Microsoft sets stage for massive Windows 10 upgrade strategy

[Lady Fitzgerald]

...

When non-computer literate friends ask me what computer they should buy, I now tell them to get a MAC.

...

IMO, if you are a Windows user you would probably be better off swapping to a Linux Distro (e.g. CentOS, Linux Mint MATE and even Ubuntu) rather than OS X.

Things like the GUI elements and keyboard shortcuts are mostly identical to the Windows ones (at least the ones I use are)...[/QUOTE]

I plan on switching to Linux eventually (maybe sooner at the rate MSpy is going downhill) and running Win 7 in a VM but, for average computer users, OSx is easier for them to learn and use and MAC machines are reliable. Everyone I suggested switching to MAC have been happy with the switch.

 

[CarlSD]

Hi, everyone.

Yes, it is becoming a real battle to keep Windows 7 these days, isn't it?

I did a clean install of Windows 7 Professional just last week and what I have done is install all of the post SP1 security updates and then all of the optional/recommended updates up until the start of this year.

Then, I went through the rest of the optionals/recommendeds one at a time and checked them all out carefully. I think the only ones I installed were time zone updates. The rest are hidden and will stay hidden. I also have GWX Control Panel and Spybot Anti-Beacon which I check daily to see if any of the settings have "mysteriously" changed.

I will also do Macrium Reflect images before installing any Win 7 updates from now on. Automatic updates are turned off and will only be turned on when I need to check for updates. I run Windows 7 from a standard user account and "allow all users to install updates" is turned off in Windows Update settings so presumably only an Administrator account should be able to install updates.

I do have Windows 10 Home (dual boot with Linux Mint) on a 2nd SSD inside my PC tower, they're both powered all the time and I just change the SATA cable from one to the other as needed, after shutting the PC down and switching the power off, of course.

I wonder if MS will leave my Windows 7 Professional alone since I did do an upgrade to Windows 10 Professional a few months back but decided to keep 7 (since I paid $200 for it back in April when I bought a new motherboard). Probably not, since the W10 recommended/optional updates did appear in the list of updates after my clean install.

The Windows 10 Home I'm using on the second HD was an upgrade (then clean install) from Windows 8.1.

 

[groze]

Just a side tip if you go to Linux, some Linux distros hal is not available but you may need to install it using an unofficial 3rd party ppa. I would recommend installing Google Chrome and not Chromium until html5 take hold. This has the newest flash which is also supposedly sandbox.

lehnerus2000

Can you watch Netflix, and Amazon video on Linux?

 

[ThrashZone]

I believe all one needs is a ruku
https://www.roku.com/

 

[matts6887]

See; this is one of the many things I hate that microsoft is doing. IMO it is a invasion or privacy(sort of anyway) to try and what seems "force" people to upgrade to 10 even if they dont want to. Just the fact that they are doing this among many things is in fact a huge turnoff. I could go on and on but I think this has been conveyed by several others above as well.

 

[CarlSD]

I was reading a Windows article online last week (can't remember where) and someone is gathering signatures for a petition to start a class action lawsuit against MS for the way they are trying to force W10 onto W7/8 users.

I thought about signing it but decided not to bother. I'll just keep being vigilant about W7 updates like most of the members here are doing and the day MS 'sneaks' W10 updates into a W7 security update will be the day Windows Update gets turned off for good. I'm guessing a lot of other people will do the same then we'll end up with a lot of insecure W7 systems online.

Then, I will probably spend most of my time using my W10/Linux Mint drive... 99% of it in Linux, I'm sure. The only real reason I have W10 at the moment is so I can be familiar with it so I can help family and friends with computer problems if they have W10 (yep, I'm the unpaid help guy around here).

So much for MS's concerns about computer security. Once upon a time one could install all Windows Updates (security and optional/recommended) without needing to check them out first. Those days are now gone.

 

[Brds7t7]

Like Lehnerus2000, I've also disabled the Windows update service on my systems now. Some may call me foolhardy for doing so and I really don't care. I have enough backup strategies for all my systems to get me out of any issues. In my opinion, the Windows update service is becoming more of a hindrance than a benefit to me.
This cat and mouse game with MS has become tedious now. I'm fed up of checking settings, group policies and registry entries just to see if they've changed. Fed up of looking for folders to appear in case it's started downloading the installer.
It's clear Microsoft are only going to get more aggressive with the 10 upgrade from now on.

I will switch the service back on once a month after every patch Tuesday, Image my C: drive, do the security updates, .NET and Office 2007 updates and then disable the service again until next months patch Tuesday, repeat, repeat, etc.
I don't want the WU service constantly running anymore.

Maybe things might die down after July 2016 when the free upgrade offer expires, and if that's the case, I'll consider switching WU back on permanently.

This is not me advising people to switch WU off. But for me, it's become nothing but a pain in the backside! I'd rather spend an extra few minutes a month than have WU constantly running only to find Windows 10 auto-downloaded and taking up space on my HDD.

Microsoft.... I DO NOT WANT WINDOWS 10!! Please get this into your arrogant, pig-headed, thick skulls!

