KB3035583 Installing Windows 10 using Windows Update?

Question

Would you please tell me how to prevent the installation of KB3035583 in my computer and if it is already installed, how to remove it?  Also, are there other updates that we need to be concerned about that enable this behaviour?

KB3035583 now appears as an Important update in Windows Update and is checked which means it will be automatically installed if the user does not uncheck it.  If automatic update is set, it will install without intervention.

There are credible articles that say that Microsoft either has installed or will install changes to my computer that will enable Microsoft to use it as an advertising platform and then install Windows 10 without first obtaining an informed decision to do so.  I truly hope this is not true.

On behalf of my clients and their 162 Windows "consumer" computers, I must tell you that we do not grant Microsoft or any other vendor the right to do this.  When other Windows players do this, we regard it as malware and take great care to remove it.

Microsoft got to where it is today by selling Windows.  We have spent decades learning how to use Windows and billions of dollars buying Windows computers and Windows software.  We own these systems.  They are ours, not Microsoft's.

Windows Update has earned a huge trust.  We trust Microsoft to use Windows Update to keep our computers safe and secure.  When Patch Tuesday comes along we install all the updates that Microsoft says are "important." We assume those to be either plugging a security leak or fixing a software error.

We all hope Windows 10 will be something we will want.  We will carefully review and consult trusted advisors before we install Windows 10.  We have seen Windows 8 and rejected it.  Windows 8 is a bad product we did not choose.  

Automatically installing Windows 10 on our computers would be a severe abuse of a well-earned trust.  Changing our computers to enable them to become advertising platforms is also an abuse.

Answer 1

Please do not uninstall 2990214, its the new Windows Update client and contains improvements that are applicable to you even if you don't want to upgrade to future operating systems later.  I write about it here: http://blogs.technet.com/b/joscon/archive/2015/04/14/windows-servicing-releases-april-14-2015.aspx

Answer 2

I read your blog post. 

"This update is applicable to your systems even if you're not planning to migrate to Windows 10, so don't think you can skip it.

Thank you for this clarification. This problem would not exist if it were not for Microsoft's deficient description of what the update does. It left it open to speculation, which turned out to be rife.

"Update that enables you to upgrade from Windows 7 to a later version of Windows"

The issue is not that we do not want Windows 10. The problem is that we do not know if we want it and refuse to be stampeded into it on Microsoft's schedule. Windows people are a conservative lot, unlike the Apple crowd.

Like any product in the market (free or not) we will investigate, evaluate and decide if it is what we want. It is critical that Microsoft realize that Windows 7 is the gold standard now. Most systems using windows 7 today will likely live until Windows 7 support ends.  We have no reason to "upgrade" to Windows 10 until Microsoft demonstrates that there are clear and big reasons for such a change.

If Windows 10 has any shades of Windows 8 in it at all, Most people will reject it. That was a loser and if all you are doing is putting new lipstick on that pig, you can forget it.

Answer 3

Fair, and thanks for your feedback.  I'm working to reword the KB articles now to make it a little more clear that this is simply a Windows Update client package which happens to include code for later use in upgrade scenarios.

Answer 4

Please do not uninstall 2990214...       

I said nothing about uninstalling KB2990214, Joseph. In fact, I installed it manually before AU offered it or any other updates yesterday!

PS: KB2990214 still needs work IMHO.

Answer 5

I never said you did, just telling folks in general not to :)

Clarify for me what you mean by your PS if you don't mind.  What needs work?