How to completely prevent Win7 from upgrading to Win10

Topic

New Reply

Just got this question from BF: Hello Woody, I want to do everything possible to prevent Win10 installing on two Win 7 computers that I use to earn my
[See the full post at: How to completely prevent Win7 from upgrading to Win10]

Reply | Quote

Replies

Thanks for your reply, Woody.

What about uninstalling the updates in Question #3?

Reply | Quote

Hi BF,

I couldnt help but unashemely offer my take here…
after giving up on MS and its not-so-hidden-anymore free upgrade c/trap…

I too did those crazy and time comsumming checklist b4
but now I found a way that seems to have work w/out the ‘daily workout’

Just a few points… if you decided to stay with W7 and never to upgrade…. I completely turned off the upgrate peroid!
My rational back then and now…. after extensive research and thoughts…. the risk of updating the ‘wrong’ stuff far outweights the benefits… anything I deem ‘safe’ can always be updated MANUALLY and INDIVIDUALLY…. but I have not updated any for over 6 month now… I instead just rely on VERY GOOD AV and FIREWALL and hope for the best 🙂

The deal is, if you are going to get ‘hit’ by unfortunate, then fate will fulfill its due. You can do all you can and all the money you can buy, even the FED get hacked. So? Is there a way of full proof safety on the internet?

On point 5 – BE CAREFULL
I went for that and share my expereicne on prev post.
When MS detected you turn off update, then they will hassle you with “a fake installation’ notice and ask you to verify the key. You can only verify 5 time or so online and then you need to do it through the automated phone. Then if the automated system somehow got ‘busy’ or not understanding you, you will be hand over to the MS tech, which is from India. The the person will ask you several questions, as if you are a criminal and make sure you are not on a stolen copy. And the tech person will VERY INSISTANTLY ASK FOR REMOTE DESKTOP to assist you FOR FREE and FIX IT FOR YOU. God knows what will happen if you allow. If fail, then the tech person will put you on hold, go on a vacation to check something or whatever, and come back ages later to say, they cant help you. Then you are left fuming and ideally, for MS, force to upgrade to W10 (thats the plan I guess?)

Thats was my experience.

So if you are on

W7 Home – sorry bro you are better to stay with you current and working daily routine

W7 Pro or Ultmate – you can try (if yuo choose to) turning off update and control your firewall (I manually block any and ALL MS connnect other than those that absolutely necessary for my computer to still show a screen – yes i dont go social networking or anything fancy)
When the W7 ask to verify your key, reboot your computer several time WHILE OFFLINE – it may come back as verify like magic. (My user expereince too)

I also manually uninstall all the questionable KBs list found here by woody in regedit.

So not sure it any of those work for you, and please understand is your risk to take should you want to try. NOTE if you try any or all above, NOTE that you are leavng a trace on the event/history log of which MS has access to it and may do something to conter that without your notice or authorisation. If you are no sure, its better you stay on your working routine or follow woody here.

when I tried all those above, I was ready to ‘burn’ the computer along with MS forever… but it seems to have worked for me thus far….

The hardest part I think it the user’s midnset… if you are from US and not a risk taker you probably be better with safer options. MS is counting on all the comfort-seeking user to fold them into free upgrade. ‘FREE’ is a very powerful magic word in the western world.

personally I am transitioning to Linux Zorin slowly… or wait for the day when MS have a nicer boss … or something from the east to replace or buy out MS 🙂

decide what is best for you – good luck

Reply | Quote

@Woody,

Maybe we should all start promotng and supporting this…

https://www.change.org/p/the-electonic-frontier-foundation-have-the-eff-investigate-microsoft-for-malicious-practices-regarding-windows-10

Reply | Quote

If I had to work as hard as that guy to prevent Microsoft from installing W10 to my machine, I would seriously consider switching to a different OS — Linux, MAC, whatever.

For now, I’m staying with Microsoft, because I don’t have to put a lot of effort into staying with Windows 7.

I sincerely hope it stays that way.

