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Microsoft again forced upgrades on Win10 PCs specifically set to block updates

computerworld.com

51–60 of 138 posts

Re: Microsoft again forced upgrades on Win10 PCs specifically set to block updates

#51

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> when they stop releasing security updates in a little under 2 years. Not going to happen unless MS itself shuts down or they decide to exit the desktop OS market.

Are you saying that you think they'll re-extend the Windows 7 extended support period, or did you assume that I was talking about Windows 10?

I am assuming you are talking about Win10. Because you should not be using deprecated software on the internet.

Re: Microsoft again forced upgrades on Win10 PCs specifically set to block updates

#52
This blew up on r/sysadmin today.

Was a suggestion to null route all Microsoft domains, which is likely a decent option for an individual or small company. Cant see it going down well at large scale.

https://www.reddit.com/r/sysadmin/comments/843esj/for_the_th...

Re: Microsoft again forced upgrades on Win10 PCs specifically set to block updates

#53

This is the correct thing to do. They really must avoid another WinXP scenario where people were running 10 year old builds on internet connected PCs. If you connect to the internet, your device must be fully patched.

There are legitimate cases where you need to avoid an update, if you remember a month ago when the meltdown/specter patches were pushed out some PCs did not boot, if you have your scenario where everyone is forced to update then people with affected hardware can't rollback because the update will be forced again on them, the PC would be unusable until a new update fixes the bug.

Similar bugs with non booting PCs, display drivers not working, other hardware not working, performance loses happened many times after updates, so you need to allow the rollback functionality to work.

A solution that would help in this case is implemented in some major linux distributions where you can chose to install only the security updates, this means more work for Microsoft but if Red Hat and others can spend the time to backport security fixes to the Linux kernel then MS should be able to do the same. I am aware of the downsides of this, but enterprise customers should ask for the security fixes only and not for all the eye candy changes and if enterprise get this special security fixes then the other users should have the option to get them too, paid customers should not be forced to run on bleeding edge.

Re: Microsoft again forced upgrades on Win10 PCs specifically set to block updates

#54

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Is it your computer or Microsofts? Because I really think the language in Windows speaks to you as just the guest, while Microsoft is taking care of your needs like a parent. I guess I'm very hostile to that idea since I grew up in a time when my computer was my computer, not the property of an American software organization to decide for me what is best.

It may not be Microsoft's right to decide when or how to patch your computer but from a public health point of view, sane policies already dictate mandatory vaccination. Perhaps you would be happier with the government enforcing mandatory patching to be able to connect to the internet?

The main issue is that MS is forcing full updates not only security updates, you won't like it if your computer can't boot or for some reason MS changed the GUI,broke something you depended on.

Re: Microsoft again forced upgrades on Win10 PCs specifically set to block updates

#55
post #44

I am so fucking done with Windows. Windows 10 has a lot of cool things I like and that are useful to me, but the only other time I felt such a complete lack of control over my systems was during a 3 month Apple Mac experiment (ended with an apple mac being flung from a 3rd story window). Research for the coming months: getting Linux running on my Surface Pro.

You're so fucking done with Windows that you went out and bought a Surface Pro?

Hey, hardware is OK. Getting Linux to run on it is kind of noble.

Re: Microsoft again forced upgrades on Win10 PCs specifically set to block updates

#56
post #32
post #29

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Microsoft already provide a completely different version of Windows 10 that can be used for critical systems - https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/deployment/update/w... These systems would almost certainly not be downloading Windows Updates directly over the internet.

Or you can just simply block outbound traffic by default and allow what you actually need. No more forced updates. No more telemetry.

Windows telemetry will by-pass the Windows firewall. You need to run a dedicated firewall box (that is not running Windows)

Re: Microsoft again forced upgrades on Win10 PCs specifically set to block updates

#57
post #48

Windows 10 updates in the past fortnight have consumed 9+ Gb of my data after failing again and again due to my choppy wifi connection (there's no other option available as I live in a university hostel). Having limited data per month, this has made me buy up extra data just to get through this month. Being a student, internet is indispensable and Microsoft doing this is really bad on their part.

Why don't you set your connection to metered then?

Re: Microsoft again forced upgrades on Win10 PCs specifically set to block updates

#58
post #31

Earlier quoted context omitted.

No one is forcing you to keep using Windows. Plenty of people are happy enough with Linux.

And that’s fine, but you should keep that up to date too.

But I can do at my own choosing. And that's what I do.

Re: Microsoft again forced upgrades on Win10 PCs specifically set to block updates

#59

This is the correct thing to do. They really must avoid another WinXP scenario where people were running 10 year old builds on internet connected PCs. If you connect to the internet, your device must be fully patched.

Is it your computer or Microsofts? Because I really think the language in Windows speaks to you as just the guest, while Microsoft is taking care of your needs like a parent. I guess I'm very hostile to that idea since I grew up in a time when my computer was my computer, not the property of an American software organization to decide for me what is best.

I am sympathetic to your stance - I don't like Microsoft overriding my decisions. My worry is that this stance will eventually lead to harsh penalties for operating unpatched software and getting hacked, and I feel that's not something most users would want. How do we reconcile these two competing problems? It doesn't seem fair to me to have all the power of ownership with none of the responsibility.

Re: Microsoft again forced upgrades on Win10 PCs specifically set to block updates

#60
post #49

Oh boy, this happened to me despite using the enterprise edition. The system forced an upgrade, despite me doing everything to stop it, and every time the upgrade crashed and I had to roll back to the previous version. Every day. I spent a month like this, on an always-on system, trying to shut down the upgrade downloader from the task bar whenever I can after failing to stop it from settings, group policy, horsing a…

Laughs in Linux.
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