How to avoid being "upgraded to Win 10" against your will:

[dencorso]

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New on Mar 20, 2019: For Windows 7 users: Beware of the new KB4493132! Do hide it, it's just the 7EoS Nag! More about it on this article. In any case, eyes wide open: MS says "If automatic updates are enabled, this update will be downloaded and installed automatically." !!!

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Warning: until the situation becomes clearer, I think it better to block MS16-023 on 7 SP1 and 8.1.

Please read this, and remember It's easier (and surer) to block now, and decide to add it in the future, than trying to remove it later, instead. My 2¢.
 

On 4/9/2015 at 2:08 PM, NoelC said:

Assuming one has a system they don't want Microsoft trying to "upgrade" to WIndows 10 via Windows Update...
 
What KBs should we hide?

 
KB2952664
"Compatibility update for upgrading Windows 7"
This update helps Microsoft make improvements to the current operating system in order to ease the upgrade experience to the latest version of Windows.

KB2976978
"Compatibility update for Windows 8.1 and Windows 8"
Describes an update that improves the compatibility and upgrade experience in Windows 8.1 and Windows 8
This update performs diagnostics on the Windows systems that participate in the Windows Customer Experience Improvement Program in order to determine whether compatibility issues may be encountered when the latest Windows operating system is installed. This update will help Microsoft and its partners ensure compatibility for customers who are seeking to install the latest Windows operating system.
 
KB2977759
"Compatibility update to Windows 7 RTM"
This update performs diagnostics on the Windows systems that participate in the Windows Customer Experience Improvement Program. These diagnostics help determine whether compatibility issues may be encountered when the latest Windows operating system is installed. This update will help Microsoft and its partners ensure compatibility for customers who want to install the latest Windows operating system.

KB2990214
"Update that enables you to upgrade from Windows 7 SP1 to a later version of Windows"
It is an update to the Windows Update Client. It is a pre-requisite (for now) in order to be able to "update" to Windows 10 when it becomes available. This is the actual correct download link.
 
KB2999226 (also in CR)
"Update for Universal C Runtime in Windows"
It is an update that enables one to run windows 10 applications on earlier versions of windows.

KB3021917
"Update to Windows 7 SP1 for performance improvements"
This update performs diagnostics in Windows 7 Service Pack 1 (SP1) in order to determine whether performance issues may be encountered when the latest Windows operating system is installed. Telemetry is sent back to Microsoft for those computers that participate in the Windows Customer Experience Improvement Program (CEIP). This update will help Microsoft and its partners deliver better system performance for customers who are seeking to install the latest Windows operating system.
 
KB3022345 (probably not offered anymore because it was superseded by KB3068708, of which more below)
"Update for customer experience and diagnostic telemetry" in Windows 8.x and Windows 7 SP1
This update introduces the Diagnostics and Telemetry tracking service to in-market devices. By applying this service, you can add benefits from the latest version of Windows to systems that have not yet been upgraded. The update also supports applications that are subscribed to Visual Studio Application Insights.
This update has been replaced by the latest update for customer experience and diagnostic telemetry that was first released on June 2, 2015. To obtain the update, see KB3068708 Update (of which more below) for customer experience and diagnostic telemetry.

KB3035583
"Update enables additional capabilities for Windows Update notifications in Windows 8.1 and Windows 7 SP1"
This update enables additional capabilities for Windows Update notifications when new updates are available to the user. It applies to a computer that is running Windows 8.1 or Windows 7 Service Pack 1 (SP1). Before you install this update, check out the Prerequisites section.
It installs GWX.exe which has the description “Get Windows 10″
More info (myce on Apr 05, 2015): Update for Win 7 and 8.1 silently installs Win 10 downloader
To remove this update easily, there's now also rn10950's "I Don't Want Windows 10"

KB3044374
"Update that supports you to upgrade from Windows 8.1 or Windows Server 2012 R2 to a later version of Windows".
This article describes an update that supports you to upgrade from Windows 8.1 or Windows Server 2012 R2 to a later version of Windows. This update has prerequisites.
 
