Microsoft Reportedly Forcing Upgrade to Windows 10 Version 1709 on Some PCs

Report indicates this happens even with Windows Update turned off, without users being asked for authorization



Back in 2015 when it rolled out Windows 10, Microsoft turned to a rather aggressive strategy to boost adoption of the operating system, including what were described as forced upgrades that deployed the new software on a number of PCs without users giving their consent.

This reportedly happens once again, only that systems running older versions of Windows 10 are upgraded to version 1709 (Fall Creators Update), in some cases even if Windows Update is turned off.

A story from CW citing a number of user reports indicates that the upgrade is started with “no advanced warning,” adding that the alleged forced upgrade took place on computers running Windows 10 Anniversary Update (version 1607) and Windows 10 Creators Update (version 1703).

If Windows Update is turned off, which means that updates are automatically blocked on a specific computer, the upgrade is said to be performed with the Update Assistant.

Upgrade notifications

Oddly enough, Microsoft has published an advisory on March 5 which indicates that computers running Windows 10 versions older than Creators Update might see a notification stating that the latest security updates are not installed.

While an upgrade to Fall Creators Update shouldn’t be linked to security updates, Microsoft does state that “Windows Update will then try to update the device,” but guarantees that when you receive the update notification, nothing starts until the user clicks the “Update now” button to update the device.

Windows 10 Anniversary Update and Creators Update are still supported, which means that Microsoft is still shipping security updates to systems running any of these two versions.
The original version of the OS and version 1511, however, have already reached end of service, and Microsoft emphasizes that it’s critical for these computers to upgrade to the latest Windows 10 release.

Upgrading these systems without users’ consent, however, is a strategy that has already backfired for Microsoft, as the company has been sued in the past by customers whose computers installed Windows 10 without authorization.

Source:
http://news.softpedia.com/news/micr...dows-10-version-1709-on-some-pcs-520143.shtml

 

It has been fixed.

https://www.askwoody.com/2018/microsoft-releases-new-version-of-win10-patch-kb-4023057/
and
https://www.askwoody.com/2018/patch-lady-microsoft-admits-the-bug-again/
with directions for going back to your previous version of Win 10.

 

Another reason why I'm not planning to use Windows 10!

I'll surf on my android devices and pull our Windows 7 computers off the internet in 2020.

 

To be honest, It doesn't really bother me.
I run Win10 Home, and Win10 Pro (Insider Preview).
Have hardly ever had a problem with updates ( only on a couple of earlier insider preview versions )
Maybe I've been lucky, but I just can't see what all the negative reactions to Win10 are all about.

 

I think you make a good point there Seth.
My Win10 Home was originally Win8.1 Home.
But as soon as it updated to 10, I performed a clean install of 10 and got rid of anything relating to the earlier version.
I've never been a fan of updating Win7 to Win10.

 

I agree. Too many chances for conflicts.

I've also stopped dual booting. I have one old computer I did years ago with linux and Windows 2K. Since linux is on a separate 4GB hard drive (did I ever use drives that small?), I can't remove the hd because I'm afraid 2K wouldn't boot. There are old things on the 2K that I still want access to.

My old main desktop (circa 2009) is dual booting XP and Win 7 on a partitioned hd. I installed Win 7 to learn it before I bought my husband a Win 7 computer. I fire up the XP side about every 2 months. It has Office 2007 and still, surprisingly, is getting security updates. So I fire it up, update Office and then create an image about every 6 months.

 

A year newer than Office 2000 which is probably on one computer. My husband had me remove Office 2007 (we have 3 licenses) from his computer and put on Office 2003. When you are in your 70's, learning new software doesn't sit very well. His headaches become mine because I'm tech support in the house so I try to disrupt his computers as little as possible.