Microsoft pays out $10,000 for forcing Windows 10 on California woman

[harrybarracuda]

Class Action anyone?

The owner of a California-based travel agency has received a $10,000 settlement from Microsoft after a forced Windows 10 upgrade rendered her computer unusable. Teri Goldstein found that her work computer downloaded and started to install Windows 10 without her permission, but the installation failed.

The installation not only failed, Goldstein says, but also slowed down her computer, leading to days of lost business. After failing to get help from Microsoft's customer support, she took the company to court.

Somewhat surprisingly, Goldstein won her case against the software giant. But Microsoft wasn’t ready to just roll over, and opted to appeal against the court's decision. Now the company has decided to drop its appeal and agreed to pay out the $10,000 that was initially awarded.

Goldstein is adamant that she did not authorize the installation of the upgrade, insisting: "I had never heard of Windows 10". Despite agreeing to make the payment, Microsoft denies that it has done anything wrong, and says that the appeal was dropped simply to prevent court costs from mounting up.

Microsoft has received a great deal of criticism of its aggressive pushing of Windows 10, but this is the first time the company has offered a financial settlement because of an upgrade.

Microsoft pays out $10,000 for forcing Windows 10 on California woman

[Neverna]

On Sunday afternoon a Windows 10 upgrade icon appeared on my computer in the toolbar). I did not knowingly download the upgrade file. I noticed something different so I hovered over the icon. "Click to upgrade to Windows 10" it said! I could have easily clicked it by mistake as it was near the wifi/issues/speaker/language icons. Anyway, I went to the control panel and deleted the offending upgrade file. It was listed as a "recommended" update file. I sure as hell didn't choose to download it. Swines! $1,000 dollars will be enough for me.

[Carnwadrick]

Being a 70 year old non-geek i lost a whole day of uninstalling Windows 10 that I did not give permission to install on my computer...computer slowed down...frustrated the shit out of me and almost caused me to toss the fooker out the window, I think a $10,000 check should be awarded to me too.

[Dragonfly]

this is what happens when you let Windows Update enabled,

there is a procedure you can find online to remove that silly Win10 button, takes a while for someone not familiar with PCs like harry to perform

[harrybarracuda]

this is what happens when you let Windows Update enabled,

there is a procedure you can find online to remove that silly Win10 button, takes a while for someone not familiar with PCs like harry to perform

Buttplug is too fucking dumb to find one of the many simple utilities out there if you really do want to block Windows 10.

Although why you'd bother is beyond me, you're going to get it sooner or later anyway, might as well do it while it's still free.

https://www.grc.com/never10.htm


Unless you're after the ten grand of course.

[Dragonfly]

Buttplug is too fucking dumb to find one of the many simple utilities out there if you really do want to block Windows 10.

of course, only a lazy IT indian would need an utility to do that, when you can use a few "regedit" rules and disabled service attached to it

too complicated for our resident Password Manager, so it needs a fucking app for that

[cyrille]

So how much can we get out of apple for that godawful U2 LP?

[NZdick1983]

^ I thought is was only free only for the first year mate?.. I bet they charge for each following year (once they have you by the short and curlies)...

I'm stubbornly sticking with Win 7... I just close the win-10 pop-up window each time I re-start my com.

I'm sure there is a crack/workaround to stop the nag screen - just can't be arsed googling it..

Yes, they can be very sneaky/deceptive with pop-ups... sometimes you click the "x" close icon, where in fact, that activates the very thing you didn't want.
Other times, they will deliberately put the yes/no boxes so close together, knowing the average punter will accidentally click the wrong button, etc...
Lots of new techniques they are using to catch you out...

Check your gfs/giks/wife's/wingman's, laptop, I bet it's full of spyware, unbeknown to the user.

[harrybarracuda]

Buttplug is too fucking dumb to find one of the many simple utilities out there if you really do want to block Windows 10.

of course, only a lazy IT indian would need an utility to do that, when you can use a few "regedit" rules and disabled service attached to it

too complicated for our resident Password Manager, so it needs a fucking app for that

"Regedit rules".....

Like the ones that install modems?

[harrybarracuda]

^ I thought is was only free only for the first year mate?.. I bet they charge for each following year (once they have you by the short and curlies)...