KB3046480
Update helps to determine whether to migrate..." for in Windows 8.1 and Windows 7
This update enables the system to determine whether to migrate the Microsoft .NET Framework 1.1 to a later version of Windows when you upgrade from Windows 8.1 or Windows 7 to a later version of Windows. This determination is based on the usage of the .NET Framework 1.1.

KB3050265
Windows Update Client for Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2: June 2015
This update addresses an issue in which system performance can be decreased during scans. This issue has the greatest effect on computers that have a small amount of physical memory. This update addresses an issue in which Windows Update scans can fail and generate a 0x8007000E error.General improvements are made to support upgrades to a later version of Windows.
 
KB3050267
Windows Update Client for Windows 8.1 and Windows Server 2012 R2: June 2015
A change is made on the log level for %windir%\WindowsUpdate.log to reduce the frequency of certain events from exhausting log space. Fixes an issue for managed computers in which managed computers have to update drivers as a set. Driver sets are not processed by Windows Update during shutdown, and are still available to be installed after you restart the computer.Fixes an issue in which the files of an update may not be found by Windows Update (0x80070002) if the download operation spans multiple sessions.General improvements are made to support upgrades to a later version of Windows.

KB3064683 (disclosed by MS in KB3184143)
Windows 8.1 OOBE modifications to reserve Windows 10

KB3065987
Windows Update Client for Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2: July 2015

KB3065988
Windows Update Client for Windows 8.1 and Windows Server 2012 R2: July 2015

KB3068708 (also in CR)
Update for customer experience and diagnostic telemetry in Windows 8.1 and Windows 7 SP1
This update, aka DiagTrack or Diagnostics Tracking Service, introduces the Diagnostics and Telemetry tracking service to in-market devices... <snip> This kind of update helps the overall application experience on Windows, by improving the current operating system for upgrade to the latest version of Windows. <snip> By applying this service, you can add benefits from the latest version of Windows to systems that have not yet upgraded.

KB3072318 (disclosed by MS in KB3184143)
Update for Windows 8.1 OOBE to upgrade to Windows 10
 
KB3075249 (also in CR)
"This article describes an update that adds telemetry points to consent.exe in Win 8.1, Win RT 8.1, Win Server 2012 R2, Win 7 SP1, and Win Server 2008 R2 SP1. This update adds telemetry points to the User Account Control (UAC) feature to collect information on elevations that come from low integrity levels."
 
KB3075851
Windows Update Client for Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2: August 2015
This update also resolves an issue in which certain Windows Update operations fail when you install Windows Update Client for Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2: July 2015 (KB3065987) on Windows 7 Embedded editions." In other words: it also fixes the mess created by KB3065987.
 
KB3075853
Windows Update Client for Windows 8.1 and Windows Server 2012 R2: August 2015
 
KB3080149 (also in CR)
"This article describes an update for customer experience and diagnostic telemetry, for Windows 8.1, Windows Server 2012 R2, Windows 7 SP1, and Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1."
 
KB3081954 (also in CR)
Ensures users be able to continue using Work Folders after upgrading to Windows 10 from Windows 7SP1, and adds further telemetry!
 
KB3083324 - Windows Update Client for Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2: September 2015

KB3083325 - Windows Update Client for Windows 8.1 and Windows Server 2012 R2: September 2015

KB3083710 - Windows Update Client for Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2: October 2015
 
KB3083711 - Windows Update Client  for Windows 8.1 and Windows Server 2012 R2: October 2015

KB3090045 - Windows Update for reserved devices in Windows 8.1 or Windows 7 SP1

KB3102810 - Installing and searching for updates is slow and high CPU usage occurs in Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2
 
KB3102812 - Installing and searching for updates is slow and high CPU usage occurs in Windows 8.1 and Windows Server 2012 R2

KB3112343 - Windows Update Client for Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2: December 2015
This update enables support for additional upgrade scenarios from Windows 7 to Windows 10, and provides a smoother experience when you have to retry an operating system upgrade because of certain failure conditions. This update also improves the ability of Microsoft to monitor the quality of the upgrade experience.
 
