Microsoft silently preparing your PC for Win 10

Layback Bear said:

Kari do you know what Microsoft is looking for??
If so where can we read about it?

I have no idea about in what extent MS collects the data. In all honesty I do not even care; I am quite sure that they are not interested in reading my mail messages or spying me in any other way. The data they will collect will be used for statistical and development purposes, to make Windows better.

My secrets are safe, if you ever get an email from me you can rest assured Microsoft does not let it circulate among their workers showing what I told you about.

I see it like this: In letting my Windows call home I can feel that although just one user, also my experience counts, that I am a part of the evolution of Windows and in my own small and seemingly insignificant way my bugs and crashes and experiences can someday help a certain bug being fixed. It's like voting; the most stupid reason not to vote is of course "My one vote does not count". Of course it counts, it's exactly the millions of "My one votes" that count, the democracy works the better the more people vote.

The same with Windows. The more users participate, the more information Microsoft gets about the functionality of Windows on various machines, the better Windows we will have.

I wholeheartedly recommend, and this without a trace of sarcasm that if this is too much for you, something you cannot accept, it's time for you to forget the Windows and find yourself another operating system.

Kari

Kari said:

wholeheartedly recommend, and this without a trace of sarcasm that if this is too much for you, something you cannot accept, it's time for you to forget the Windows and find yourself another operating system.

Kari

That's pretty much my take on the matter as well.

The problem is finding an OS that doesn't behave in exactly the same manner - maybe bare Linux, or DOS would be suitable?
Apple is certainly just as inquisitive as MS - and a lot less transparent in their data-collection, as well as being much more restrictive in the available hardware.

Kari & NoelDP: I follow your thought process for improving the product, but if so, why don't the writeups for these "preparation" updates state what they are doing? Particularly the "diagnostic and tracking" one? If it's so on the up and up, it should be transparent too. What is MS doing to my system to "prepare" it for new versions? What information is MS tracking and reporting about my system? Being vague doesn't instill trust. If and when I'm ready for W10, I'll be happy to install the prep. updates.

jamis said:

Kari & NoelDP: I follow your thought process for improving the product, but if so, why don't the writeups for these "preparation" updates state what they are doing? Particularly the "diagnostic and tracking" one? If it's so on the up and up, it should be transparent too. Being vague doesn't instill trust. If and when I'm ready for W10, I'll be happy to install the prep. updates.

I am completely happy with the one sentence explanation MS is giving, which also happens to support my take in this matter. The explanation highlighted:

(From https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/kb/3022345)

4wd said:

It's very understandable MS want to\need to do some very deep w10 update research (but imo users should be clearly informed about what's going on with those specific kb updates). Some interesting views from The Register:

"Recommended update turns Windows 7, 8 into new OS plug" Microsoft uses Windows Update to force Windows 10 ads onto older PCs â

"One of Microsoft’s goals is to get as many Windows 7 users as possible upgrading. Major OS upgrades are never without hazard, and the smoothness of an update is critical." New Windows 10 will STAGGER to its feet, says Microsoft OS veep â

I really do not know if I should laugh or cry seeing what kind of sites you geeks use as source to feed your paranoia?

For you I have nothing more to say than to quote an earlier post of mine:

Kari said:

I wholeheartedly recommend, and this without a trace of sarcasm that if this is too much for you, something you cannot accept, it's time for you to forget the Windows and find yourself another operating system.

4wd said:

..."One of Microsoft’s goals is to get as many Windows 7 users as possible upgrading. Major OS upgrades are never without hazard, and the smoothness of an update is critical." New Windows 10 will STAGGER to its feet, says Microsoft OS veep â

From the linked article: "...you’re not going to have to relearn anything..."

It looks like the MS smokescreens are getting thicker and are blinding some of our friends.

whs said:

It looks like the MS smokescreens are getting thicker and are blinding some of our friends.

Honestly, why on earth are you still using Windows? Nice attitude from an MVP.