Has Microsoft permanently damaged Windows 7?

I have been spending my time mostly on Vista and Zorin, avoiding Windows 7. With all the updates "preparing" our computers for W10, I have lost confidence in W7. I don't know which updates to uninstall. I know there is a thread on this, but it just keeps getting more complicated, leading me to fear that W7 may be hopelessly damaged. I am considering doing a System Restore to before these updates started, and then leaving it alone. but that might not work at this point. A system image may be needed. but then there would be security problems. So I'm leaning toward staying on Vista until 2017, and then leaving windows for good in favor of Linux. Am I crazy? Is it really this dire? Whatever the case, it's certainly depressing.

Well, I'm happy for you, strollin. But I just have this sneaky suspicion that they are going to to do everything in their power to force people to W10, including messing up W7. Ms is just like Google and Yahoo. All they care about now is tracking you and selling your data to advertisers.

Well, of course the huge story right now is that MS is downloading Windows 10 to Windows 7 systems that did not in fact opt in. My first thought was 'the hysterical anti-MS fanbois are at it again'.

But guess what? I did not opt in/reserve a copy/whatever, and in fact uninstalled and hid the relevant updates, but today I find myself with a 3.4 GB folder full of the Win10 installation files. This is insane. This is beyond 'encouraging people to upgrade'. This is really going to bite MS on the ass, big time. And they were so close to getting some good feelings around Win10.

Who thought this was a good idea? Who signed off on this abomination? How are we supposed to trust MS if they pull stunts like this? Very bad move, very bad move... snatching defeat from the jaws of victory, as only MS can do.

Should one delete a GWX folder if we see it?

Unsolicited downloads...one hopes that this is a mistake, not what ms really intended....man, they must really be desperate if this the new game plan. I feel sorry for folks who aren't savvy enough to protect themselves from this kind of strong-arming.

ignatzatsonic said:

sgage said:

I did not opt in/reserve a copy/whatever, and in fact uninstalled and hid the relevant updates, but today I find myself with a 3.4 GB folder full of the Win10 installation files. This is insane.

Sgage:

What's the name and location of that 3.4 GB folder? GWX in C:\Windows\System32? Or?

Do you have any insight into how or when those Win 10 installation files were downloaded?

I've tried to keep up with the list of Windows Update KBs that are supposedly related to Win 10, but I dread having to manage that list and prevent those updates for years into the future---particularly during a clean install.

The folder is named $Windows.~BT - the same as it always has been all through the Insider Program. First you'll see the folder created, and it quickly goes to around 160 MB. Then, even though data is pouring in, it goes to a temp folder where install.esd gets built, and then all of a sudden the ~BT folder goes to 3.4 GB or thereabouts.

I am not sure which of the updates triggers the download - this is a different thing from the 'make a reservation' updates. I'm sure we'll find out soon. I do know that people are hopping mad. Check out the comment section of this article:

Microsoft is downloading Windows 10 to your device, whether you've reserved it or not