Is Win 10 too invasive for you?

[Maineman]

I have one new laptop that came with Win 10. It updates too often, sometimes when I am using the computer, and I think MS is monitoring everything I do on the computer. I have 5 other computers that do not update at all. All of the other computers I have run Win 10 but were a free upgrade from Win 7. All computers have Windows update enabled. I am thinking of reformatting the HD in this new laptop, installing Win 7 and then upgrading to the free Win 10, same as all my other computers, to avoid having Win 10 upgrade at will. Has anyone had this problem? If this does not work I am inclined to switch to a Mac Pro laptop. Any thoughts?

 

[cub_fanatic]

I have one new laptop that came with Win 10. It updates too often, sometimes when I am using the computer, and I think MS is monitoring everything I do on the computer. I have 5 other computers that do not update at all. All of the other computers I have run Win 10 but were a free upgrade from Win 7. All computers have Windows update enabled. I am thinking of reformatting the HD in this new laptop, installing Win 7 and then upgrading to the free Win 10, same as all my other computers, to avoid having Win 10 upgrade at will. Has anyone had this problem? If this does not work I am inclined to switch to a Mac Pro laptop. Any thoughts?

I'm pretty sure you can't do the free upgrade anymore. It ended in July. But, you can change a bunch of privacy options in the settings. Just go to Start - Settings - Privacy and turn off anything that you don't want M$ to see. As for auto updates, you can't change that. But, you can "defer" the updates which basically delays them.

 

[photonboy]

1) Windows 10 is no longer free.

2) Upgrading from W7 to W10 is basically the same as installing W10 from scratch.

3) I don't mind periodic updates as long as they don't screw something up. I also don't care about most of the data that gets reported such as how many pictures I opened.

*Most of this data is put into a database with a number assigned to "you" so it's not like they are looking at porn pictures you downloaded and having a good laugh.

4) You can also DELAY when MS Updates are applied.

Start-> System-> Update & Security-> Advanced Options-> change how updates

*UPDATE:
I can't find the information to change the date on updates... huh. It's supposed to be there (see STEP 1 with link):
http://www.windowscentral.com/how-delay-windows-10-anniversary-update

maybe there is no updates needed so there is no option to change shown?

*The ANNIVERSARY update just happened for W10 which was quite large. It caused a few people problems so I told some people to defer the upgrade by two months.

Summary:
In general, I would leave W10 alone. Other than rebooting your computer rarely to install updates it's not a big deal IMO.

Windows 7 will slowly lose support as time goes on from Microsoft (not just exploit patching) as well as hardware and software. One example is DX12 gaming will only work with Windows 10.

 

[azaran]

Aside from whats already been pointed out, the big issue most people have with Win10 updating is it will decide when it wants to do the updates and required reboots. Supposedly when the computer is idle but it seems more often than not it doesn't care if its idle or not. This is a setting that can be changed, so you decide when to schedule the restart and not the other way around.
This article goes through how to change that.
http://www.pcworld.com/article/2953010/windows/how-to-schedule-your-windows-10-updates.html


I haven't verified this with the Anniversary update, since all the Win10 at my disposal right now are EDU based and haven't gone through that update yet.

 

[CelicaGT]

If you wish to control updates, and you are using WiFi, you can mark it as a metered connection. I've forgotten where and how but it's done on all my non pro installs that have WiFi. You won't get updates unless you initiate them, as for the rest it's been covered in the thread already.

(edit) basically go to your connection's "properties" through the settings app (modern interface) there should be an option there.

 

[Maineman]

I think maybe I was not clear about the problem I am having. It ONLY happens on this computer, the one that came with Win 10. All other computers run Win 10 but they were upgrades from Win 7.

I don't mind the updates and I know how to defer them (will double check the settings). The issue I am concerned with is the frequency of updates, sometimes twice a day, and the laptop shutting down while I am using it. What I get often is "Your computer has experienced some problems and will be shut down and restarted. This will take some time while we collect some data." or similar wording.

My concern is Win 10 that comes with a computer is different than the version used to update from Win 7 as none of my other 5 computers have this problem. They don't update and have not undated to the anniversary version. They work fine. This is a new ASUS laptop that was only available from Best Buy. Has anyone heard of problems with this laptop? Can post specific model if needed but is / was the only model with 12 GB RAM and a DVD drive.

 

[azaran]

If you're getting shutdowns from updates, that's a setting as I said. However if you're getting shutdowns because of problems in the OS, that's a whole different matter. If its constantly trying to download updates and crashing, then it sounds more like a hardware failure or something in the OS is corrupted than Windows just updating too frequently. I'd suggest you look at the error logs and see whats actually causing your programs as well as running some diagnostics on your hardware.

 

[CelicaGT]

Are you sure it's Windows doing this? MS has completely revamped how they supply updates and they DO NOT come down as frequently as you are having this issue. Often OEM's will supply some crappy, shady AF "Update Manager", it would not even surprise me that this could masquerade as a legit MS service. Dell has one, Acer, HP....and yes...ASUS too. I'm not saying this is what it is, but it is a place to look. Follow up on azaran's suggestion first, but to be clear I have a "No OEM" Windows install policy, wipe-reinstall fresh on ALL off the shelf machines. Nuke it from orbit...it's the only way to be sure....