Windows 10 Automatic Update

Submission 46,100

Part of a series on Windows. [View Related Entries]

About

Windows 10 Automatic Update refers to Microsoft's forceful implementation of its Windows operating system upgrade for personal computer users running on Windows 8 or older versions without their consent. Following reports about the intrusive software in late 2015 and early 2016, many criticized the company online with photoshops and image macros about the forced updates.

Origin

In September 2015, Microsoft began automatically downloading Windows 10 installation files on computers running Windows 7 and Windows 8.1 operating systems, regardless of whether the user requested an upgrade. After many criticized Microsoft for the forced downloads, the company defended themselves by arguing that pre-loading upgrades was "an industry practice that reduces time for installation and ensures device readiness."^[2] In December, a new prompt began appearing on Windows systems giving the option to "Upgrade now" or "Upgrade tonight," with no clear opt-out button (shown below).^[7]

Spread

On February 6th, 2016, Redditor EvilStiq posted an image to /r/pcmasterrace,^[4] which warned Windows 7 users to disable "automatic recommended updates" to avoid having their PCs updated to Windows 10 automatically (shown below). Over the next three months, the post garnered upwards of 5,700 votes (93% upvoted) and 2,400 comments.

That month, the software company Gibson Research Corporation released the Never 10^[5] utility to prevent Windows from automatically upgrading from Windows 7 or 8.1 to Windows 10. On March 11th, Redditor LHoT10820 submitted a post titled "Warning: Windows 7 computers are being reported as automatically starting the Windows 10 upgrade without permission" to the /r/technology^[3] subreddit. Within two months, the post gained over 6,500 votes (90% upvoted) and 3,000 comments. On March 22nd, Redditor ecto88mph submitted a post titled "What is with all the hate for Windows 10?" to /r/OutOfTheLoop,^[1] to which Redditor NowDealWithIt replied that many users were upset because they "were automatically upgraded from Windows 7/8 to Windows 10 because of an automatic updater." On April 27th, YouTuber FunnyAvenue uploaded a clip of a Windows 10 update notification interrupting a live weather broadcast (shown below). Within three weeks, the video accumulated upwards of 1.5 million views and 1,600 comments.

On May 2nd, Redditor darkrebel64 submitted a video titled "fl0m loses 1v1 against Windows 10," featuring a Counter-Strike: Global Offensive streamer who has a competitive match interrupted by a forced Windows 10 update (shown below). Within two weeks, the video received more than 1,000 votes and 400 comments on the /r/GlobalOffensive^[6] subreddit.

On May 5th, MemeCenter^[8] user king10190 uploaded a photoshopped picture depicting a Windows 10 swat team invading a Windows 7 home (shown below, left). The following day, MemeCenter^[9] user caesarsalad uploaded a photoshopped image depicting Windows 10 as a door-to-door preacher attempting to convert Windows 7 (shown below, right).