Windows7/8 - Updates to hide to prevent Windows 10 Upgrade / Disable Telemetry

Use what you like

@S.Prime had a specific immediate issue to solve, reverting back to the previous Windows install before the Windows 10 upgrade, and protecting against the Windows 10 Upgrade happening again.

For that the MS settings to revert to the previous OS, and GWX Control Panel is enough.

If he wants to come back and use Destroy Windows Spying for Windows 8.1/7 to stop background processes and network traffic due to Windows telemetry, that's up to him, we don't need to push full on assault for every situation.

Aegis is another tool for people to check out, but again, for most people they are really just looking to stop the Windows 10 upgrade, so GWX Control Panel is a good first entrée into the world of control over your PC's actions due to MS strong arm OS upgrade tactics and invasions of Privacy.

O&O ShutUp10 and Spybot Anti-Beacon are good for Windows 10 users. Better would be to upgrade back to Windows 7/8.1, but if they are stuck on Windows 10, it's better than nothing.

You can certainly respond to people with questions and looking for solutions and recommend Aegis, but be sure to keep a good short how to on hand to put into a "spoiler" so they are set on the right course for success each time.

Thanks for helping

 

Indeed. However, I was just curious if there was a preferred choice of must haves vs optional.

Which apps do you personally use?

Thanks

 

When I have a short response, wait for the edit before responding, refresh now to re-read my post, and know that I am still editing for correctness / content well after the first post.

 

I've just noticed that and have read it. Thanks.

 

UPDATE for Aegis v1.10

Here you go guys....enjoy...

https://voat.co/v/technology/comments/459263

 

KB2952664 (Get Windows 10 Assistant) just appeared again as an optional update. Hid it once more.

There's a new optional update, too: KB3135445.

And someone peeked in the update files:

Just the first of many such updates to come, I suppose.

 

If you guys aren't using these scripts on 7 and 8.1 to keep Microsoft at bay, at least make sure you use the Group Policy editor to disable the Windows upgrade so it doesn't push you into 10.

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/kb/3080351

As for me, I'm back on 7 Pro for the first time in a few years and every issue I had with 8.1 and 10 is gone. I think I'm sticking with 7 for awhile but I left 10 on the other drive. Was definitely worth picking up a 7 Pro license from Kinguin.

 

Whats the best method for Home Premium users who don't have group policy?

 

For now change your settings for windows update to manual and/or uncheck the option to get recommended updates the same way you get other windows updates. Since it's recommended now, it will download and I've heard of it installing itself in the past automatically and I wouldn't put it past Microsoft to leave that "bug" there.

 

New dose of s**t hits the fan, among others https://support.microsoft.com/en-gb/kb/3123862
"The update adds capabilities to some computers that lets users easily learn about Windows 10 or start an upgrade to Windows 10" 25,7 MB !

 

GWX Control Panel stops the efforts of MS's push for Windows 10 Upgrades on Windows 7/8/8.1.

GWX Control Panel
http://ultimateoutsider.com/downloads/

"This is a free tool that can remove and disable the 'Get Windows 10' notification area icon on Windows 7 and Windows 8. Recent versions can also disable 'Upgrade to Windows 10' behavior in the Windows Update control panel and do much more. See the user guide at the Ultimate Outsider blog. "

Read the User Guide docs before using
http://blog.ultimateoutsider.com/2015/08/using-gwx-stopper-to-permanently-remove.html

GWX Control Panel works well for me on Windows 8.1, and it stopped and reversed the damage done by Microsoft Windows 10 Upgrade the first time I used it.

I was able to remove the 4GB Windows 10 Upgrade downloaded installer files and folder, remove the notification tray icon, and stop MS from pushing the Windows 10 Upgrade to my systems again.

Now I run GWX Control Panel as a background monitor to catch any changes in Windows Update that might try to work around the known methods to push the Windows 10 Upgrade.

This is what the GWX Control Panel dialog looks like after disabling Windows 10 Upgrades. Notice it's running in monitoring mode.


I run with Automatic Updates OFF, which is how I have GWX Control Panel set as well.

I run updates manually once a week and deal with them on an individual basis. I hide them if I don't have time to research them at the moment they show up, and revisit it later when I have time.

MS's is being nasty about hiding additional trojan's in updates along with needed functions, fortunately nothing critical is being lost by not installing those updates.

For now I am not installing an update if it's stated use or function isn't something I use or think I will ever need.

 

@hmscott, excellent as always.

Powered by: Quad Core Exynos + 6820HK

 

Yesterday Windows Update couldn't connect to a MS Update server, but today it worked fine.

I thought I would report it here in case anyone had the same error:

Spoiler

Now the next day (Friday) morning Windows Update connected and checked quickly, and found one Optional update, which I hid to check if I need it later.

