[aprssig] Before You Install Windows 10 (Or even if you don't want to) Read This
Paul Bramscher
pfbram at comcast.net
Thu Sep 17 09:17:49 EDT 2015
Thanks for the head's up, I found that hidden Win 10 folder (4+ GB) on
my Win 7 system also. I didn't ask to download that.
Some recent updates (affecting Win 7, 8, ?) ruined compatibility for
CD-based games that my son plays, SimCity 4 among them. One day it just
stopped working. Under Win 7, I've turned off automatic updates and
uninstalled at least one of them. In addition to the
privacy/security/adware issues, I wonder how hospitals, the military or
other critical infrastructure could adopt an operating system that might
spontaneously make some application non-functional or stealth download
large amounts of data.
But I do Linux professionally, and have been reducing the number of
Windows-based programs I rely on for many years.
I wish APRSIS can be ported to Java or somesuch. Probably we should
take stock of legacy Windows ham radio software that remain popular by
active hams today, and build some sort of chart of functionality. Find
out where the overlaps are, and what new platform-independent or Linux
based projects might come out of that.
I'm also hoping that Kenwood starts to release memory management,
firmware upgrade, and control software in OS-agnostic binaries.
73, KD0KZE / Paul
On 9/10/2015 3:14 PM, Stephen H. Smith via aprssig wrote:
>
>
> 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.
>
>
>
> 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” 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, whether or not
> you asked for it, "just in case you decide to upgrade". It's
> stealing 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 UAC
> 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.)
>
> ____________________________________________________________
>
> Stephen H. Smith wa8lmf (at) aol.com
> Skype: WA8LMF
> EchoLink: Node # 14400 [Think bottom of the 2-meter band]
> Home Page: http://wa8lmf.net
>
> 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>
>
>
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