What are all the Windows 7/8/8.1 updates (KBs) I must skip to avoid Windows 10 upgrading -and nags-?
Attempting to block the upgrade to Windows 10 by not installing certain updates is the incorrect approach of permanently preventing the upgrade to Windows 10. By setting the DisableOSUpgrade registry key, you block the upgrade entirely, despite any prompts to upgrade.
As outline in this support article: How to manage Windows 10 notification and upgrade options
To block the upgrade to Windows 10 through Windows Update, specify the following registry value:
Subkey: HKLM\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\WindowsUpdate
DWORD value: DisableOSUpgrade = 1
In order to disable the Get Windows 10 notification icon do the following:
For non-Enterprise versions of Windows, the notification icon can be suppressed through the Windows registry. To do this, set the following registry value:
Subkey: HKLM\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Gwx
DWORD value: DisableGwx = 1
It is worth pointing out the upgrade itself will automatically be blocked in the following condition:
The computer or device is serviced through WSUS and has not had update 3035583 applied.
The group policy changes requires these updates:
Windows Update Client for Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2: July 2015
Windows Update Client for Windows 8.1 and Windows Server 2012 R2: July 2015
Last updated (all dates here are DD-MM-YYYY): 12/03/2016 @ 00:18 GMT
/!\ Warning ! Even if the list is starting to get very exhaustive, some of the updates for Windows 8.1 still contains GWX outside the infamous KB3035583. The concerned updates were in the "optional" and "recommended" sections of Windows Update -"important" updates were almost safe-, and the time span is between 02/08/2015 and 12/03/2016. Please watch the Suspected List down here /!\
Please be aware that some updates that were designed for specific version of Windows -e.g. "exclusively" for 7, 8, 8.1, Server 2008 R2, Server 2012 or Server 2012 R2- are even pushed to all of them ! So everything counts.
The List for Windows 10 upgrade:
KB 30 355 83 -> The "GWX" nagware, often updated and re-re-re-pushed
KB 31 399 29 -> Security update for Internet Explorer, re-pushed again
KB 31 464 49 -> Included in KB 3139929 !!! The Internet Explorer W10 ad.
KB 30 443 74 -> KB3035583 linked ! Upgrade to Windows 10 for Windows 8.1
KB 29 902 14 -> KB3035583 linked ! Update Win 7 to a "newer Windows"
KB 29 526 64 -> KB3035583 linked ! Re-re-re-pushed; eases Win 10 upgrade
The List for "telemetry"/"Windows Customer Experience Improvement Program":
KB 29 769 78 -> KB3035583 linked ! Check "Win 10 upgrade for Win 8"
KB 30 752 49 -> KB3035583 linked ! "Telemetry", points to "consent.exe"
KB 30 801 49 -> KB3035583 linked ! "Customer Exp and Diag Telemetry"
KB 30 219 17 -> KB3035583 linked ! "Customer Exp and Diag Telemetry"
KB 30 223 45 -> KB3035583 linked ! "Customer Exp and Diag Telemetry"
KB 30 687 08 -> KB3035583 linked ! "Customer Exp and Diag Telemetry"
KB 30 129 73 -> KB3035583 linked ! Windows 10 force upgrade installer
KB 29 777 59 -> Re-re-re-pushed; Telemetry for Windows 10 upgrade
KB 97 10 33 -> (Yes, only 6 digits)
KB 30 659 88 -> "Update" for Windows Update on Win 8.1 and Svr 2012 R2
KB 30 833 25 -> "Update" for Windows Update on Win 8.1 and Svr 2012 R2
KB 30 833 24 -> "Update" for Windows Update on Win 7 and Svr 2008 R2
KB 30 758 53 -> "Update" for Windows Update on Win 8.1 and Svr 2012 R2
KB 30 659 87 -> "Update" for Windows Update on Win 7 and Svr 2008 R2
KB 30 502 65 -> "Update" for Windows Update on Win 7
KB 30 502 67 -> "Update" for Windows Update on Win 8.1
KB 30 758 51 -> "Update" for Windows Update on Win 7 and Svr 2008 R2
KB 29 029 07 -> "MS Security Essentials/Windows Defender", no details
KB 30 464 80 -> When upgrading Win 7 or 8, determines .Net 1.1 migration