I'm stubbornly sticking with Win 7... I just close the win-10 pop-up window each time I re-start my com.

I'm sure there is a crack/workaround to stop the nag screen - just can't be arsed googling it..

It seems you can't be arsed reading either, there is a link in Post #5.

[Lostandfound]

I solved the problem of Windows 10 by buying a MacAir.

May be gay, but at least it works.

[NZdick1983]

It seems you can't be arsed reading either, there is a link in Post #5.

Dunno... there may well be... not aware of every single post... I could find a 'fix' using the magic of google, quicker than finding post #5

point being, I don't think it's a life-time fix... (just a temp workaround) Microsoft are crafty buggers.. and are determined to force win 10 on everyone.

Closing a pop-up each time my com is re-started is not a big issue, especially as I leave my com running 24/7 most of the time.

[harrybarracuda]

It seems you can't be arsed reading either, there is a link in Post #5.

Dunno... there may well be... not aware of every single post... I could find a 'fix' using the magic of google, quicker than finding post #5

Do you drink a lot?

Scroll up you silly sod.

[BaitongBoy]

Oh, oh...

Here cums Windows 11...

555...

[NZdick1983]

^ That link for "never 10"... looks well dodgy, harry... could be legit (anyone tried it yet?)

I'd rather (if I could be bothered) stop it manually (in registry settings, etc) what's to say that program isn't spyware and won't install a Trojan?

Watch how Microsoft will black list this as malware some kind of way.

More info for those not wanting to upgrade wishing to circumvent the upgrade process...
Anyway, if it gets too intrusive.. I may take the risk (use such a program/hack)... just do due diligence first

Steve Gibson's Never 10 tool will help you keep away from upgrading to Windows 10 - Front Page News - Neowin Forums


*No drink.. no weed either... seng wa!

[harrybarracuda]

^ That link for "never 10"... looks well dodgy, harry... could be legit (anyone tried it yet?)

I'd rather (if I could be bothered) stop it manually (in registry settings, etc) what's to say that program isn't spyware and won't install a Trojan?

Watch how Microsoft will black list this as malware some kind of way.

More info for those not wanting to upgrade wishing to circumvent the upgrade process...
Anyway, if it gets too intrusive.. I may take the risk (use such a program/hack)... just do due diligence first

Steve Gibson's Never 10 tool will help you keep away from upgrading to Windows 10 - Front Page News - Neowin Forums


*No drink.. no weed either... seng wa!

Steve Gibson was doing Microsoft's security job for them before Buttplug was shoving household objects up his arse.

It's a safe link.

[NZdick1983]

Cool... I believe you..

Have you installed it HB?

[harrybarracuda]

Cool... I believe you..

Have you installed it HB?

Fuck no, I put everything on Windows 10.

Beats the shit out of 7.

[Dragonfly]

Fuck no, I put everything on Windows 10.

tool

[harrybarracuda]

Fuck no, I put everything on Windows 10.

tool

I know it's too complicated for you Buttplug, you're still struggling with XP innit.

I bet your computers got more viruses than your arse, and that's saying something.

[Dragonfly]

right, and your PC was gang raped by hackers, Mr Password manager

[bsnub]

Both of you dipsticks are clueless. Stopping the upgrade simply requires uninstalling one windows update.

[Dragonfly]

Both of you dipsticks are clueless. Stopping the upgrade simply requires uninstalling one windows update.

nope, it doesn't, tried it already. You have to additionally disable some "service" and do a regedit rule, and renaming some file that won't go away

fooking MS, run by Indians for Indians

[NZdick1983]

I read loads of reviews on Win 10... some good points about it (faster start-up times/better security??)... and loads of bad reviews...

Up to you - which flavor of OS you use. I got no qualms with any of them.. (just lazy to change)... same with android vs iphone, etc...
It doesn't define you as a person.. or denote your manhood lol

As long as I can see my sheep porn, in all it's glory.. I'm good.

(I will say though that I feel like win 10 was made for touch screens) but clever cookies can even make win 10 look and feel like win 7... so all goodies..

[Cold Pizza]

I think I upgraded to Windows 10 after it asked me to.

How can I check to see if I have Windows 10?

I bought my current laptop 19 months ago. I think it had Windows 8.


How can I check which one I have?