Reply | Quote

Woody, please cover this one more time for me…and maybe others. You often say, as you did in this post, “run GWX Control Panel again”. My understanding is that if you have enabled Monitor Mode on GWX there is nothing else to do aside from disabling the Win 10 options. There is no “run” button. You install the program and that’s it. Please clear this for me and other.

iPhone 13, 2019 iMac(SSD)

Reply | Quote

Yes, I should’ve been more clear. If you set GWX Control Panel to use Monitor Mode, you don’t need to do anything. If you don’t enable Monitor Mode (I don’t because I don’t like to leave programs running unless I have to), then yes, you need to run it again.

Reply | Quote

They certainly have their hearts in the right place. I haven’t come out with an endorsement because it strays beyond the “no more Get Windows 10” straight ‘n narrow.

Reply | Quote

Of course, I don’t agree, because it’s important for every Windows users to install security patches, as soon as they’ve been vetted by a few hundred million guinea pigs….

Reply | Quote

I don’t think it’s necessary but, as mentioned, others reasonably disagree – and many people have bad patch lists, so picking which patches to uninstall is a tough row to hoe.

Reply | Quote

Great site Woody and so appreciate the info on patches/updates we can ditch.

I stumbled on Spybot Anti-beacon to help with windows 7 telemetry. Wasn’t sure if yourself or your readers were aware of it.

https://www.safer-networking.org/spybot-anti-beacon/

Keep up the great work!

Reply | Quote

Yep, it seems like a good product from a solid company. I’m just not convinced it solves the problem sufficiently for folks who are most concerned about privacy.

Reply | Quote

Normally uninstalling KB3035583 should be enough to keep you protected from the Windows 10 Upgrade offers.

Read and understand this article too:
https://support.microsoft.com/kb/3080351

The above article is the authoritative reference and is what GWX Control Panel and Never10 implement.

You can stop here, follow Woody’s monthly recommendations (MS-DEFCON) and use your computer for what is meant to be used.

For additional peace of mind, if you wish, you can also uninstall the following updates which are the only documented updates related to the upgrade:
KB3123862
KB2952664
KB3021917

Every other update which is part of the other lists is more related to telemetry or perceived association with the upgrade.
The only other list which I would recommend is the one provided by Noel Carboni which was the base of my list from which I removed few updates. You can safely use Noel’s list if you consider the additional updates which I removed from my list as being annoying.
https://www.askwoody.com/2016/the-win-7-sp2-convenience-rollup-kb-3125574-might-actually-be-worthwhile/

All other lists with removed updates are overkill and likely to cause slow Windows Update.

You should install ALL other released updates (except those in my list or Noel’s list), including Optional updates for the best performance and complete functionality of your PC.

Woody’s considerations in the original article are entirely accurate and as my views are similar, I am not avoiding the telemetry related updates. This is why there are differences between the 2 lists provided above.

Reply | Quote

@Nd60 The deal is, if you are going to get ‘hit’ by unfortunate, then fate will fulfill its due. You can do all you can and all the money you can buy, even the FED get hacked. So? Is there a way of full proof safety on the internet?

Sure anyone can get hacked, like any building can be broken into, but you have to take in consideration the effort and resources required to be allocated to each hacking attempt according to the target. Is BF likely to be exposed to the same risks like much higher profile hosts on the internet?

Reply | Quote

Jim, I completely agree with you about using alternative operating systems rather than wasting time with less productive activities where possible, but if you refer to “that guy” as being the original poster, the article says: “I want to do everything possible to prevent Win10 installing on two Win 7 computers that I use to earn my living.”
It appears that using an alternative OS for now is not an easy option.

Reply | Quote

Yup, that’s it. I don’t have the time or interest to install an alternative OS, learn it, get all my stuff working again, etc. Just need to sit down, work, and crank out billable hours.

Reply | Quote

i’ve been sick & tired of MS malware for far too long, i’ve long since turned off updates & services associated, sick & tired of all this hassle

Reply | Quote

Woody, I just installed GWX Control Panel..Stand Alone and pinned it to my taskbar. I do not have monitoring enabled. The Stand Alone program installed and ran and my laptop is okay but did find a few Win10 related files and cleared/blocked it. So if monitor mode is turned OFF and I want to Run the program again multiple times do I click on the GWX Control Panel Icon and then click Run in the window that opens up and will it search for Win10 items each time I click Run or do I need to download a new GWX Control Panel Stand Alone each time I want to search my computer. I’m confused about the difference between GWX Control Panel installer and GWX Control Panel Stand Alone downloads available. I just need to know that I’m okay with the Stand Alone program I downloaded today and that I don’t need to continue to download it each time I want to use it.