KB3112336 - Windows Update Client for Windows 8.1 and Windows Server 2012 R2: December 2015
This update enables support for additional upgrade scenarios from Windows 7 to Windows 10, and provides a smoother experience when you have to retry an operating system upgrade because of certain failure conditions. This update also improves the ability of Microsoft to monitor the quality of the upgrade experience.
 
KB3123862- Updated capabilities to upgrade Windows 8.1 and Windows 7 This update adds capabilities to some computers that lets users easily learn about Windows 10 or start an upgrade to Windows 10.
 
KB3135445 - Windows Update Client for Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2: February 2016

KB3135449 - Windows Update Client for Windows 8.1 and Windows Server 2012 R2: February 2016

KB3118401 (also in CR)
Update for Universal C Runtime in Windows
It is an update that enables one to run windows 10 applications on earlier versions of windows.
 
KB3138612 - Windows Update Client for Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2: March 2016

KB3138615 - Windows Update Client for Windows 8.1 and Windows Server 2012 R2: March 2016

KB3139929 - MS16-023: Security update for IE: March 8, 2016 (because it brings, bundled, KB3146449 - Updated IE11 capabilities to upgrade Windows 8.1 and Windows 7 SP1)... which seems to be yet another nagging software to push Windows 10.

[KB3146449 (not standalone: bundled into KB3139929 and allegedly removed by KB3184143)
Updated Internet Explorer 11 capabilities to upgrade Windows 8.1 and Windows 7]

KB3150513
This update provides updated configuration and definitions for compatibility diagnostics performed on the system. The updated definitions will improve accuracy and help enable Microsoft and its partners ensure compatibility for customers who want to install the latest Windows operating system. This update will be offered only if KB2977759, KB2952664, or KB2976978 is installed on Windows 8.1, Windows 8, Windows 7 SP1, or Windows 7 RTM.

KB3163589 - Windows 8 and Windows 7 PC running an outdated version of Windows notification (aka NAG).

KB3170735 - Windows 8.1 and Windows 7 SP1
This update adds the capability to notify you about future Windows Journal developments. (Woody's remarks).
This seems to be Just Another Nagger, AFAICS...

KB3173040 - Windows 8.1 and Windows 7 SP1 end of free upgrade offer notification (aka NAG).

KB3192403 - October 2016 Preview of Monthly Quality Rollup for Windows 7 SP1 and Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1
KB3192404 - October 2016 Preview of Monthly Quality Rollup for Windows 8.1 and Windows Server 2012 R2
KB3192406 - October 2016 Preview of Monthly Quality Rollup for Windows Server 2012
These titles are a mounthfull, of course, and are nothing more than shameless euphemisms for "More Tracking Trash" !!!
 

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More info (InfoWorld on Apr 16, 2015): MS elaborates on KB 2990214, KB 3044374 Win 10 nagware!
 
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Summary:
 
Now, there are some of these updates that come in pairs (pairing revised after reading post #111):
KB2952664 for Windows 7 SP1 and KB2976978 for Windows 8.x.
KB2990214 for Windows 7 SPx and KB3044374 for Windows 8.1.
KB3050265 for Windows 7 SP1 and KB3050267 for Windows 8.1.
KB3065987 for Windows 7 SP1 and KB3065988 for Windows 8.1.
KB3075851 for Windows 7 SP1 and KB3075853 for Windows 8.1
KB3083324 for Windows 7 SP1 and KB3083325 for Windows 8.1.
KB3083710 for Windows 7 SP1 and KB3083711 for Windows 8.1.
KB3102810 for Windows 7 SP1 and KB3102812 for Windows 8.1.
KB3112343 for Windows 7 SP1 and KB3112336 for Windows 8.1.
KB3135445 for Windows 7 SP1 and KB3135449 for Windows 8.1.
KB3138612 for Windows 7 SP1 and KB3138615 for Windows 8.1.
KB3192403 for Windows 7 SP1 and KB3192404 for Windows 8.1.

