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Microsoft Preparing to Force-Feed Windows 10 via "Recommended" Windows Update

posted by martyb on Saturday October 31 2015, @07:51AM   
from the Do!-Not!-Want! dept.

An Anonymous Coward writes:

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.

Tip of the hat to darkfeline who sent in a link to coverage on Ars Technica

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• The articles from customers forced to download 3GB The articles from customers forced to download 3GB (Score: 2, Informative) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday October 31 2015, @03:14PM

  by Anonymous Coward on Saturday October 31 2015, @03:14PM (#256902)

  Here's the first report of users mysteriously finding that they downloaded 3 GB, perhaps over their metered connection [theregister.co.uk]:

  One Reg reader got in touch to complain: "Customers using hosted services are really struggling with the competition for bandwidth – effectively taking them off the air." And it’s all happening despite Microsoft promising – here [microsoft.com] – that it wouldn't. According to that advice, the Windows 10 upgrade is automatically blocked when the computer or device is joined to a domain. It's one of the firm's three scenarios when the update is blocked.

  Users have logged urgent enquiries with Microsoft’s helpdesk but in the meantime have resorted to triage to stop the problem.

  One month later: http://www.theregister.co.uk/2015/09/10/windows_10_forced_download/ [theregister.co.uk]

  "For those who have chosen to receive automatic updates through Windows Update, we help customers prepare their devices for Windows 10 by downloading the files necessary for future installation," a Microsoft spokesperson told El Reg via email. "This results in a better upgrade experience and ensures the customer’s device has the latest software." The trouble with this, of course, is that the upgrade to Windows 10 is no common system update. The actual amount that will be downloaded and stored on your system varies. But by way of example, the install media we have for the 64-bit version of Windows 10 clocks in at around 3GB. Being forced to download that is bound to be a burden, not just on systems with limited disk space, but particularly for people with metered data connections.

  So I suppose that Microsoft's Windows 10 action plan consists of "DILLIGAF". It's probably also based out of the fear that Windows 10's market share would be as tepid of that as Windows 8: back in April 2013, IDC detailed the situation [theregister.co.uk]:

  "It seems clear that the Windows 8 launch not only failed to provide a positive boost to the PC market, but appears to have slowed the market," Bob O'Donnell, IDC's program vice president for clients and displays, said in a canned statement. "While some consumers appreciate the new form factors and touch capabilities of Windows 8, the radical changes to the UI, removal of the familiar Start button, and the costs associated with touch have made PCs a less attractive alternative to dedicated tablets and other competitive devices. Microsoft will have to make some very tough decisions moving forward if it wants to help reinvigorate the PC market."

  So Microsoft's tough decisions consisted of turning Windows 10 into the equivalent of foie gras (thanks to the commenters at The Register for that analogy). Consumers get tiles and tablets and Cortana shoved down their throat, and have their personal clickstream, memory dumps, and perhaps even more stolen from them. And we still haven't heard about the update that allows Windows 10 Enterprise users opt out of telemetry collection [pcworld.com]. How much does a single Windows 10 Enterprise seat cost?

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• Re:The articles from customers forced to download (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday October 31 2015, @04:11PM

  by Anonymous Coward on Saturday October 31 2015, @04:11PM (#256913)

  You can't buy a single Win 10 enterprise seat. You can buy a MSDN subscription for a few K though and obtain the enterprise version that way, or just use TPB.

  Parent

• Re:The articles from customers forced to download (Score: 1) by DonkeyChan on Sunday November 01 2015, @02:46AM

  by DonkeyChan (5551) on Sunday November 01 2015, @02:46AM (#257080)

  I've seen several clocking in at 6.1GB.

  Parent