Windows 10: Microsoft gets more aggressive with its automatic upgrade

Microsoft is expected to kickstart a more aggressive Windows 10 upgrade strategy

MICROSOFT has increased its efforts to push PC owners to upgrade to Windows 10 thanks to a subtle quite to the Windows Update app, a third-party developer has claimed.

 

Microsoft is believed to be kickstarting a more aggressive Windows 10 upgrade strategy.

The technology firm previously announced it would re-categorise its Windows 10 upgrade to a "recommended update" within Windows Update early next year.

With default settings, Windows will download and begin installing any recommended updates automatically – without input from the user.

But Microsoft has kickstarted its aggressive new upgrade strategy earlier than expected, a Windows developer has claimed.

Software engineer Josh Mayfield is the creator of an app called GWX Control Panel – which blocks the 'Get Windows 10' pop-ups and prompts Microsoft quietly installed on all consumer and small business Windows 7 and 8.1 PCs this summer.

 



Software engineer Josh Mayfield built an app dedicated to stopping Windows 10 upgrades



GWX Control Panel works by disabling the AllowOSUpgrade setting buried within Windows – but its creator now believes Microsoft has found a way to fight back.

"Over Thanksgiving weekend I started getting reports that the Windows Update ‘AllowOSUpgrade’ setting was getting flipped back on on a number of peoples’ PCs," he revealed in an interview with PC World.

"It keeps re-setting itself at least once a day if they switch it back off. This is new behaviour, and it does leave your PC vulnerable to unwanted Windows 10 upgrade behaviour."

Windows Update was last week refreshed for Windows 7 and Windows 8.1 users. Many GWX Control Panel customers reported that their machines had been switched from a “do-not-upgrade-to-Windows-10” status to “do-upgrade” within the settings.

 

This change can reportedly occur multiple times a day.

Following the refresh of the Windows Update app, Microsoft claimed: "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."

Engineer Josh Mayfield added: "They’re telling [the PC’s] Windows Update client that this computer can be upgraded to Windows 10.

“[The Windows Update client] is constantly checking settings several times an hour. It’s fully aware of the Windows 10 upgrade."

Mr Mayfield has since updated his app to reflect the latest changes from Microsoft.

 



Upgrade to Windows 10 message displayed in earlier versions of the operating system



GWX Control Panel now monitors 10 different Windows settings to ensure it can prevent any "unexpected Windows 10 upgrade behaviour."

Microsoft previously cautioned users about the possibility of automatic operating system upgrades in an official blog post.

"Depending upon your Windows Update settings, this may cause the upgrade process to automatically initiate on your device," writes Terry Myerson, executive Vice President of the Windows and Devices Group.

"Of course, if you choose to upgrade (our recommendation!), then you will have 31 days to roll back to your previous Windows version if you don’t love it.

 

Microsoft will not complete the installation without input from the user.

Windows 10 installations can be rolled back – a feature that prevented many from upgrading to the November Update when it was released.

Microsoft has previously stated an ambition to get one billion devices across the globe running Windows 10 within two years of the operating system's release.

But the new OS has not been without issues.

Users have reported infuriatingly slow boot-up speeds, trouble with wifi connections, privacy concerns and issues with child safety features following the jump to Windows 10.

Windows 10 is currently a free operating system upgrade to customers running genuine versions of Windows 7, Windows 8 and Windows 8.1.

If you have managed to get your version of Windows 10 up and running smoothly – NewsNewsBlog.blogspot.com has rounded up SEVEN top tips to master your new operating system.

And if you are feeling negative towards the new operating system, here are the WORST features Microsoft included in Windows 10.