Spoiler

KB 3123862 eerily resembles Microsoft's earlier Get Windows 10 patch
http://www.infoworld.com/article/30...-dont-install-microsoft-patch-kb-3123862.html

 

^KB3123832 is a Windows upgrade package

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I337 using Tapatalk

 

KB3123862

KB 3123862 eerily resembles Microsoft's earlier Get Windows 10 patch
http://www.infoworld.com/article/30...-dont-install-microsoft-patch-kb-3123862.html

 

will add it to the list momentarily

 

He got the number wrong, he subbed a 3 for the 6, it should be:

KB3123862

 

thanks for the correction chief, I'll add this then.

Cheers

 

+5 rep, you shoulda got the credit, you were first, so there it is

 

hmscott = the rep credit manager

 

KB3123862 added to the list and batch file updated

 

Well its been a few weeks since I run the batch file so I guess it's time to run again...thanks for the update.

 

Interesting info...

https://www.thurrott.com/windows/wi...-finally-offers-windows-10-update-information


Sent from Mr. Spock through Tapatalk

 

That's for Windows 10 and has nothing to do with this thread.

 

I thought you guys might want use the information. Sorry if I was wrong.

Sent from Mr. Spock through Tapatalk

 

no problem, the thing is this is a Windows 7/8 updates thread, what you just mentioned I already posted here yesterday. See: http://forum.notebookreview.com/threads/windows-10.762434/page-259#post-10197099

and then another thread was created for the same thing: http://forum.notebookreview.com/thr...-offers-windows-10-update-information.788042/

 

Hello.

Since last tuesday patch, there is a windows update client patch (KB3135445 for W7 ; KB3135449 for W8.1) without detailed explanations. What thinking about this ? Little pieces of Windows 10 upgrade inside ? I won't install it for now, in doubt ...

 

some opinions here > http://www.infoworld.com/article/30...-but-ignore-the-rest-of-microsofts-batch.html

 

That's a great list of descriptions for the new batch of updates, @Phoenix would be interested in them for KB's to add to the list in Post #1

 

Review of the new updates pending and will be added momentarily

 

KB3135445 & KB3135449 added to the list and batch file updated.

For more details why they were added, visit: http://www.infoworld.com/article/30...-but-ignore-the-rest-of-microsofts-batch.html

 

Anybody else getting annoyed with Microsoft constantly republishing old updates with a new date? I've had to re-hide KB2952664 3 or 4 times now.

 

just disable Windows update and run it every other Tuesday

 

If @Peon 's problem is like mine, Updates keep re-appearing even after just running Windows Update, then MS has introduced a new problem, and a confirmation with 2 of us at least having the problem

Since Friday(?) I have had the "check updates" signal in the bottom right corner of the login screen, and after I run Windows Update, and Hide the update, the whole process starts over at next boot/login.

This time I ran Windows Update 6 times, hid the update(s) found, re-ran Windows Update again and again, until it came up clean, and rebooted, and finally there are no more updates.

And, I had check for updates settings set for Manual mode, but somehow it got changed back to Alert but don't download.

Here are the updates that came back:

Spoiler

Ran out of image count, left one out

 

Curious how many have used this option to hide Windows 10.

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/kb/3080351

I used it on 7 only because I have 10 there as a dualboot option on my second SSD if I ever want to use it but I'm curious if anyone else has had success.

I was thinking about making a script that leaves IE alone but I see that for some people it causes issues with Aero and fonts (I haven't experienced either issue) so I guess I'll leave that up to folks... I personally would rather be on the latest IE for security reasons (I don't actually browse with it but many apps do) and now that I've manually installed IE 11 through Microsoft's site, I have updates stuck in my queue for 9, 10, and 11 which I've hidden.

 

Are there any Technet docs on Configuration for Telemetry pre-Windows 10? I only see Office 2013/2016 Dashboard, ATA, and that's about it.

Is there a Telemetry Configuration for Enterprise support of Windows 8.1 / 7 desktops?

This is the latest Windows 10 updated docs for Controlling Telemetry out of an Enterprise network.

Microsoft Technet Library
Configure telemetry and other settings in your organization

Last updated - February 11, 2016
Applies to - Windows 10

"In Windows 10 Enterprise, Version 1511 or Windows 10 Education, Version 1511, you can configure telemetry at the Security level, turn off Windows Defender telemetry and MSRT reporting, and turn off all other connections to Microsoft services as described in this article to prevent Windows from sending any data to Microsoft.

We strongly recommend against this, as this data helps us deliver a secure, reliable, and more delightful personalized experience."

