agnes]

The Windows 10 commercials certainly allude to that.

The one with the little kid is the creepiest.

[Purdue77]

Just noticed that MS has been trying to update Win10 on my computer since late July. Each attempt has failed. Anyone know why it would have failed?

[sauropod]

Bass Turds.

[ConservingFreedom]

Yes, but Windows will re-create it.

Turning off automatic updates might prevent this.

Or might not.

[WKUHilltopper]

FUMS

[g.orwell]

Perhaps that is why, for the last 2 weeks, I’ve seen ‘windows update at XX%’ with the percent # moving up one or two each day. I finally, with the help of a Freeper, got into Windows and stopped the automatic updating.

Turn off Windows updates, check for updates from time to time and load only the ones you want

[huldah1776]

ooo. thanks for reminding me, thought of that yesterday.

[Chuckster]

I turned off updates and deleted the file. I will be needing a new computer soon. Guess I should start looking into Linux.

[arthurus]

Okay, how do you stop the automatic updating? How do you find that folder if you do have it?

[g.orwell]

How does one take back off a Windows version upgrade? I’m toying with the idea of loading Windows 10 myself.

System Restore should work (choose a date prior to the upgrade) but I usually just reload the whole this from scratch

[CedarDave]

Does this “update” have a KB number or formal name other than “$Windows.~BT” ? I turned on my hidden files and Windows protected files to see if it was present. I don’t find it but want to know how to identify it (I have auto updates turned off) so I don’t chose to install it by mistake.

[Steely Tom]

Okay, how do you stop the automatic updating?

Go into the Windows "Control Panel," select "Windows Update."

On the left side of the window, select "Change Settings."

Under "Important Updates," click on the combo-box and select "Check for updates but let me choose whether to download and install them."

[GreyFriar]

Go to control panel, open the Windows tab, “then turn off Windows updates, check for updates from time to time and load only the ones you want?

With a hat tip to G.Orwell

[g.orwell]

Okay, how do you stop the automatic updating? How do you find that folder if you do have it?
CLICK START BUTTON
RIGHT CLICK “COMPUTER”
RIGHT CLICK “PROPERTIES”
CLICK “WINDOWS UPDATES”
CLICK “CHANGE SETTINGS”
IN THE IMPORTANT UPDATE SECTION SCROLL AND SELECT “NEVER CHECK FOR UPDATES”
Every now and then manually check for updates and select only the ones you want

[arthurus]

Thanks allayall.

[EBH]

You get 30 days to try it. You can go in and auto remove it and then reinstall 7 or 8, but in some cases you need to reload programs too

[g.orwell]

sorry, I meant to send that to steelytom