Rant over... Aaaaand breeeeeeathe!

 

[ThrashZone]

I imagine the free 10 will never really expire

 

[kkehoe]

Tried 10, wasn't thrilled, and reinstalled 7 on 11/26. I hid the 4 known "telemetry" updates and set the DisableOSUpgrade value in the registry. WU is on and set to notify.

So far no sign of sketchy updates, GWX, or the install bits being silently downloaded.

Kevin

 

[tjg79]

I tried 10, but I'm back on 7 now. I have a six year old Intel motherboard and Intel's not supporting 10 on old boards. It was too much of a hassle trying to find suitable Intel drivers and I'm not sure that the MS supplied drivers are offering full functionality. My 10 upgrade install was buggy. My 10 clean install became toast when I installed the wrong version Intel RST driver. Hence, back to reliable 7 which is their pinnacle of design IMO. If you have an old motherboard, you're better off with 7. Also, 10 is not as good as 7 for performing all the usual PC maintenance tasks IMO.

 

[Wandering one]

I have always had updates set to OFF and/or NEVER CHECK. This was originally done because I want to know before something is done to MY (not M$'s) computer, also makes it easier as am always on WIFI. I go once a week or so to 'all programs / update' and click on the 'check for updates' button and that gives a current list of all available updates. Have never been more than 3 or 4 days late for an update and that in itself is a very rare occasion.
As for setting to 'notify and let me download' I think somewhere on the EULA it says that if M$ thinks that you should have an update it will be downloaded and installed without further notice.

As a side note to this thread, has anyone noticed the 'most users on 7 Forum'? Looks like coffee time the morning after that 10 was dumped on a lot of unsuspecting computers.

 

[lehnerus2000]

Can you watch Netflix, and Amazon video on Linux?

I'm not a subscriber, so I don't think that I've ever gone to those sites in Windows or Linux.

 

[Borg 386]

I have some speculation about why they are being so pushy about everyone getting 10. Be aware, it's just speculation, but here's my take.

Right now the big trend is grabbing everyone's personal data so they know peoples habits, likes, dislikes, what they buy & other things about them. How much of the world uses Windows systems? 95% I believe, give or take a few percent points. Given that MS can now acquire this data on people, they have the largest data collection avenue open to them, more then any other company.

Given that people will pay big $$$$ to get this data, I would wager that with a database as large as this, MS will never have to worry about selling another OS. The main money will be made from the continuous updates to personal data that they are collecting. Not just a one time collection of personal data, but a continuous update of personal data that changes with the individual through the years.

It's only a thought, but it seems to me they just hit the jackpot for selling personal data. There could be another underlying cause or 2 why the big push is on. More then likely there is.

 

[scr]

I have some speculation about why they are being so pushy about everyone getting 10. Be aware, it's just speculation, but here's my take.

Right now the big trend is grabbing everyone's personal data so they know peoples habits, likes, dislikes, what they buy & other things about them. How much of the world uses Windows systems? 95% I believe, give or take a few percent points. Given that MS can now acquire this data on people, they have the largest data collection avenue open to them, more then any other company.

Given that people will pay big $$$$ to get this data, I would wager that with a database as large as this, MS will never have to worry about selling another OS. The main money will be made from the continuous updates to personal data that they are collecting. Not just a one time collection of personal data, but a continuous update of personal data that changes with the individual through the years.

It's only a thought, but it seems to me they just hit the jackpot for selling personal data. There could be another underlying cause or 2 why the big push is on. More then likely there is.

Not to put my tin foil hat back on but.. That's what I figured it was all along. MS never has and never will give anything away for free. The objective has always been the "data" and it's value. In my opinion MS has become a massive data miner and will rent that data out to the highest bidder. More data the higher the rent. Therefore the big push to Win 10 in the most unprecedented manner ever known. MS has put all it's eggs in the 10 data basket. If Win10 goes the route of 8 MS is toast. If it's not the data then there is something else we don't know about. yet.

I am seriously considering not doing any more MS updates and leaning more in that direction every month. I have always had automatic updates off and have updated manually. I realize that there is a risk involved but the question is which risk is greater MS or the bad guys. I'm not sure there's a difference between the two any more.

Make anything shiny enough and people will go for it.

 

[groze]

Scr,
I wouldn't go that far yet. I was going to install KB971033. I decided against it. The reason it seems to stop gwx or windows 10 from downloading but haven't been able to confirm this totally. My windows 7 home partition is an oemslp from dell. I did a clean install of windows 7 sp1 using the disk dell sent me. As I said in another post, one of the windows 7 updates prevents KB971033 from installing. If I remove that one update KB971033 will install. I don't know if removing or not installing KB971033 will work on windows 7 system that require you to activate. Windows 7 OEMSLP systems are pre-activated.

Here is what I have hidden

 

[scr]

Groze, Thanks for the info. I haven't reached the point of no updates yet but as I said I'm getting closer. So far I've been able to keep 10 off both my systems which are HP's minus the HP stuff. I created an image after I got all the HP stuff off and updated Windows so I have a pretty clean backup.

