BlankThis message is probably too long for the blind hams list.
If so, I'll divide and send in installments.
[This urgent message is being BCCed to about 15 people at once. This is important info on gross abuses Microsoft is inflicting on millions of Windows 7 & users in their frantic effort to force rapid adoption of Windows 10.]
A constantly updated (as more news of this MS outrage breaks) version of this message is on my website at:
<http://WA8LMF.net/Windows10_Info>
As most of you know, Microsoft is currently engaged in an unprecedented hard-sell campaign to push rapid adoption of Windows 10 by existing users of Win 7 and 8. This includes a series of nagware popups urging you to “Get Windows 10” being stealth installed on Window 7 and 8 devices in the guise of bug fixes and security updates by Windows Update. Before you even think of updating (or even if you are not interested in updating) read the following:
1) Win 10 is the last discrete version of Windows ever. From now on out, it will be continually and endlessly changing with silent FORCED updates without your consent or knowledge.
Unlike previous versions of Windows, where Window Update would present a list of patches and let you pick and choose which ones to apply, Win 10 just silently forces changes into your system. This would be great --IF-- MS didn't have such a horrible record of botched updates. In just the FIRST week of Win 10 release, there have been three major screwups that have bricked just-installed Win 10 installations. One driver update for certain video chips locked machines into endless reboots, and one totally killed many machines rendering them unable to boot at all.
This continual unannounced changing of Win 10 means you are dealing with an endlessly moving unknown target. Just because programs and device drivers worked today, there is no assurance they will work tomorrow, next week or next month, due to the endless stealth updates. This is going to be especially significant with ham software because much of it hasn't changed significantly since the XP era of the mid-to late 2000's. Sooner or later some secret update will start breaking these elderly programs, with no recourse to uninstall the offending patch (if you can even identify it).
2) Win 10 has escalated invasion of privacy to an unprecedented level. Win 10 is far more "cloud-oriented" than previous versions of Windows. As part of this, it's embedded "telemetry" reports practically everything you do, every program you run, every file you open back to the MS mother ship for analysis and marketing purposes. It shares your WiFi passwords with friends on your contact list. It contains hooks to pop up ads in the middle of LOCALLY RUNNING programs. It attempts to default file saves of local programs to Microsoft's cloud, rather than to your own hard disk. It tries to thwart downloads of browsers other than Edge;i.e. that can run adblocker and popup-blocker plug-ins. It ignores entries in the Windows HOSTS file aimed at blocking unwanted communications to specific URLs. MS has taken it upon itself to scan your local files to determine which of your BitTorrent downloads and installed programs are "illegal".
3) MS is now attempting to stealth-load the same telemetry "spyware" into Win 7 and Win 8 systems under the guise of "important Customer Experience Improvement Program” (CEIP) patches by Windows Update. However, at least with Win7 and 8 you can see the list of proposed downloads BEFORE they download, and uncheck them. Further, there are simple third-party batch file tools that can scan and uninstall this unwanted invasive crapware, including the "Get Windows 10" nagware popups campaign.)
4) MS is now stealth-downloading the ENTIRE Win 10 setup image (i.e. multi-gigabyte DVD image) into Win 7 & 8 systems, again via Windows Update, whether or not you asked for it, "just in case you decide to upgrade". It's stealing 3-6 gigabytes of your disk space and blowing through wireless device data quotas.
From <http://www.theinquirer.net/inquirer/news/2425381/microsoft-is-downloading-windows-10-to-your-machine-just-in-case> (Please note this is a British IT news site and NOT the American “National Enquirer” scandal sheet weekly paper):
"Microsoft is downloading Windows 10 to your machine 'just in case'
MICROSOFT HAS CONFIRMED that Windows 10 is being downloaded to computers whether or not users have opted in. A reader has pointed out to us that, despite not having 'reserved' a copy of Windows 10, he had found that the ~BT folder, which has been the home of images of the new operating system since before rollout began, had appeared on his system. He had no plans to upgrade and had not put in a reservation request."
