Everybody MUST READ !

[Appliance 51]

The following is a complete Editorial article taken from the SimFlight website today.

 

I have uninstalled  the update referred to.

 

 

Quote -

 

Editorial: That’s a bit cheeky, Microsoft!

BY BOB, FRIDAY, 10 APRIL 2015 @ 14:12

Many users of Microsoft operating systems just tend to set their updates to ‘automatic’, or click install on anything ‘recommended’ or ‘important’ without looking what the update actually does.

Sometimes, the result of this can be downright dangerous – updates have, in the past, disabled hardware or software and, on rare occasions, made your OS completely unusable until the ‘update’ is manually removed. Sometimes, it’s hard to work out what the update actually does, until you or someone else digs a little deeper: Such is the case with KB 3035583 “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).”

 

The update, it appears, does indeed ‘add functionality for Windows Update’, serving no function other than turning your PC into an advertisement for Windows 10 plus, potentially, then installing it anyway whether you want it or not. This link gives a good write-up on the various ‘phases’ of deployment listed.

Now, this may not be a bad thing for many people, as all the articles around the internet regarding KB 3035583 point out, if it makes it easier to update to a newer OS with minimum hassle. But what if you’re an experienced Windows user – like many in this hobby – who knows about Windows 10 and doesn’t need it pushing on them, perhaps while they are evaluating it on another PC, dual booting or, indeed, delaying installation until the bugs that inevitably exist in any new release get mitigated against or quashed?

According to many discussions, KB 3035583 started out as “Optional”, then was updgraded to “Recommended” and is now being distributed as “Important”, meaning that a lot of Windows installations will download and install it automatically and silently, so the user just suddenly starts getting advertising in their face. At the start of this article, I used the word “cheeky”, but it’s actually downright dishonest of Microsoft in my opinion to label what is basically adware as “Important”. That classification is for security or serious bug updates, especially when part of the wording on the KB page states “Microsoft has confirmed that this is a problem in the Microsoft products that are listed in the “Applies to” section.” Emphasis mine, because there is no problem. This is pure marketing for Windows 10.

While this update is, in itself, comparatively innocuous, just annoying, it does to go show that automatically updating to what Microsoft suggests you do through Windows update isn’t always the best idea in the world. You might want to look up the KB article before hitting install and, if you still don’t know what it does, untick the box while you do a few Google searches. At worst, you’ll avoid getting ads for Windows 10 shoved in your face. At best, you’ll avoid major problems and a series of command prompt or safe mode instructions that you need to follow, to remove something you really didn’t want, need and which broke software you actually want to use.

- Unquote

 

[Walter Almaraz 21]

In my opinion sounds like a paranoia

[Greggy_D 935]

In my opinion sounds like a paranoia

 

 

Exactly

[max2770 74]

Windows (7, at least), makes it incredibly easy to uninstall updates.  Stop the panic, it'll all be fine.

 

Plus, the Windows community is so large, if it ever came to that, someone would come up with a workaround within a week.

[gwillmot 31]

I feel left out since I'm still running WinXP ..... sigh!  I could use some good adverts ..... it's lonely here.

[AVSIM Admin 4]

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[Don t moderate me this way 882]

I uninstalled the KB - thanks for the H-U!

[Ray Proudfoot 8,919]

I've had this KB update installed since 4 April and have yet to see any W10 adverts. :rolleyes:

[Don t moderate me this way 882]

The update isn't yet active, it seems:

 

"There is also a reference to an OnlineAdUrl, presumably a page hyping the benefits of Windows 10, though this is currently a dead link. The update appears to be intended to advertise Windows 10 and push the user towards consenting to download and install it."

 

From:

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2015/04/09/microsofts_mystery_update_will_push_windows_10_onto_window_7_8_machines/

(That's one of the links in the OP.)

[pete_auau 1,152]

Well  I got  that update installed  and  havnt  been forced into windows  10  or  havnt  seen any type  of  adds  for  it  seems  to be  some mystery about  this update?  So if  its not  active  than how  come  its been released  for update  than?

[Glynn 405]

It will get even worse once Windows 10 is released and on your machines.

The Consumer version will not allow you to deselect individual items from windows update so you will get everything MS chooses to throw at you including GPU drivers, Oh what fun that will be.

 

But we are getting 10 for free so it would be churlish to complain, right ?

 

The Enterprise versions allow for turning off Windows updates presumably because those folks tend to roll out their own images.

[WotanUK 289]

Microsoft are desperate to get people and particularity business users off Windows XP and 7, it makes perfect sense to start getting people revved up.  Hell, they are actually giving Windows 10 away.

 

I am fairly ambivalent to Windows 10, but it's a good strategy.   

[jabloomf1230 2,445]

You get what you pay for.

[Ray Proudfoot 8,919]

 

 

Microsoft are desperate to get people and particularity business users off Windows XP and 7...

 

XP I understand but I only bought 2 licences for 7 18 months ago as that's when I finally had a PC capable of running FSX. As support remains with 7 for a few years yet I would be very annoyed if Microsoft started badgering me to upgrade... even for no charge.

[mebull 27]

I feel left out since I'm still running WinXP ..... sigh!  I could use some good adverts ..... it's lonely here.

 

Same here - XP. I don't know whether to feel left out or lucky, but at least I can sit back and see how things play out before I make a choice or before I am strong armed into something I'm not going to like.

 

Regards,