The following is from Brian Vogel via the Windows 10 discussion group. It is
for those who are running Windows 7 or 8.1 who don't want their systems
forcibly updated to Windows 10. Please note that I have not used the software
programs which he recommends and so I cannot comment as to their security,
reliability or their accessibility with screen readers.
-------- Forwarded Message --------
Subject: [win10] Preventing an Unwanted Upgrade to Windows 10
Date: Sun, 19 Jun 2016 07:19:13 -0700
From: Brian Vogel <britechguy@xxxxxxxxx><mailto:britechguy@xxxxxxxxx>
Reply-To: win10@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx<mailto:win10@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: win10@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx<mailto:win10@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
As I suspected, since the change in Windows Update status from "optional" to
"recommended" a lot of people who have Windows Update set up to automatically
install updates and to install recommended updates as well as important and
critical updates are "waking up" to find their machine now has Windows 10 on
it. This has been exacerbated by the latest notification dialog that does not
consider a "close window" to be a decline and do nothing response but a tacit
agreement instead.
For anyone who wishes to avoid Windows 10, for whatever reason, there are two
excellent utilities available that are being actively maintained to serve this
purpose:
1. GWX Control Panel<http://ultimateoutsider.com/downloads/> - available in
installed and standalone formats
2. Never10<https://www.grc.com/never10.htm> - which does not install
software, per se, but edits Windows permissions to prevent installation of
Windows 10
My personal preference is GWX Control Panel because it actively removes GWX
(Get Windows X [Ten]) from your machine and the developer has been very closely
monitoring various Windows 7 and Windows 8.1 KB updates and blocking all or
part of those whose intent is to install Windows 10 itself or its staging
files. It also removes any staging files as well.
Both can be used together and neither conflicts with the other.
Should you wish to prevent an unintentional upgrade to Windows 10 I would use
one, the other, or both of these utilities.
--
Brian