"Some of the network connections discussed in this article can be managed in Windows 10 Mobile, Windows 10 Mobile Enterprise, and Windows 10, Version 1507. However, you must use Windows 10 Enterprise, Version 1511 or Windows 10 Education, Version 1511 to manage them all."

https://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/mt577208(v=vs.85).aspx

 

In the first post " Download Disable Task Scheduler Privacy Related tasks Batch File" leads to the uninstall Telemetry Win 10 Updates bat instead.
But thx again, Win 7 gave me too many crashes, but with Win 8.1 and your guide here it works flawless (for now)

 

Fixed, thanks for notifying me

 

I've just finished a fresh Windows 8.1 Pro install on my other AW.

It has 84 "Important" Updates....*rolling eyes*

I'm with some of you on this. Why would I want to introduce all MS's rubbish only to have to remove it? I don't get it.

Couldn't I just not update anything since it isn't broken? There has been one time where I installed a program that I use for work and it asked to update a .NET Framework etc....but that was it.

Wouldn't it be best to just install any updates on a need to have basis?

I understand that some updates may be patches for security etc....but, the particular AW laptop is for gaming, browsing and minor photoshop stuff....

Therefore, no need to update right? Why introduce all the rubbish? I don't get the concept.

Please enlighten me....

Thanks.

 

Then run Windows Update, get the list of Windows Updates to install, and search for each KB on the naughty list, and when you find one, Hide it.

Then keep doing Windows Update, re-searching again and again running the whole list of naughty updates against the list of Updates to install, Hiding the ones you find, and repeat until there are no more Updates.

The less boring way is to run Windows Update until no updates are remaining to install - you can hide the drivers and Skype crap along the way - you don't need to install those - and then once all the Updates are installed, you run the DWS app, Aegis script, and the NBR script too if you like, and that will uninstall all the naughty KB's.

Then, run Windows Update one more time and everything that comes up can be Hidden, all at once.

That is why people do the install first, uninstall scripts, and so they can mass Hide all at once, less tedious.

Both ways suck time and joy from our lives, you decide whieh is least painful, or most appealing

I have done both, and both suck. From a new install I prefer the batch script uninstalls after running all the Updates. After that I do the Hide before install every week, catching up a week later after the naughty KB's are identified.

Do it the way you want, there is no "right" way, they both work fine

 

Thanks @hmscott. I agree...this whole Windows mess sucks

Because the particular AW is for just gaming, minor browsing and minor photoshop work....I think I'll just leave it be without installing any updates. It really doesn't need it. I did run some of the scripts above just to block ip's and host files and did some tinkering with the firewall.

It'd be nice to have a script where it'd automatically select only the updates that are "safe," before updating them....

 

The Aegis script does this, runs Updates and Hides the bad ones - use the WIP (Work In Progress) one. I just tried it, as opposed to the previous version that installed, uninstalled and hid.

Look at the script first, I just ran it and noticed the difference but didn't verify that was what it was really doing.

 

Everything boils down to whether you are careful about how you use the internet and email. And if you are careful about what you download. I haven't opened Win update since middle August. Why should I?

 

I totally agree. Although I don't recommend anyone follow in my footsteps, I don't even use antivirus software any more. The internet is a dangerous place, but not as dangerous as the people that use it.

@iunlock - just disable it in gpedit and be done with it. With rare exceptions Micro$loth updates are pure rubbish and they have already proven they cannot and should not be trusted under any circumstances.

 

First of all, awesome list. I always check here when they drop new updates.
But. could you add a small headline when new updates are added that should be avoided?
That would be great so we easily now what the latest virus additions are.

 

Can I be as bold as to ask why this is included in the Hosts file, I'm told some of their tools are quite useful?

I did have a search around but couldn't see any mention of it, but do understand why some of the other sites are blocked.

Would it be better to add these entries to my router rather than all my local pc's hosts files?

Thanks!

 

A quick Google told me they added (ad)software to the installer of hosted programs, sometimes without even telling the programs devs.
Just Google sourceforge malware.

 

Thanks, just did so and now see why its been added to the list.
You have to be so careful these days - even Windows Updates have to be treated as suspicious - whats going on?
Edit - just an example, I hid these updates a couple of days ago an hey presto - here they are again. Grrr!

 

Yes, you need to be careful with MS these days, they really want to force / trick anyone they can into installing Windows 10. MS will republish the same KB number multiple times, and the Hiding only works on the "version" you hid, not the re-release. MS has also changed the status from Optional to Recommended for the Windows 10 Update.

You can get GWX Control Panel to run in a monitoring mode to catch MS playing with the update settings as well. It's gone off a few times on me.

Turn off automatic Windows Update checking completely, only do it manually when you can watch it.

 

Once youre done with all updates to the current date, better just turn Windows update off. Screenshot your current hide-list and check the updates manually.
I mean, what special content update will they still bring for Win 8.1 ? I doubt any, so manual should suffice.