Reply | Quote

Yes….. I too have got that running on our machines.
If there are any other programmes that would do the same thing or better ……… it would be great to have them aired to help us all. One thing I like about it is that it emanates from Ireland and not the US. I say that as in the US there seems to be more constraint on users and their privacy issues. Whether or not that holds true I don’t know……. but for the time being it’s another wall for
snoopers to have to scale!
I might add that I have Diagnostic Tracking turned off as well…..
On a further note….. reading about your recent descriptions of Cortana et al…….. makes me less inclined to ‘progress’ to Win10. LT

Reply | Quote

Woody, you wrote…

>for now, I’m not overly concerned about the
>quantity of data flowing to Microsoft.

That is, of course, your choice, but please beware of becoming numb to intrusion.

Just a few short years ago communications activity that today you’re having to accept and overlook in order to dabble with “cloud-integrated” features would have been considered active spyware / adware / malware and evoked outrage and expenditure to block it.

That it no longer causes outrage doesn’t mean that somehow it’s now become okay.

Make no mistake: Microsoft is actively re-defining a “new normal” for their benefit – at a pace we’ve never seen before. And they’re big enough to pull it off.

Some pertinent questions to keep in mind…

Do you rely more on data today than ever before, i.e., is your data more or less valuable to you? To others?

Do you think the chance of your data being stolen from the companies who are tirelessly trying to gather it up is lower today than in the past?

Do you think the chance of your data being used for nefarious purposes by the very companies who gather it is lower today than before?

If you’re not watching (and controlling) what’s being sent where by your tech, just remember that being unaware is NOT AT ALL the same thing as it not happening.

In our connected world, please be careful.

-Noel

Reply | Quote

What you say is absolutely true. (In fact, I just wrote part of a chapter in my new book on this very topic.) People who are sensitive to data collection need to increase their protection in myriad ways. Even walking down the street, given current face recognition technology, can be intrusive.

Tis a brave new world…

Reply | Quote

Until Josh releases an update, you can re-run the same version.

Reply | Quote

Now 2014, 2015, & 2016 Lexus owners are being BSOD’d by software updates [see Miami Herald June 8th]. Could we hope its Win 10?
Moral of the story, turn off automatic updates until you are safely at home!

Reply | Quote

It sounds like you might have downloaded the full version jeri if you “installed” it and you’re seeing an option to “Run” it when you launch the program.

I’ve never installed it myself so I don’t know what appears when that version is launched. I’ve always used the standalone versions and I’ve never seen “Run” anywhere in the window that opens when I launch it.

Reply | Quote

Scary, isn’t it? BMW had a similar problem, with bad dashboard indicators after a recent update. Also many more reports of car hacking.

Reply | Quote

Tis a SAD new world….. me thinks! LT

Reply | Quote

http://blog.ultimateoutsider.com/2015/08/using-gwx-stopper-to-permanently-remove.html?commentPage=3

The above link will take you to all the information you may need about GWX Control Panel. Josh has been v. explicit on how it all works.
About a quarter of the way down the page you will see current update which highlights what Josh is working on at present to include in his next update.
Hope this helps.
I have the Monitor running all the time and it sits in the task bar where I can access it if I want. LT

Reply | Quote

Hi Woody. Assuming I would want Windows 10 (big assumption) for free before July 29 and have a valid Windows 7 install on my computer but don’t want to risk having that messed up by allowing MS to directly “upgrade” so I download a Windows 10 ISO from “Tech Bench” using the Windows ISO Downloader instead, how would I make it an active, free, Windows 10 installation?

I have been told that I could clean install the Windows 10 ISO on a hard drive and activate it with the Windows 7 key. Do you know if this is correct? Has anybody else done this?

I’m not certain that I’d want Windows 10 but I definitely would not want to pay for it when it’s offered for free.

Thanks for all your hard work and advice – and I apologize for taking up your time with what may be a dumb question!

Reply | Quote

Not a dumb question at all!

I would say wait until the Anniversary Update is here – or at least, is closer.