KB 30 833 24 -> "Update" for Windows Update on Win 7 and Svr 2008 R2
KB 30 833 25 -> "Update" for Windows Update on Win 8.1 and Svr 2012 R2
KB 30 837 10 -> "Update" for Windows Update on Win 7 and Svr 2008 R2
KB 30 837 11 -> "Update" for Windows Update on Win 8.1 and Svr 2012 R2
KB 31 123 36 -> "Update" for Windows Update on Win 8.1 and Svr 2012 R2
Despite disabling the "telemetry"'s KBs, there's still things to do specifically for that here : How to stop Microsoft from gathering telemetry data from Windows 7, 8, and 8.1
The List for "Suspected Updates":
KB 31 242 80 -> The only "Important update" suspected
KB 31 036 96
KB 31 212 60
KB 30 998 34
KB 30 849 05
KB 30 296 06
KB 31 348 15
KB 31 399 21
KB 31 260 30
KB 30 607 46
KB 31 024 29
KB 30 926 27
KB 30 808 00
KB 30 784 05
KB 30 800 42
KB 31 036 99
KB 31 009 56
KB 30 544 64
KB 30 614 93
KB 31 339 24
KB 30 607 93
KB 30 638 43
KB 30 720 19
KB 31 260 33
KB 30 957 01
KB 30 563 47
KB 31 009 19
KB 31 232 42
KB 30 793 18
KB 30 184 67
KB 31 238 62
KB 30 137 91
KB 30 786 76
KB 30 593 16
KB 30 457 46
KB 31 286 50
KB 30 553 43
KB 31 184 01
KB 30 716 63
KB 30 912 97
KB 30 964 33
KB 30 355 83
KB 30 456 34
KB 30 650 13
KB 31 252 10
KB 30 296 03
KB 30 294 32
KB 30 538 63
KB 31 121 48
KB 30 640 59
KB 30 603 83
KB 30 870 41
KB 31 212 55
KB 30 542 56
KB 31 079 98
KB 31 212 61
KB 30 418 57
KB 30 871 37
KB 31 320 80
KB 31 308 96
KB 30 581 68
KB 30 553 23
To speed up the process of uninstalling all these Updates use wusa in command prompt. or drop the below code into notepad and name it "uninstall.bat"
/quiet - No verbose
/norestart - do not restart the computer
wusa /quiet /uninstall /norestart /KB:3035583
wusa /quiet /uninstall /norestart /KB:3139929
wusa /quiet /uninstall /norestart /KB:3146449
wusa /quiet /uninstall /norestart /KB:3044374
wusa /quiet /uninstall /norestart /KB:2990214
wusa /quiet /uninstall /norestart /KB:2952664
wusa /quiet /uninstall /norestart /KB:2976978
wusa /quiet /uninstall /norestart /KB:3075249
wusa /quiet /uninstall /norestart /KB:3080149
wusa /quiet /uninstall /norestart /KB:3021917
wusa /quiet /uninstall /norestart /KB:3022345
wusa /quiet /uninstall /norestart /KB:3068708
wusa /quiet /uninstall /norestart /KB:3012973
wusa /quiet /uninstall /norestart /KB:2977759
wusa /quiet /uninstall /norestart /KB:971033
wusa /quiet /uninstall /norestart /KB:3065988
wusa /quiet /uninstall /norestart /KB:3083325
wusa /quiet /uninstall /norestart /KB:3083324
wusa /quiet /uninstall /norestart /KB:3075853
wusa /quiet /uninstall /norestart /KB:3065987
wusa /quiet /uninstall /norestart /KB:3050265
wusa /quiet /uninstall /norestart /KB:3050267
wusa /quiet /uninstall /norestart /KB:3075851
wusa /quiet /uninstall /norestart /KB:2902907
wusa /quiet /uninstall /norestart /KB:3046480
wusa /quiet /uninstall /norestart /KB:3083324
wusa /quiet /uninstall /norestart /KB:3083325
wusa /quiet /uninstall /norestart /KB:3083710
wusa /quiet /uninstall /norestart /KB:3083711
wusa /quiet /uninstall /norestart /KB:3112336
wusa /quiet /uninstall /norestart /KB:3124280
wusa /quiet /uninstall /norestart /KB:3103696
wusa /quiet /uninstall /norestart /KB:3121260
wusa /quiet /uninstall /norestart /KB:3099834
wusa /quiet /uninstall /norestart /KB:3084905
wusa /quiet /uninstall /norestart /KB:3029606
wusa /quiet /uninstall /norestart /KB:3134815
wusa /quiet /uninstall /norestart /KB:3139921
wusa /quiet /uninstall /norestart /KB:3126030
wusa /quiet /uninstall /norestart /KB:3060746
wusa /quiet /uninstall /norestart /KB:3102429
wusa /quiet /uninstall /norestart /KB:3092627
wusa /quiet /uninstall /norestart /KB:3080800
wusa /quiet /uninstall /norestart /KB:3078405
wusa /quiet /uninstall /norestart /KB:3080042
wusa /quiet /uninstall /norestart /KB:3103699
wusa /quiet /uninstall /norestart /KB:3100956
wusa /quiet /uninstall /norestart /KB:3054464
wusa /quiet /uninstall /norestart /KB:3061493
