Thanks for those.

I'm figuring out how to port my apps to Linux, then it'll be no more M$.

jdg
What you are saying is not correct. There are measures you can take that will stop auto updates. Read here for further information:
http://www.howtogeek.com/224471/how-t...

AS for solitaire, many aren't happy with this "pay to play" Microsoft is attempting to force on us. I say, forget microsoft, go play solitaire here. Its free, no ads, no fuss. just plain solitaire:

http://solitaireforfree.com/

I hurried to post some links on how to remove the alert and prevent the upgrade, but I did not express my opinion: This ploy of MS stinks.

Microsoft has made many wrong decisions recently, including crippling their programs eg (the 'ribbon' bars do not give access to the tools I had before), mistaking work computers for youtube/Facebook access units, and now trying to force the use of an OS that, rumor says, may be subscription and cloud based.

Even to use Win7, I have steadily had to uninstall recent versions of, for example, Word, and replace them with the older versions that actually had the abilities I needed. Everything on recent MS OS seems to be made into a toy.

We run our medical software on MS OS so it is important to me that this software continue to be prevalent and useful. It would be nice if Microsoft were of similar opinion.

Jan, tool user

Glad you are happy with it.

My answer was about windows 7. Sorry for the confusion. I might be bribed to switch my computer to W10, but it would be pricey enough so that I would not need to use it.;^)

Well, freedomforall, I've been writing code since 1972 and have used MS systems since they were invented. Got fed up with them by 2010 and bought a "high-priced" Apple Mac for home use. Best thing I ever did. Still used MS systems at my place of employment because I HAD to, not because I wanted to. My Apple has never crashed in the middle of my "want to work hard enough to take responsibility" sessions. Since I've retired I don't need to use MS at home and won't. I liked the Mac so much I've since purchased many other Apple products and have not been disappointed.

B-T-W if you're masochistic enough, you can run MS Windows software on your Apple hardware. If I ever feel nostalgic enough to need to see the "blue screen of death" again maybe I'll give it try - NOT!

You can stop the annoying alerts in W7 and W8.1 prompting to update to w10, at least for now, by hiding the "GWX Get Windows 10" icon and notification in the taskbar: https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/w....

You can also uninstall "update" KB3035583 that arranges for the prompts: http://news.softpedia.com/news/How-to...

Also turn off the automatic updates in W7 or W8.1 so you can select what "updates" to install when prompted that new "updates" are available. When one shows up as available that you don't want, tell the system to hide it so it no longer appears in the updates available notices.

These methods have been publicized for several months and they do not guarantee that usoft won't do something sneaky in the future.

I wouldn't really have an opinion, Mac doesn't really use ribbons.

The common ("Home") version of W10 reportedly no longer allows turning off automatic updates.

Now if Apple would let people control the computer they pay for. But, like politics, very few actually want to work hard enough to take responsibility, so they buy overpriced Apple closed systems that have an interface that puts the user in a padded room with an interface is as enraging to a responible individual as the fedgov,

Office has been rubbish since 2003. Rancid ribbons. ;^)

OMG!
Whatever happened to MYOB?
My time has finally come. I don't think I'm going to like the brave new world. I'm tempted to pull an Edward G. Robinson as in "Soylent Green." If you think you'll be able to circumvent the nosiness, none-of-your-goddam-business, you are mistaken. Microsoft and others are not about to give up on their intrusion on your personal business. Sooner or later, they getcha with a gotcha.

Windows continues to decline in marketshare, Apple continues to accelerate... Apple already more or less owns the consumer/home market for the same reason that people are sick of Microsoft and the slop it puts on the market. They still have control of the business market, but I think that will even begin to dissolve, Apple recently announced billions invested into enterprise software/systems.

Use a Mac or Linux, you will be much happier. Office 2016 was just released on the Mac ahead of the Windows version coming out a few months later, even Microsoft seems to be emphasizing the Mac. Parallels or VMWare Fusion allows you to run Windows apps acceptably when needed anyway.

This is good time to move to LINUX. I have UBUNTU on most of my machines and don't have to put up with all the nonsense.

It's time to consider other options in the computing OS space. I have reduced my microsoft/apple/google footprint to only those systems required by those that employ my services. I leave no personal info on those systems and log in only as an administrator or as a user supplied by the company. I maintain no email or contact lists on any system with internet network access. My goal is to remove as much personal information as I can from internet data caches.