Yes, you can clean install Win10 on a PC and use a Win7 key to activate it. But you need to make sure you have a good key. You may end up having to activate by phone (it happens), so keep some sort of record that you own the key.

Of course, the usual clean install advisories apply.

Reply | Quote

Woody. we have been using Win 8.1, along with Josh Mayfields GWX Control panel as you suggested.
In addition to doing manual security updates only, we also use Local Accounts on all machines [signed out from MS account and removed c card info].
Would using local accounts only really bring any benefit? Like cutting off some of MS tentacles?

Reply | Quote

Using local accounts only is always a good practice – it limits possible problems with malware.

As for keeping Win10 off your machines – naw, I don’t think it’ll make any difference, and I doubt it’ll change the snooping/telemetry….

Reply | Quote

Just a heads up for everyone, in checking WSUS yesterday I saw that kb2977759 and 2952664 seemed to have both been reissued.

Reply | Quote

Woody, I guess I’m dense so please forgive me. How do I re-run the same Stand Alone version? Do I need to delete the program and then download again to run? I pinned the Stand Alone version to my taskbar so I get an Icon. When I click the Icon I get a “permissions box” that asks me if I want to allow Josh’s program to Run. If I select Run, does that re-run the program? If I don’t pin it to the taskbar how do I run the program? There isn’t an option to put on desktop.

What is the best method to use this program? Should I install the one with the installer or is Stand Alone okay? I have the option in the Stand Alone version to run in monitor mode which I currently have disabled.

I have read and re-read Josh’s website but honestly I’m still confused and that’s why I’m asking for clarification from those who use the Stand Alone version and how they re-run it.

Reply | Quote

Yes. If you get a permissions box, choose Run, and that’ll run the program. If you don’t pin it to the taskbar, you need to go find it – probably in the Downloads folder.

Best way to run it? Depends. If you feel comfortable leaving it running, just run it in Monitor Mode. If you don’t like to leave programs running when you don’t absolutely have to, pin it to the taskbar – just like you have – and run it again every time you do a Windows update.

Reply | Quote

Woody, is there any guarantee that the Anniversary Edition will be free for those who have not upgraded previously?
I think the time for upgrade for those interested is now and not much later.
Also, what is actually a good qualifying key for Windows 7 to be used in the upgrade process? Is the OEM key printed on the side a valid one for this purpose? As far as I am concerned, that key does not even activate Windows 7 without an additional call to Microsoft.
I think the safest procedure for upgrade is to do a full image of the system disk as is, upgrade in place and then decide, either revert to the original image or keep the upgraded system, or use one of the Win 10 images to do a new clean install.
While the TechBench image is the cleanest image for the purpose, I think it is officially supported only for OEM installations while the recommended one is here https://www.microsoft.com/en-au/software-download/windows10

Reply | Quote

I think it is OK to use local accounts until Microsoft will move further to enforce the use of Microsoft Accounts. I did the same a while ago and only found a problem with having to sign in every time when I needed to use something which required cloud access. OneDrive is one of those technologies which most people use and need signing in.

Reply | Quote

Thank you Woody. This is what I needed to know. I scoured Josh’s website and didn’t find the answer so thank you so much for your valuable time! It is in my windows downloads as an application. I’ll just keep it pinned to my taskbar for now.

Many thanks!

Reply | Quote

No idea what’ll happen after July 29, but they aren’t going to run out of bits between now and then.

I don’t think anyone knows precisely which keys will work in the Win10 install, but the phone activation is always a reasonable alternative. Except for the people who have trouble with phone activation (it’s always been good to me).

The procedure you describe – full disk backup, upgrade in place, followed by a “restore” of the clean image – is the best alternative. There’s also a new clean installation option coming. Still don’t have details on it.

Reply | Quote

After reading your comment jcarl I looked on my Win7
machine and found that I have KB2952664 waiting in Optional unchecked and non-italic. Haven’t checked our Win8.1 machine yet. Thanks for the thumbs up…….Happy Days! LT

Reply | Quote

Having a Samsung laptop (not on the Samsung good to go “list”) I’m glad I did prevent it.

Reply | Quote

The bad patch list includes updates which are compatibility updates only. Like the format of the log file looks a little bit different. Many of them have nothing to do with the actual reporting, they are ‘passive’ patches.

Reply | Quote