Windows 10 becomes recommended update to Win 7 and 8.1 as Microsoft stops making it free

The Inquisitr ^ | 02/02/2016 | Jinger Jarrett

[SeekAndFind]

Microsoft announced that Windows 10 has become a recommended update for Windows users. Windows 10 will no longer be a required update for users to upgrade to. Although some users have encountered problems with the new operating system, Windows 10 surpassed both Windows XP and 8.1 in terms of the number of users who now use the operating system. Windows 7 still has the most number of users.

Beta News reported Microsoft has been accused of pushing Windows 10 on users, and users complained that it was being automatically downloaded to their computers without their permission. Microsoft sought to silence critics’ accusations that Microsoft is forcing the new operating systems on users.

In a statement released by Microsoft, their spokesperson said the following.

“As we shared in late October on the Windows Blog, we are committed to making it easy for our Windows 7 and Windows 8.1 customers to upgrade to Windows 10. We updated the upgrade experience today to help our customers, who previously reserved their upgrade, schedule a time for their upgrade to take place.”

Although Microsoft’s change to their offer isn’t out of the blue, it may catch some Windows users off guard. Users still have the option to upgrade to Windows 10, and if they decide to revert to either Windows 7 or 8.1, they have a 31-day grace period to make the change. This change may still be made regardless of whether the update is accidental or not. Users may still see this as an aggressive move on the part of Microsoft.

As previously reported in The Inquisitr, Windows 10 left a lot to be desired when it came to the privacy settings within the software. Microsoft set the software to automatically default to recording the keystrokes users make. For Windows 10 users who are unhappy with these settings, they have the option to set the privacy and security settings within Windows to a more restrictive setting.

Microsoft starts pushing Windows 10 as recommended update. via /r/sysadmin https://t.co/fSXilYhZhN pic.twitter.com/HGUqE7lNsi

— Besmir Zanaj (@besmirzanaj) February 2, 2016

For those who are having problems with Windows 10, PC World offered five different fixes to help users troubleshoot the operating system and fix any problems they may be having. Updating Windows on a regular basis applies bug fixes and patches security holes to protect users from having problems or facing attacks. One of the biggest problems is that Windows 10 doesn’t update regularly the way it should.

To solve these problems, there are several tools that can be used to fix Windows 10. The first tool to use is Microsoft’s Troubleshooter. Although it rarely works, it’s simple and it’s worth trying. Users can download, install, and run the Windows Diagnostic to check for problems. Even if this tool doesn’t fix the problem, it may provide information users can use to search the web and find a fix.<

Your main base in @TheDivisionGame Beta is the same building we did our Windows 10 devices event in Oct. https://t.co/4BMq4DmgRz

— Larry Hryb (@majornelson) February 1, 2016

If the software is corrupted or severely damaged, System Restore can be used to fix the problem. There are two ways to do it. The first is to do a complete system restore and set Windows back to the default. This erases all files and software previously installed on the system and requires the user to once again install any Windows 10 updates that were previously released.

The other way to use System Restore is to simply restore the operating system without removing files and programs that were installed. Programs will need to be reinstalled, but it preserves all user files. Keeping a back up of all files before there is a problem can help users avoid losing crucial data.

Other potential fixes for Windows 10 that may help are to scan for malware. This is less invasive than doing System Restore. Users may also consider installing Windows from scratch or try restoring from an image of the system back up if one is available.

[txnativegop]

tried it and it almost destroyed my computer. It took a week to clean it up.

[Flavious_Maximus]

Microsoft is gun-ho on Windows 10 because it is loaded with spyware. I suspect they have been ordered by homeland security to add the spy feature and not disclose this to the public.

[BuffaloJack]

I would use it in a heartbeat if my system had RAID drivers that worked with it, but it doesn’t, so I continue with Windows 7.

[rarestia]

Feel free to post proof of your FUD. There’s nothing in Windows 10 that can’t be turned off.

[Mozilla]

No longer free? It has issues, but if not free people, like me, will not add it with all the issues and costing money. I’m planning on going to win 8.1 till win 10 is fixed.

[prisoner6]

One more time, for the record: Windows 10 is not a required update for Windows 7 and 8.1 users. It is now recommended. Users who do not want it can just say no.

Attribution and article by Mary Jo Foley, All About Microsoft.

http://www.zdnet.com/article/microsoft-starts-pushing-windows-10-as-a-recommended-update/

[Wyrd bið ful aræd]

In the Windows 10 EULA it explicitly states that Microsoft reserves the right to access any and all information ("including private information, such as the content of emails") if there is a "need."

Even if you shut off everything you can shut off, I must assume they have backdoor ways of accessing the material that the user agreed to let them access by accepting the EULA. Microsoft isn't going to say, "drat, we can't get at this guy's emails because he shut off Cortana!"

[oh8eleven]

Although some users have encountered problems with the new operating system
Some users had problems?

[rarestia]

There’s a saying we use in our office: never put all your bits into one byte. When it comes to home operating environments, if you’re relying on Microsoft for everything, you get what you deserve.

You should be using some sort of firewall on your home router. If you’re not, I recommend downloading and using DD-WRT. Learn how to firewall yourself from Redmond. It’s really not hard.

AND, I want to point something out to you... if you read EULAs, read the EULA for Azure. Windows 10 relies HEAVILY on Azure and cloud tech. If you’re using a Windows 10 machine behind a firewall, you’re gonna have problems. Windows 10 as a core OS is solid and seems to have passed muster. If you’re like many of the latest generation of kids, you want everything in the cloud, everything “social.” That’s Windows 10’s audience.

If you want privacy, turn off telemetry, disable firewall rules in the Windows firewall, turn off Cortana, turn off Location Services. Microsoft reserves the right to access any and all information IN YOUR CLOUD STORAGE. They can NOT traverse a firewall to your home machine to compromise your system. It just does not work that way.

[FourtySeven]

tried it and it almost destroyed my computer. It took a week to clean it up.

Same thing happened to me last July.

Recently (about a month ago) I mistakenly started the "update" again and my initial attempts to stop it were unsuccessful. Knowing what I did before to finally roll back to Windows 7, I decided to wait for it to install 10 and then roll it back again using my experience from before.

It downloaded and installed so quickly that I decided to give it another shot. I haven't had any problems since

[KEVLAR]

Indeed.

Win 10 is a non starter for me personally and no plans to purchase ANY as replacement for the 600 machines I manage.

8 and 8.1 were so bad for the 40 or so we bought we aren’t doing any 8/8.1/10.

[Terry L Smith]

When the laptop i purchased in June 2015 dies, i am of the opinion that Windows 10 just might be finally fixed by then!

[JimRed]

...Microsoft stops making it free...

Is that headline designed to scare us into updating to 10 before we have to pay for it?

[Skooz]

bfl

[musicman]

BFLR

[Windflier]

Ping to your list.

[dayglored]

Windows 10 heads-up... PING!

You can find all the Windows Ping list threads with FR search: just search on keyword "windowspinglist".

Thanks to Windflier for the ping!!

[dayglored]

BTW, all, Windows 10 stops being a free upgrade in July 2016, not before then.

[TChad]

Here's the Microsoft Privacy Statement:

https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/privacystatement/

You have to click "Expand" to see most of it.