Microsoft announced that beginning February 1st computers with Windows 7 and 8.1 will now have the Windows 10 Upgrade as a Recommended update via Windows Update.
In general, The Miller Group recommends upgrading to Windows 10, with a few exceptions :
• Your computer is over 5 years old. If your computer is running slow on Windows 7 or 8, 10 isn’t going to be any better. Time to look into replacing your aging computer.
• You have an older printer or scanner. Pc Magazine has a nice article with links to the major printer manufactures sites to reference if your printer is compatible with Windows 10.
• Line of Business software. Check with your software vendor to verify your software is compatible with Windows 10.
What exactly will happen?
For those that do not want to upgrade to Windows 10, you don’t have to. Even if you happen to download the Recommended update you will still have the option to refuse the upgrade as it prepares to install on your system. There is a 30 day window for reverting back to your previous version of Windows will still be available if you decide to go ahead with the upgrade and try it out. If Windows 10 is not your cup of tea then just revert back using the tools in Windows 10.
Second, Recommended updates are not installed on Windows 7 and 8.1 by default unless you make a change in your Windows Update settings to install them.
If you want to verify your Windows Update settings to prevent the Windows 10 upgrade from installing then you will want to make sure that option is turned off.
Here is how you do that.
Windows 7
1. Open up Windows Update. From the main screen you will see several options listed on the left side. Click on Change settings.
2. Below Recommended updates make sure the selection box is unchecked. This will prevent Recommended updates from installing along side of Important updates. Click OK to apply the settings. You can now close out of Windows Update.
Windows 8.1
In Windows 8.1 there are two places you can turn off the option for installing Recommended updates setting – in Windows Update settings on the desktop or in PC Settings on the Modern side. This setting will be set across the OS whether you change the setting on the desktop or modern side of the OS.
1. In the Windows Update settings on the desktop the setting is in the same place as it is on Windows 7. Just open up Windows Update, click on Change settings on the left side and then make sure the box under Recommended updates is not checked and the click OK at the bottom of the dialog box.
2. In the modern PC Settings app go to PC settings > Update and recovery > Windows update and select Choose how updates get installed.
3. Make sure that the Recommended updates box is unchecked and the click Apply. You can go ahead and close out the PC Settings app now.
Although the Windows 10 upgrade will still appear in Windows Update on Windows 7 or 8.1 it will not automatically install with this setting turned off.