wusa /quiet /uninstall /norestart /KB:3133924
wusa /quiet /uninstall /norestart /KB:3060793
wusa /quiet /uninstall /norestart /KB:3063843
wusa /quiet /uninstall /norestart /KB:3072019
wusa /quiet /uninstall /norestart /KB:3126033
wusa /quiet /uninstall /norestart /KB:3095701
wusa /quiet /uninstall /norestart /KB:3056347
wusa /quiet /uninstall /norestart /KB:3100919
wusa /quiet /uninstall /norestart /KB:3123242
wusa /quiet /uninstall /norestart /KB:3079318
wusa /quiet /uninstall /norestart /KB:3018467
wusa /quiet /uninstall /norestart /KB:3123862
wusa /quiet /uninstall /norestart /KB:3013791
wusa /quiet /uninstall /norestart /KB:3078676
wusa /quiet /uninstall /norestart /KB:3059316
wusa /quiet /uninstall /norestart /KB:3045746
wusa /quiet /uninstall /norestart /KB:3128650
wusa /quiet /uninstall /norestart /KB:3055343
wusa /quiet /uninstall /norestart /KB:3118401
wusa /quiet /uninstall /norestart /KB:3071663
wusa /quiet /uninstall /norestart /KB:3091297
wusa /quiet /uninstall /norestart /KB:3096433
wusa /quiet /uninstall /norestart /KB:3035583
wusa /quiet /uninstall /norestart /KB:3045634
wusa /quiet /uninstall /norestart /KB:3065013
wusa /quiet /uninstall /norestart /KB:3125210
wusa /quiet /uninstall /norestart /KB:3029603
wusa /quiet /uninstall /norestart /KB:3029432
wusa /quiet /uninstall /norestart /KB:3053863
wusa /quiet /uninstall /norestart /KB:3112148
wusa /quiet /uninstall /norestart /KB:3064059
wusa /quiet /uninstall /norestart /KB:3060383
wusa /quiet /uninstall /norestart /KB:3087041
wusa /quiet /uninstall /norestart /KB:3121255
wusa /quiet /uninstall /norestart /KB:3054256
wusa /quiet /uninstall /norestart /KB:3107998
wusa /quiet /uninstall /norestart /KB:3121261
wusa /quiet /uninstall /norestart /KB:3041857
wusa /quiet /uninstall /norestart /KB:3087137
wusa /quiet /uninstall /norestart /KB:3132080
wusa /quiet /uninstall /norestart /KB:3130896
wusa /quiet /uninstall /norestart /KB:3058168
wusa /quiet /uninstall /norestart /KB:3055323
Sources:
- Me
- The SuperUser's people
- https://fix10.isleaked.com/oldwindows.html
- http://www.pcworld.com/article/2998967/windows/how-to-block-the-windows-10-upgrade.html -> Watch for "Asok Smith"'s long comment
- http://www.infoworld.com/article/2907059/patch-management/microsoft-reissues-kb-2952664-win7-upgrade-pack-kb-2919355-win-81-update.html
- http://www.infoworld.com/article/3042155/microsoft-windows/windows-patch-kb-3139929-when-a-security-update-is-not-a-security-update.html -> relates to upgrade to W10 ads in IE 11 new tabs.
- How to stop Microsoft from gathering telemetry data from Windows 7, 8, and 8.1
The following update will install GWX, which is the W10 upgrade nag and possible automatic install of W10 at some point.
- 3035583
If you do not want additional Microsoft Telemetry or Spyware installed skip these also. Some below say they are for W8 but they showed up on a clean install of W7 recently.
2952664 (Compatibility update for upgrading Windows 7)
2976978 (WIndows 8, this is a W10 compatibility update)
2990214 (enables you to upgrade from Windows 7 to a later version of Windows)
3021917 (Telemetry)
3022345 (Update for customer experience and diagnostic telemetry)
3044374 (Update that enables you to upgrade from Windows 8.1 to Windows 10)
3068708 (Update for customer experience and diagnostic telemetry)
3075249 (Update that adds telemetry points to consent.exe in Windows 8.1 and Windows 7)
3080149 (Update for customer experience and diagnostic telemetry)
3123862 (Updated capabilities to upgrade Windows 8.1 and Windows 7)
3146449 (Part of 3139929) This update adds functionality to Internet Explorer 11 on some computers that lets users learn about Windows 10 or start an upgrade to Windows 10, this adds a banner to IE11 to advertise windows 10
If GWX is already installed try this Free utility to get control of it
https://www.grc.com/never10.htm