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Ben Funk over on TechReport has linked to a Terry Myerson blog post where he states that in early 2016, the "Windows 10 Upgrade" update will be changed in status from "Optional" to "Recommended". Therefore, if you haven't changed your Windows 7 system from automatically installing updates to manually notifying, but not installing, now is a good time to make that change, and audit every single "patch" you see. There have already been reports of users unknowingly experiencing ISP bandwidth overages due to downloading a massive 3 GB file due to the "Optional" update that was not requested, but Microsoft seems to be throwing caution to the winds.
In the blog post, Myerson has this statement: "Depending upon your Windows Update settings, this may cause the upgrade process to automatically initiate on your device. Before the upgrade changes the OS of your device, you will be clearly prompted to choose whether or not to continue. And of course, if you choose to upgrade (our recommendation!), then you will have 31 days to roll back to your previous Windows version if you don't love it." Historically, Windows has been far cleaner to install on a blank disk than to upgrade in place, so this sounds like a recipe for many support calls. There also seems to be no backtracking on any of the privacy concerns, or perhaps taking the "zero telemetry, selective update install" functionality promised (but not yet delivered) to Enterprise customers, and extending it to consumer licensees who value their privacy.
(Score: 3, Informative) by Runaway1956 on Saturday October 31 2015, @09:48AM
http://www.howtogeek.com/228551/how-to-stop-windows-7-or-8-from-downloading-windows-10-automatically/ [howtogeek.com]
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday October 31 2015, @12:33PM
Thanks for the tip. The invasive telemetry updates that Microsoft had introduced to earlier operating systems were the straw that broke the camel's back for me; I might have otherwise been willing to give Windows 11 a chance in the unlikely event of a change in direction from the trash that is Windows 8 and 10.
Now I only manually install patches explicitly labeled as security updates, and Windows 7 is the last Microsoft operating operating system that I foresee using in any capacity on my home systems; it will most likely be Linux Mint after that.
(Score: 1) by anubi on Sunday November 01 2015, @01:58AM
Control Panel > System and Security > Windows Update > Change Settings
Select on first dropdown...( last entry ) -> Never check for updates (not recommended)
OK ( may have to provide admin password ).
done!
"Prove all things; hold fast that which is good." [KJV: I Thessalonians 5:21]
(Score: 1) by anubi on Sunday November 01 2015, @02:07AM
One more thing....
On the last line of the "Choose how Windows can install updates" page brought up on "Change Settings"....
I would like to call your attention to the last line...
To me, this means that I risk everything by as much as checking for any updates!!!
"Prove all things; hold fast that which is good." [KJV: I Thessalonians 5:21]