Why do software companies think they know what’s best for everyone? In the case of Microsoft, rolling out Windows 10 without asking… make… Stef… mad. Stef SMASH Microsoft.
After repeated nagging every day to upgrade to Windows 10, Microsoft took it upon themselves to ignore my insistence that I did not want the operating system. After booting up the machine and using it for a bit, without any warning to the contrary, it started upgrading my computer.
I thought maybe I’d accidentally missed the microscopic ‘close’ button in the nag screen at some point and this was my penance for a misplaced click, but it did the same on a couple of machines at work today too. Just decided to apply the update without consent.
Needless to say I was not best pleased. As the spinning circle crawled its way northwards to 100%, all I could do was watch, gnash my teeth and curse the company for thinking it knew what was best for me and my computer.
After nearly an hour of pissing about and countless reboots, it deemed itself ready for my inauguration into their Bright New Future of annoying app tiles and difficult-to-find power features. Like, you know, the file manager.
Then their corporate lawyers threw me a lifeline.
Before I could use the operating system I needed to agree to waive my rights in case the software one day turns me into a canoe or hurts my cats. So I simply declined the agreement, wondering what the heck it would do after it had gone to all the trouble of forcing the update on me.
It popped up another box, incredulous that I had been so bold. “But look at all the features you’ll be missing out on,” it said, and listed two. “1) A faster experience. 2) Hundreds of apps from the Windows store.”
If those are the most compelling reasons they can think of to sway my decision, they’re pretty limp. My machine is already quick thanks to my fastidiousness at keeping it that way. The SSD, terabytes of internal storage, gigabytes of matched RAM, over-the-top graphics card and multicore processor helps. A few more microseconds per cycle isn’t going to bother me just yet.
And as for the apps, what ones will I need? Do I care what the weather is in Las Vegas? No. Do I need a constant news feed from MSN? Nope. Do I use the computer for anything other than as a specialist audio workstation using legacy drivers and instruments that are not yet Windows 10 compatible? No.
So I clicked ‘Decline’ a second time. The software thought about it, perhaps deciding whether to cry and run back to Microsoft claiming I’d been a big bully. Then it snuck a little message onto the bottom of the screen: ‘Restoring your computer to its previous state’.
Ha.
Ha.
Ha.
Ha.
Ha.
Ha.
In your face, Microsoft. I’ll upgrade when I’m good and ready, thanks.
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2 vagabonds scribbled here
Two things:
Both tested, the former also used in anger numerous time – works wonderfully.
Great stuff, Pete, thanks. Even after going round and disabling the auto-update GWX.exe process on the remaining machines in the office, some had (we assume) already downloaded the installation files and one or two kicked off the install today.
This is getting beyond a joke so those links might be the saviour for what remains of my sanity.
There’s a great reddit thread about this issue. In one case, it transpires a hospital worker rushed to get the bronchoscopy machine out for someone who needed it pronto, only to be faced with ‘please wait while we upgrade your computer’. You can’t make this stuff up.
Type away