While the others are intended for both Windows 7 SP1 and Windows 8.x, namely:
KB2999226, KB3035583, KB3046480 and KB3068708 (which replaces KB3022345), KB3075249, KB3080149, KB3090045, KB3118401, KB3123862, KB3139929, KB3146449, KB3150513, KB3163589, KB3170735 and KB3173040.
 
And there is, in addition, KB2977759, KB3021917 and KB3081954, just for Windows 7 SPx.
and also KB3064683 and KB3072318, just for Windows 8.1, of course! 

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 This list intends to cover both Windows 7 and 8. Some of the updates listed are offered to either 7 or 8, while others are offered to both. This list is a work in progress, which tends to grow with time. My main intent here is just to keep all relevant info as together as possible, for easy reference. Of course, the idea for this sticky post came from NoelC's post I quoted at the top of this very post.

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At this point (Oct. 31, 2015), the task of keeping track of all of this has become complex, so I do recommend the aegis.cmd script by thepower from voat.co (findable here) as a handy tool, that helps both with the avoidance of the "upgrade" do Win 10 and with privacy issues, too. Thanks are due to epic, for first suggesting its use on post #273. After runnining aegis.cmd, the Windows Update is set to check/notify, but I always reset it to off, and check manually, from time to time. One must keep eyes wide open, because some of the updates keep being re-offered, too, and need to be re-hidden!
 

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Alphabetized list specific to the OS for more convenient checking (courtesy of bphlpt ):
 

Windows 7 SP1                 Windows 8.x 
KB2952664                     KB2976978 x
KB2977759                     KB2999226 x
KB2990214                     KB3022345 x
KB2999226                     KB3035583 x
KB3021917                     KB3044374 xx
KB3022345                     KB3046480 x
KB3035583                     KB3050267 xx
KB3046480                     KB3064683 
KB3050265                     KB3065988 xx 
KB3065987                     KB3068708 x 
KB3068708                     KB 3072318 
KB3075249                     KB3075249 x 
KB3075851                     KB3075853 xx 
KB3080149                     KB3080149 x  
KB3081954                     KB3083325 xx 
KB3083324                     KB3083711 xx 
KB3083710                     KB3090045 
KB3090045                     KB3102812 xx 
KB3102810                     KB3112336 xx 
KB3112343                     KB3118401 x 
KB3118401                     KB3123862 x 
KB3123862                     KB3135449 xx 
KB3135445                     KB3138615 xx 
KB3138612                     KB3139929 xx
KB3139929                     KB3146449  
KB3146449                     KB3150513
KB3150513                     KB3163589 
KB3163589                     KB3170735
KB3170735                     KB3173040
KB3173040                     KB3192404
KB3192403
                               x == Windows 8.x
                              xx == Windows 8.1

[vinifera]

i always love in their video blogs when they mention "our Telemetry shows"

which in other words is built in spyware & keylogger

[bphlpt]

Thanks for putting this summary together, dencorso!

 

Cheers and Regards

[MagicAndre1981]

only KB3035583 and KB2990214 are dangerous. The others are ok.

[NoelC]

You sure about that?  I see them as additional feet in the door.

 

-Noel

[dencorso]

Some of those I've not seen on my Win 8.1 system.  They may be strictly for Windows 7.  You might want to split the list into two sections.

That's true. But for now I prefer keeping a single list, because other updates are for both OSes, too.

I did, however, put a sticky link on the 7 forum to bring intrested users directly to this thread. 

KB3044374

Added! Thanks!

 

only KB3035583 and KB2990214 are dangerous. The others are ok.

I respectfully disagree.  

 

You sure about that?  I see them as additional feet in the door.

+1

[MagicAndre1981]

think what you want, but those 2 updates only upgrade to Win10. The Compatibility updates only update some Compatibility DLLs in Windows and this is NOT dangerous in any way *facepalm*

[NoelC]

You're smart enough to know that they could be slipping things into places that don't seem problematic.  Or have you decompiled the code to see what the changes are?

 

They've turned devious and predatory.  Everything we know about them from past experience is out the window.  Everything we think should be off limits isn't.

 

-Noel

[jaclaz]

Well, maybe "dangerous" needs to be defined, or there are grades of danger.

