Posted on 03/13/2016 4:50:35 PM PDT by Utilizer
A number of Windows 7 users were taken by surprise this weekend when their operating systems started to automatically upgrade to Windows 10, causing hardware and software issues for some.
Problems reported by users included hardware drivers no longer working after the upgrade, software incompatibilites, and users getting large bills for using several gigabytes of cellular data.
Microsoft copped flak last September for quietly downloading Windows 10 components onto users' computers in preparation for a later upgrade, taking up storage space and eating into data caps.
The company has since published instructions for users who want to opt out of the upgrade. One method is to install the KB3065987 and KB3065988 updates that enable a new setting meaning Windows Update will not detect, download or attempt to install the Windows 10 upgrade.
Users comfortable with editing the Registry system settings database in Windows can also add the DWORD value DisableOSUpgrade = 1 to the HKLM\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\WindowsUpdate subkey.
(Excerpt) Read more at itnews.com.au ...
I’ve always felt that Microsoft should have kept XP as an OS for home or student users. It is the greatest OS of all time.
10,,,,,,,,,, not a chance. 3.1, 95, 98, XP Pro and tolerating 7. I’ll let tech users here get me on Linux/Whatsitcalled first. I was actually think of putting Linux on the used laptop I bought that has 7 but I thought I’d live with it for awhile. I just don’t to stumble around for a couple of months learning a completely unfamiliar interface.
Fair enough. But there’s always refurbished Macs. But then again, even older Macs still hold their value.
I’ve been in IT since the early 80s’. Never liked Macs back in the day. Then Steven came back from wondering in the wilderness with the NeXt.
Still...
My first Mac was an iPhone 3GS. I expanded from there, and I’m happy with it.
Happened to me last week. After computer started “downloading,” turned computer off. Has not tried to “automatically” download since.
“One method is to install the KB3065987 and KB3065988 updates that enable a new setting meaning Windows Update will not detect, download or attempt to install the Windows 10 upgrade. “
That’s a trick to make you turn on updates. They will force win10 on your machine while you’re only there for the installation blocker.
Try defragmenting your hard drive and see if you have unmovable files eating up memory and preventing proper defragmenting. This happens if you try to manually stop the upgrade. To recovery your lost memory, you have to search for the instructions on the web.
How do we stop that? I keep getting the Windows 10 nag prompt, but I don’t want it.
If it upgrades, can you reinstall 7?
From what I understand, such forced upgrades are a planned action by Microsoft. In preparation for this, the earlier version removed the ability for any driver or program to detect the OS version. The result is that MS can now control and force upgrades, no matter what the consequences. Only after the upgrades will a user know what hardware/software won’t run. By then it is too late.
I couldn’t believe it the first time I used a Windows computer and I wanted to turn it off and they told me to use the start button. Really?
I took the plunge to do what I postponed for years: I installed Fedora 23 Linux. Be move I’ve made in years. I won’t look back.
I started to download it until I read that updates were now mandatory. Many an update caused havoc on my PC.
I stopped the dowload.
There are some out there. Unfortunately no one seems to be certain how long the BSOD-makers will allow users to continue opting out and eventually simply force everyone who uses an earlier version to switch to the company's preferred version.
My preferred Linux versions do not have a start button either. However, they do have a ‘Menu’ icon you can click on that does essentially the same thing.
Lovely systems, all of them. Never going back to ‘doze if I can help it. :)
That was actually a petty annoyance I found when installing the Opera browser as well: it installed an automatic new-version-check entry into the repositories list which I had to disable since I do not like when companies assume that of course I would always wish to check for new products from them.
I can do that quite well without any prompting, thanks so much.
Yup, they got me. I first blamed it on the cat. He was sitting in front of the keyboard as I entered the room and W10 was installing on computer. Now I’ll have to apologize to him and get him a treat.
Don’t feel too bad now. Should not be much longer before they announce Win11 (or Win12, perhaps) and launch a worldwide forced upgrade to the latest version then as well.
Linux. Works better. I prefer the KDE desktop, personally, but I have found that Mac users prefer Gnome instead for some reason.
Linux Mint is at the top of the list of most-downloaded Linux versions and runs quite well indeed with other desktops available as well. You might want to have a look and examine the Cinnamon desktop to see if you might like it. :)
That is why I mandated to all customers years ago that they NEVER allowed Automatic Upgrades of any kind.
Not to mention *always* having system-wide Full Backups in case anything happened due to the ‘doze dabblers forcing a configuration change without anyone’s knowledge.
Full disk wipe, reinstall last known working version, and all changes (and auto-updates) discarded.
Never Surrender. :)
Yes GWX control panel works. I used it on three kids pcs this weekend. One had a message 10 would be installed Friday, no way to opt out. The panel saved us.
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