I have opted to go with Linux based systems because the community oversight will slam shut attempts by private companies and governments to insert back doors and prying software. However, one still needs to maintain vigilance in any internet access because once it is off of your computer and on the net it is fair game.

I'll be glad when some enterprising young kid develops an open OS for cell phones that incorporates an encrypted mesh network that can handle BitCoin type transactions between individuals.

That last is no joke. I am dead certain that some message boards, for instance InfoWars, are effectively honey-traps for any kind of dissident who might take effective action of any kind. And it wouldn't surprise me if this board is similarly watched.

As a stockholder, I have suggested ousting he CEO of Microsoft over this Windows 10 hijacking of our freedoms. If the product is good, you do not have to force it on people. Loading 10 is harmful, as not all programs are compatible, and there is no Media Player. Some files could become inaccessible. They tried 37 times to download 10 onto my Win. 7, but auto update is turned off. Also, I finally got sick of the attempts and uninstalled the original gateway, which was mislabeled and deceptive, never mentioning 10 at all. Uninstall update KB3035583 from back around May or June. then "hide" it. It will not stop future updates which are lies and described as "recommended" as security, but it is fighting back. They tried to reload the update once, then it ended. I now am hesitant to download updates without intense scrutiny. This may drive me to Apple, stock or not, as this is just way to insidious and not at all how business should run. I would can the head of the company immediately.

The method shown is for Windows XP and earlier. (Of course support has officially ended for those systems, so you would think M$ wouldn't be sending them any more updates anyway.)

I have been able to turn them off for Windows 7. Don't know about 8 or 8.1.

But once you have Windows 10 there is no way to turn them off.

Also beware: when you get "updated" to Windows 8.1 or 10, they delete the free Solitaire and other games that came with your earlier version. They want to make you buy them all over again. But there is a workaround -- http://winaero.com/blog/how-to-bring-...

That is the price of free for Microsoft. Apple thankfully doesn't take the ad route.

A lot of programs are Microsoft only sadly. I would love to use just my Apple devices but currently that isn't the case. Therefore I still use Windows 7.

Microsoft isn't alone in exercising what I call persistent intrusion. With the latest iOS upgrade, my iPhone keeps insisting I should enter my iTunes password, so I can take advantage of an iCloud account. Yeah, like I really want my phone to automatically upload all my phone contacts, photos, and text messages to an online account, to be hacked or used by Apple or government snoopers.

I spent too many years in the bowels of the intelligence agencies to advise people to go along with this nagging for personal information that incessantly bombards us. Ironically, I can see a day coming when some government agency will consider a sparsely populated online profile an indication for suspicion, placing such individuals on a watch list for domestic terrorism.

We, the people, need to pursue the things we want and stop those we don't want. I've always thought that was part of the democratic process, we vote. I'm getting mostly internet ads for stuff that I already bought, they are wasting their time advertising what I no longer need or want. I think we could express our vote to Microsoft by downloading Windows 10 on at least one computer each, leaving the spy stuff in, and using it for looking up nothing but porn. If it's personally objectionable just set up some macro's to do it automatically and leave your monitor turned off. Microsoft would be overwhelmed with data on porn usage. That will screw up their data bases and show them their scheme for making money off your personal information and habits just won't work.

Sometimes now when I get these calls from the "Windows Technician" that tells me my computer is sending out errors, I just play along with them until they actually want to get into my computer or ask for some personal information. A few have gone over an hour (It's great to have free time to harass someone else once in a while). It really ticks them off when I tell them "I'm just f___ing with you. I'm just trying to waste as much of your time as I can to prevent you from ripping off some poor elderly person that doesn't understand your scheme." Recently they've actually stopped calling me.

I just might update to Windows 10 on one of my systems, I've heard some good things about it and I've really got little to hide. If only they had finalized a version of XP, the one running my CNC machine has been working perfectly for years, ever since I took it off line.

Private company, not the government. Free to not use their products, armed government agents will not force you to do so.

Sounds a little bit like assault or tortious interference to me.

This can be stopped. Please read http://www.komando.com/tips/325534/mi...

However, I stopped using Windows of any flavor back when they killed Windows XP. I now use Ubuntu 14.04 LTS. This is linux based software. It is awesome and it is free. However it is not for the faint of heart. If you are lacking in basic programming then you may struggle to keep it running smoothly as it is not meant for folks that rely on Microsoft just doing all of the hard work for them. But if you want to stretch yourself then give it a try. Many resources exist that can walk a person through any situation that may arise in its usage.