What exactly does KB2952664 do?

This update performs diagnostics on the Windows systems that participate in the Windows Customer Experience Improvement Program.

If you are not in the Windows Customer Experience Improvement Program the update does not or should not apply!

Yet it still appears in my available updates every time it is re-issued, despite not participating in the Windows Customer Experience Improvement Program, and despite having hidden it every time it appears. And if you ask around, you will find that it does the same for others not in the CEIP.

You seem to be suggesting that for those not in the CEIP, the update will have no effect, despite folks reporting otherwise. Either way, since I don't need it, I will continue to hide it, along with just about everything else that is not specifically (and exclusively) security related.

Caveat emptor.

If you are not in the Windows Customer Experience Improvement Program the update does not or should not apply!

Gerry,

Legacy2000 stated this:

I am not participating in the Windows Customer Experience Improvement Program and have disabled all tasks, services, and processes related to it, as well as anything else from Microsoft that is telemetry-related. I still get KB2952664 in available updates every time it is re-released, as does everyone else (whether or not it has been previously hidden). It seems, then, that what is not relevant to receiving this update is participation in the CEIP.

I too am not participating in the Customer Experience Improvement Program and have disabled all associated tasks and settings. I have also hidden KB2952664 each time it has been reissued.

So, why does Microsoft continue to unhide KB2952664 (and place it into the list of available updates) if I have clearly disabled all settings for the Customer Experience Improvement Program?

As you said, KB2952664 should not apply (because I have opted out of the Customer Experience Improvement Program) ... but Microsoft keeps unhiding this update and giving it back to me. Why are they doing that (if I have opted out of the Customer Experience Improvement Program)?

Perhaps Microsoft keeps pushing KB2952664 (even to those who have opted out of the Customer Experience Improvement Program) because KB2952664 does more than "perform diagnostics on the Windows systems that participate in the Windows Customer Experience Improvement Program."

This update performs diagnostics on the Windows systems that participate in the Windows Customer Experience Improvement Program.

If you are not in the Windows Customer Experience Improvement Program the update does not or should not apply!

should also be made aware that installing KB2952664 could lead to nags about installing Windows 10

That statement is not necessarily true ...

Gerry,

I feel that if someone wants to participate in the Customer Experience Improvement Program, and decides to install KB2952664, then that person also needs to also be aware that (as a result of installing KB2952664) they could start seeing nags for Windows 10.

If you google "KB2952664", you will find many many people complaining that after installing KB2952664 they suddenly started getting Windows 10 nags.

I do not think that informing someone about the possibility of getting Windows 10 nags after installing KB2952664 is misleading ... and how is that warning untrue?

1. The full text of the description is:

This update performs diagnostics on the Windows systems that participate in the Windows Customer Experience Improvement Program. These diagnostics help determine whether compatibility issues may be encountered when the latest Windows operating system is installed. This update will help Microsoft and its partners ensure compatibility for customers who want to install the latest Windows operating system.

That it is specifically designed to assess compatibility issues related to installing the latest Windows operating system (look at that - even Microsoft isn't calling it an "updgrade" anymore), rather than performing general diagnostics on or providing improvements to the CEIP, is relevant.

2. I am not participating in the Windows Customer Experience Improvement Program and have disabled all tasks, services, and processes related to it, as well as anything else from Microsoft that is telemetry-related. I still get KB2952664 in available updates every time it is re-released, as does everyone else (whether or not it has been previously hidden). It seems, then, that what is not relevant to receiving this update is participation in the CEIP.