"very dangerous" = "risking to wake up one morning with the stupid Windows 10 having been forcibly installed overnight"

"slightly dangerous"="something that might decide to open a port (or whatever) to transmit data to the good MS guys"

"not dangerous but basically unneeded"="something that provides not any enhancement or not any noticeable one"

 

So, possibly:

KB3035583 and KB2990214 = "very dangerous"

KB3021917 and KB2976978 = "slightly dangerous"

KB2952664 and KB3044374 = "not dangerous but basically unneeded"

 

jaclaz

[NoelC]

KB2952664 and KB3044374 = "not dangerous but basically unneeded"

 

 

(emphasis mine)

 

Though you feel confident in writing that, my point is that (unless you know something most folks don't) such a judgment is really not possible given what little we know - which is all being fed to us from the very same people we now eye with suspicion.

 

When Microsoft's focus shifted from providing value to users in return for payment to providing ad-supported software for free, it was more than just a trivial observation.  It actually is starting to affect us.

 

I've been called paranoid, but let's not forget that they're obviously trying to deliver these Trojan horse updates couched in deceptive language.  That's a fact so obvious it cannot be debated and it cannot be attributed to incompetence or language barriers or whatever. 

 

It ain't paranoia when there's actual evidence.

 

"Political correctness" and "societal conformance" would have us accept this new level untrustworthy behavior as the "new normal", without speaking up and being labeled an extremist.  But should we?  Where does it lead?

 

Never forget we are all akin to frogs in a pot of water.

 

-Noel

 

 

P.S., Jaclaz, I'm not being in any way critical of your judgment or what you wrote, specifically.  But it helps to make my point that this is a bigger issue than mainstream public opinion is acknowledging.

[jaclaz]

Is there a difficult part in "maybe" or "possibly" highlighted by the use of the "unsure" emoticon? 

 

From experience, MagicAndre1981  (ok, he is not perfect, as he actually likes Vista ) knows very well where his towel is and as well Dencorso is usually far from being paranoid , so I was just trying to see if by chance they were both right at the same time by reviewing and slightly redefining the definition of the adjective used.

 

jaclaz

[NoelC]

Unfortunately, no one CAN be "right".  Without a project to decompile Windows and look in every dark corner, it's simply impossible to know.  All we have is FUD.

 

How (and why) do you think a company like Google developed the slogan "Don't Be Evil"?

 

Is it possible some (actually) Good Microsoft people migrated there some years ago after seeing what they were being directed to do?

 

-Noel

 

 

P.S., I liked Vista too.  I just don't think it was better than Windows 7.

[dencorso]

"Just because you're paranoid doesn't mean they aren't after you," as the good Mr. Heller once put it very aptly...

I do think an appropriate level of paranoia is a requirement to avoid annoyances galore. 

 

P.S., I liked Vista too.

So, you're not perfect too... ...but, then again, who is?

[NoelC]

I'm far from perfect, but that has nothing to do with Vista, which was a fine system when tweaked, augmented, and tuned up.

 

-Noel

[jaclaz]

I'm far from perfect, but that has nothing to do with Vista, which was a fine system when tweaked, augmented, and tuned up.

 

Sure ,  after having applied - one year later - Service Pack 1 it actually worked ..., perhaps slightly better with SP 2 and some say even better with Service Pack 3  Windows 7.

But I have seen grown up men cry back in 2007, and what has been seen cannot be unseen.

 

@dencorso

The usual point of debate revolves around the fact that IF they were after you, they would have ALREADY got you.

 

@all

Maybe if you look at the half full glass , the great advantage with the upcoming Windows 10 is that it is very convenient, you need to do nothing to update, no need to download huge .iso's no need to read lengthy instructions, no need to waste a DVD to burn anything, no need to reboot, the good MS guys will deliver it (no matter if you want it or not) overnight, whenever it pleases them to do so, and you will be greeted one fine morning by the sweet voice of Cortana .... you will be transferred in the new world of computing at no cost and with no hassles (maybe)....

 

Time for a new issue of the sci-fi magazine:

 

jaclaz

Edited April 15, 2015 by jaclaz