The trojan horse “patch” to Windows 7 and 8 that starts this assault is Windows Update
“KB3035583” a.k.a. “GWX” (Get Windows X a.k.a. Windows 10) .
The first sign you have been hit with this unwanted crapware is the appearance of a white Windows logo in the system tray in the lower-right corner of the Windows desktop on Win 7 and 8 systems. An incessant series of popups urging you to update will follow. You can head off this download with the following registry entry:
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\GWX]
"DisableGWX"=dword:00000001
Open Notepad or another text editor. Copy/paste the three lines above into the blank document. Save as "NoWin10.reg” . Note that this file must have the extension “.REG” rather than the default “.TXT”. Exit the editor. Locate the this file in the Windows Explorer, RIGHT-click it and choose “Merge”. After a couple of “Are you really sure?” type prompts, it will add this value to the Windows registry.
If you have already been hit with the GWX nagware and possible installs of Win10-style “telemetry”, you can un-install them with the following .CMD file (i.e. Windows version of a classic DOS “batch file”.)
Open a blank document in Windows Notepad or similar text editor. Copy/paste the following lines into it. Save the file as “NukeWin10.CMD” or some such. Note the file extension “.CMD” rather than the default “.TXT” . After the save, locate this file in the Windows Explorer. RIGHT-click it and “Run As Administrator”. After a couple of UAC "Are you sure?" prompts, a black "DOS Box" window will open. You will be repeatedly asked to "Hit any key to continue". Just keep entering <ENTER> until the black window closes; then reboot.
@ECHO off
ECHO .
ECHO This batch file removes several Windows 10-inspired
ECHO spyware a.k.a. "telemetry" components stealth-ECHO installed into Windows 7 and 8 systems under the
ECHO guise of Windows security patches by Windows Update.
ECHO .
ECHO It also removes the "Upgrade to Windows 10 "nagware"
ECHO KB 3035583.
ECHO .
ECHO Hit ENTER to continue after each pause.
ECHO .
ECHO This batch file must be run with administator
ECHO privileges; i.e. right-click this file and
ECHO "Run As Administrator". Reboot system after final
ECHO uninstall runs and black command window closes.
ECHO .
ECHO on
pause
wusa /uninstall /kb:3035583 /norestart
pause
wusa /uninstall /kb:2990214 /norestart
pause
wusa /uninstall /kb:2952664 /norestart
pause
wusa /uninstall /kb:3022345 /norestart
pause
wusa /uninstall /kb:3068708 /norestart
pause
wusa /uninstall /kb:3075249 /norestart
pause
wusa /uninstall /kb:3080149 /norestart
pause
wusa /uninstall /kb:3044374 /norestart
pause
ECHO Last Uninstall, Reboot Now!
Pause
After the uninstalls complete, look for the subdirectory (i.e. “folder”) located beneath the main Windows directory called \$Windows.~BT . You will need to have “Show Hidden Files” enabled in the Explorer to see it. If found, delete it and its contents. (This is the location where the stealth download of the entire Windows 10 installer is being placed, eating up gigabytes of your disk space.)
This crapware will try to "come back from the dead" during the next Windows Update, if you have update set to run automatically.
See my website at <http://WA8LMF.net/Windows10_Info> for more information on how to disable this, and for ready-to-run versions of the two scripts above.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Stephen H. Smith
Email: WA8LMF (at) aol.com
Website: http://WA8LMF.net
(626) 372-1238 [ Cell Phone ]
EchoLink: Node # 14400 [Think bottom of the 2-meter band]
Radio Communications Systems Personal Computers
Consulting and Systems Integration
GPS Custom Mapping & Radio Coverage Mapping
Live Off-The-Air APRS Activity Maps
<http://wa8lmf.net/map>
Long-Range APRS on 30 Meters HF
<http://wa8lmf.net/aprs/HF_APRS_Notes.htm>
Steve, K8SP
"A person cannot survive as a true Spartan fan unless he is a bit of a masochist and a very large optimist."
Steve
Lansing, MI
|
