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Microsoft is downloading Windows 10 to your eligible PC even if you don't have space for it or want it

Microsoft is now downloading Windows 10 installation files to your PC, even if you didn't ask for it nor have enough available hard drive space for it.

Disgustingly, Microsoft is using their "automatic updates" system to download the files to eligible PCs (Windows 7 or Windows 8.1) and the installation files take up about 6GB of space. Making it worse is the fact that you will get the files even if you have not "reserved" the upgrade to the new operating system.



There are a few major problems with Microsoft's move. First, many of the people getting the files don't want to upgrade to Windows 10, free or not. Ever. Second, there are plenty of laptops out there running on SSD drives that may not be expecting an extra 6GB of space to suddenly disappear. Finally, there are still consumers out there with hard caps on how much bandwidth they can use on a monthly basis. No one wants to get their data maxed out by an unexpected download they didn't ask for.

Microsoft seems to want to make sure they can keep adding milestone numbers to their Windows 10 install figures, but this is the wrong way to go about it. Thankfully, with a little Windows know-how, you can get rid of the files. Enable hidden folders in your root folder and look for the $WINDOWS.BT folder. Your installation will be hiding out in there.



Written by: Andre Yoskowitz @ 12 Sep 2015 18:37

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• 11 comments

• audvare

  I can smell a lawsuit.

  13.9.2015 06:36 #1

• elduderino

  Originally posted by audvare: I can smell a lawsuit. Do you have any idea how in depth Microsoft's TOS is? It's insane and they cover their asses on all levels.
  

  13.9.2015 11:28 #2

• Bozobub

  Originally posted by elduderino: Originally posted by audvare: I can smell a lawsuit. Do you have any idea how in depth Microsoft's TOS is? It's insane and they cover their asses on all levels.
  M$ has lost lawsuits in the past, and they'll lose some in the future. They're not untouchable.

  13.9.2015 15:29 #3

• seejaydee

  I wish they would put that much effort into correcting the issue they created with media center. I have been without schedules since mid July. I have three TV's that depended on the zpa2it guide. Now Rovi is the king, except the Rovi "guide" will not update on any of the three. Must have been a dollar issue.
  Three cheers for MS and fixing something that isn't broken.

  13.9.2015 20:29 #4

• dcmorrow

  You cannot CYA with a TOS. You can't void humans dignity violations, theft, the right to privacy etc.
  
  Companies are sorely misguided in this aspect. All a judge has to do is declare the whole TOS or part of it void and MS has no protections.
  
  A TOS does not have to be adhered to by either side of the parties of concern.
  
  All a TOS does is allow one side or the other to back out of a financial contract for services. It is not an indemnity for anything else. You could write into a TOS penalties for breach of contract, only to the point of making the contract whole financially, and no more.

  14.9.2015 01:48 #5

• Dr_Shifty

  I just checked for the Win10 stuff and sure enough, there is 6GB of files in that folder on my desktop. I only have ten gigs data each month and I get throttled and this month and last month are way over. No wonder my system has been running so slowly.
  

  14.9.2015 05:11 #6

• rulisky

  I looked for this hidden folder and did not find it.
  
  Previously I had removed the KB3035583 Get Windows 10 nag update (before I looked for any folder).
  
  According to this: https://superuser.com/questions/922068/...ation-area-tray Removing the Nag update might have prevented the offending folder from being created, since I had removed the update the same day it installed??
  
  See if this helps.
  

  AMD Phenom II X6 3.2GHz
  SSD w/1TB Data Drive
  16 GB Memory
  nVidia GTX 760

  14.9.2015 08:18 #7

• ddp

  I hid that update file when I installed win7 on my new 1tb drive just over a month ago & I do not have that folder on either partition of the drive.
  

  14.9.2015 20:55 #8

• sikosrus

  * DOWNLOAD *
  http://ultimateoutsider.com/downloads/
  
  GWX Control Panel (formerly GWX Stopper)
  This is a free tool that can remove and disable the 'Get Windows 10' notification area icon on Windows 7 and Windows 8. can also disable 'Upgrade to Windows 10' behavior in the Windows Update control panel. See the user guide at the Ultimate Outsider blog.
  

  14.9.2015 22:22 #9

• AUDIOMIND

  So do you delete that folder or certain files in that folder specifically?
  

  15.9.2015 18:21 #10

• rulisky

  After uninstalling the KB3035583 Get Windows 10 nag, I never did get or find the referenced download files. Nor is there a GWX folder under Windows System32. Feel it would be safe to just delete the entire GWX folder if you have it. And be sure to check your Windows Update - HIDE the offending KB update to prevent redownloading it!
  

  AMD Phenom II X6 3.2GHz
  SSD w/1TB Data Drive
  16 GB Memory
  nVidia GTX 760

  16.9.2015 07:35 #11