KB971033 Is installed from back in June which is when I did all the updates as I purchased this computer in late May so I could get Win 7 Pro but decided to do a factory restore in June to create the image I spoke of. While I have given thought to a reinstall from a Win 7 DVD I'm not sure I'll do it yet. I'm going to get a SSD for each machine but that is at least 5 months down the road. I'm in the middle of a major life style change right now and on hold till spring.

 

[OvenMaster]

I have some speculation about why they are being so pushy about everyone getting 10. Be aware, it's just speculation, but here's my take.

Right now the big trend is grabbing everyone's personal data so they know peoples habits, likes, dislikes, what they buy & other things about them. How much of the world uses Windows systems? 95% I believe, give or take a few percent points. Given that MS can now acquire this data on people, they have the largest data collection avenue open to them, more then any other company.

Given that people will pay big $$$$ to get this data, I would wager that with a database as large as this, MS will never have to worry about selling another OS. The main money will be made from the continuous updates to personal data that they are collecting. Not just a one time collection of personal data, but a continuous update of personal data that changes with the individual through the years.

It's only a thought, but it seems to me they just hit the jackpot for selling personal data. There could be another underlying cause or 2 why the big push is on. More then likely there is.

I say it's three-letter government agencies. Read the latest flaps about wanting to ban encryption on various computer news sites. Uncle Sam wants you(r information) and this is by far the easiest way to get it.

 

[Layback Bear]

Uncle Sam doesn't want encryption for a reason along with other countries.


1. Terrorist would use encryption and it would make it impossible to catch them in a timely fashion.
Finding this information after the shootings and or bombings from the perpetrators computers really doesn't help.

2. Smugglers of guns, drugs, chemicals, people, and many other things would also use encryption to hide their activities.

3. Those with ill-gotten money from illegal activates would also use encryption to hide the movement of their money. One way of catching the bad guys is following the money.

Like most things in life, it's like a playing card; their is two sides.

When companies monitor my internet use then I get unwanted email, phone calls and junk snail mail.
When the government monitor my internet use I get no such things.
They just leave me alone.

For those that don't want anybody or anything to monitor their use of the internet, your plum slick out of luck as long as you use the internet.
At this point and time in the computer world it's not a good or bad thing. It's just a fact that you and I will be watched on the internet.
I'm thinking that 99.9% of us don't really need encryption. I can't think of anything in my personal life I ever needed to encrypt.
I not a criminal and I'm not a terrorist and I still believe in one woman at a time so I have no need to encrypt.

 

[Lady Fitzgerald]

Uncle Sam doesn't want encryption for a reason along with other countries.


1. Terrorist would use encryption and it would make it impossible to catch them in a timely fashion.
Finding this information after the shootings and or bombings from the perpetrators computers really doesn't help.

2. Smugglers of guns, drugs, chemicals, people, and many other things would also use encryption to hide their activities.

3. Those with ill-gotten money from illegal activates would also use encryption to hide the movement of their money. One way of catching the bad guys is following the money.

Like most things in life, it's like a playing card; their is two sides.

When companies monitor my internet use then I get unwanted email, phone calls and junk snail mail.
When the government monitor my internet use I get no such things.
They just leave me alone.

For those that don't want anybody or anything to monitor their use of the internet, your plum slick out of luck as long as you use the internet.
At this point and time in the computer world it's not a good or bad thing. It's just a fact that you and I will be watched on the internet.
I'm thinking that 99.9% of us don't really need encryption. I can't think of anything in my personal life I ever needed to encrypt.
I not a criminal and I'm not a terrorist and I still believe in one woman at a time so I have no need to encrypt.

I would not want my personal finances to be viewed by every Tom, Dick, and Hacker. It would be a good way for my money to go bye-bye faster than it already does. Encryption and privacy does have its place, no matter how innocent one may be.

 

[Iforgot]

I have some speculation about why they are being so pushy about everyone getting 10. Be aware, it's just speculation, but here's my take.

Right now the big trend is grabbing everyone's personal data so they know peoples habits, likes, dislikes, what they buy & other things about them. How much of the world uses Windows systems? 95% I believe, give or take a few percent points. Given that MS can now acquire this data on people, they have the largest data collection avenue open to them, more then any other company.

Given that people will pay big $$$$ to get this data, I would wager that with a database as large as this, MS will never have to worry about selling another OS. The main money will be made from the continuous updates to personal data that they are collecting. Not just a one time collection of personal data, but a continuous update of personal data that changes with the individual through the years.

It's only a thought, but it seems to me they just hit the jackpot for selling personal data. There could be another underlying cause or 2 why the big push is on. More then likely there is.

This does seem an outlook at what M$ maybe looking into..

Plus add their own search site "Bing".......

Data is worth a lot, just look at google profits..

With a possible user coverage that M$ has............ Think about it!!!

Just my POV.
Allan

As for encryption...
Personal info is one thing but the info for searches, interests, views is another.....